Program 528: Basque Country Surprises; Prague Art and Architecture; Open Phones

Journalist and former diplomat Dave Seminara vividly describes the unusual sports and traditions you might encounter in the Basque Country. Then a Czech tour guide and a guidebook writer join us to share insights and tips for appreciating Prague's innovative and fascinating art and architecture — and we enjoy a mini-concert from the Prague Castle Orchestra, a popular trio of street musicians. Plus, listeners share their travel plans and favorite memories.

• Travel writer Dave Seminara, author of "Bed, Breakfast & Drunken Threats" (Jean-Albert Dadas Press)
• Katerina Svobodova, tour guide based in Prague
• Cameron Hewitt, co-author of the Rick Steves Eastern Europe guidebook
• The musicians of the Prague Castle Orchestra

• Dave Seminara distills some of his most memorable travel encounters in his book "Bed, Breakfast & Drunken Threats: Dispatches from the Margins of Europe."  He also writes about travel innovators for the BBC Travel Pioneers series.
• Dave writes about the Basque Stone Lifting Museum he visited in Leitza.
• Katerina and Cameron recommend observing the artistic design of the Municipal House, Grand Hotel Europa, and works displayed at the Mucha Museum, the Black Madonna House, and the Center for Contemporary Art in district 7.
• The website for Katerina Svobodova includes contact information for guided walking tours of Prague.  
• Rick watches the Prague Castle Orchestra in action, in front of the castle.     
• Rovinj is Rick's favorite romantic city on the Adriatic.  
• The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, the Europaweg Skywalk, is in the mountains above Randa, Switzerland.
• Rick offers advice for outsmarting pick-pocket thieves in Europe.