Program 645: Romantic Rhine; Indian Ocean Journeys; Where I'm Going

Where are you eager to travel to, as the pandemic and its restrictions wind down? On the next Travel with Rick Steves, listeners share their travel hopes with Rick.

We'll also hear about the romantic allure of Germany's Rhine River Valley, from a pair of seasoned tour guides.

And for more of a challenge, author David Mould tells us about his journeys in the Indian Ocean region, and what he loves about being in India, Bangladesh and Madagascar.

• Fabian Rueger, German tour guide based in Maine
• Nico Favoreel, Belgian tour guide based in Bruges
• David Mould, author of "Monsoon Postcards" (Ohio Univ. Press) and "Postcards from the Borderlands" (Open Books)

• Rick Steves' online guide to the Rhine River Valley.
• Fabian Rueger has developed the Packupine app to help you pack your bags for travel, as well as a color puzzle game called Wunderbunt.     
• David Mould is the author of "Monsoon Postcards," which is published by Ohio University Press.
• David writes about the significance of borders in his newest book "Postcards from the Borderlands."
• Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the largest city of the Bengal region of South Asia.
• David spoke further with Rick about his South Asia travels, which he writes about in "Monsoon Postcards," on Travel with Rick Steves program #615 in Sept., 2020.
• The Third Man Museum in Vienna that caller Judith visited is slowly re-opening, with limited hours on dates ending with a "3."
• Caller Craig mentioned hiking the "Jesus Trail" as an experience he'd like to have in Israel.
• Rick's city tours are included in the Audio Europe app.

• Caller is hoping to visit places her grandparents came from: Sweden, Scotland and Germany. "My hope is that Mom and Pop small restaurants and hotels and B&Bs have survived. I emailed a woman who owns a tour company of the Cotswolds, asking her how she was faring and she was grateful to hear from a fan. The owners of a B&B in Venice where I had to cancel my trip last year e-mailed me to inquire about my health and wellbeing. Travel is good for our hearts and souls." (Judith in Atlanta)
• "I'd love to go back to Israel to walk the Jesus Trail. It's a 40-mile-long hiking trail — with optional extension — in the Galilee region. An Israeli Jewish entrepreneur and an American Christian hiking enthusiast founded the trail. It starts in Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, and ends at the site of the Sermon on the Mount. I visited the Holy Land in 2013, enjoying every second of it." (Craig in Chicago)
• "I really want to spend about a month in continental Europe with two home-bases for travel. I'd like to work some during the day, and have afternoon/evenings and long weekends for exploring.
• Where in Italy would you suggest as a good base for a couple weeks?  Also where else in Croatia or Slovenia would you suggest? (We have already explored much of France, Germany, Austria, and Belgium.)" (Cayce in Apex, North Carolina)
• "I'm finishing up my PhD at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar this year and had hoped to visit Munich, Nuremberg, and Vienna this past December. I love European Christmas markets. My first experience was in Budapest in 2018, traveling with a group of fellow scholars. I've since visited Christmas markets in Strasbourg, Berlin, and Prague. After the pandemic, I hope they return with their same sense of conviviality, warmth, and holiday cheer!" (e-mail from Christopher in Oxford, U.K.)
• "I would like to take my wife to Amsterdam to the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum, as well as enjoying the canals and architecture. Then we would take the train to Brussels for chocolate and Belgian beer. Then on the train to Normandy to visit places my father served as an Army doctor during WW2. Like many veterans, he didn't talk much about it, but I have a list of locations where he had a hospital. We will then go to County Clare in Ireland, where my maternal ancestors came from. Is three weeks enough time?" (Michael in Houston)

• Uman, "Bird's Eye View (Rhythmic Remix)," Traveler '99 (collection) / Six Degrees Records
• Christopher Parkening, "Prelude No. 6 from 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' (J.S. Bach)," The Great Recordings / EMI Classics
• Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, "Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, IV: Presto ‘Ode to Joy'" (Beethoven), Beethoven:  Symphonies 1 - 9 / Rhino
• Berliner Salonensemble, "Der Optimist," Einsamer Sonntag - So klang es damals im Caféhaus Folge 2 / Monopol
• Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood, cond., "'Air & Hornpipe' from ‘Water Music' (Handel),"  Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre:  The Original Sound (collection) / L'Oiseau-Lyre
• Tarika, "Sonegaly," Islands (collection) / Putumayo
• * Soho Travelers, "Elements of Nature (Light of the Bar Mix)," Indian Chill Lounge (collection) / 4 Elements Records
• Winding Experience, "Ceylon Garden," Late-Night Party vol. 1 (collection) / Billo Music
• D'Gary and Jihe, "Mbo Hahita  Avao," Islands (collection) / Putumayo
• Manickam Yogeswaran, "Free Sri Lanka," Peace for Paradise  / beatscience
• Equal 1, "Equation," Talvin Singh presents Anokha:  Soundz of the Asian Underground (collection) / Omni Records-Mango (UK)
• Hector Zazou and Swara, "Attainable Border:  East," In the House of Mirrors / Crammed Disc
• The Amalgamation of Soundz, "Tears for Yazd," Taos / Filter
• * Sachal Studios Orchestra, "Samba de Verao," Sachal Jazz / Republic Digital Distribution
• Lemongrass, "La Mer," Nikki Beach, vol. 1 (collection) / Loungism Recordings
• Romane, "Gypsy Fire," Swing Around the World (collection) / Putumayo
• Nina Simone, "Lonesome Cities," A Single Woman / Nonesuch
• Xavier Puertas, Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall, cond., "Biljana," Esprit des Balkans (collection) / Ali Vox
• Symfunny Orchestra, "My Favorite Things," Jazz Classiks on Toys / Atma
• Ray Barretto, "Summertime," Latin Jazz (collection) / Putumayo 

• Rick opens segment A noting that the people of South Asia "already had plenty to deal with," with poverty, population growth and climate change, besides the covid pandemic. 
• Rick opens segment B saying David Mould has spent a decade working in and reporting on the countries of South Asia. 
• Rick says at 26:15 that the David Mould interview was recorded "just before the covid pandemic started."
• At 30:55, David notes that Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are among the issues Bangladesh is dealing with lately.
• At 38:11, Rick asks listeners if they're ready to travel yet, and what travel ideas have helped them get through the pandemic.
• The open phones segment C, recorded in April 2021, is designed for airing at what we hope is the tail end of the covid-19 pandemic. Callers refer to plans for "when we're able to travel again.," after being stuck at home for so long. Rick reminds listeners to check ahead on re-openings before assuming businesses and venues are available again.
• The e-mail starting at 51:35 asks Rick about visiting Christmas markets in Strasbourg, Budapest, Berlin, and Prague after the pandemic.
• In the program #645 promo, Rick refers to "…where listeners want to go, as the world starts to reopen."