Program 698a: Ready for Christmas Near and Far; Wassailing

Get yourself in the holiday spirit on the next Travel with Rick Steves. 

Rick visits with friends who reveal what their Christmas was like, growing up in Spain, Italy, and New Mexico. We'll also hear what you're likely to find this time of year in Austria and Australia, Japan and Antarctica.

Plus, the story behind the origins of "wassailing" in England to guarantee a good apple harvest, which serves as a nice way to enjoy a warm drink with your neighbors for the holidays.

This week, the 30-second "rejoin bed" at 6:00 is a special Cuban version of "Jingle Bells" to celebrate the Christmas holiday theme of the hour ahead.

• Federico García Barroso, tour guide from Madrid
• Travel writer Zora O'Neill
• Elena Zampiron, tour guide from Venice
• Lorraine Dineen, tour guide from Bath, England 
• Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet
• Callout to hotelier Gabi Koch in Reutte, Austria
• Journalist Fen Montaigne
• Travel writer/tour guide Don George
• Callout to hotelier Matteo Pasini in Monterroso, Italy

• Tour guide Federico García Barroso is based in Madrid.
• Zora O'Neill writes about food and travel.
• Moon has updated its guidebooks to New Mexico.
• Venetian tour guide Elena Zampiron offers walking, biking, and kayak tours in and around Venice, and language coaching in Italian, German and Spanish.
• Lorraine Dineen leads scenic walking tours around Britain from her home base in Bath, England.
• Tony Wheeler writes about his travels, and includes a reading list of works that influenced his book "Dark Lands," on his website.
• Gabi Koch and her sister-in-law run the Maximilian Hotel, on the edge of Reutte, in the Austrian Tirol.
• Journalist Fen Montaigne spent time in Antarctica while researching his book "Fraser's Penguins."
• Don George has collected essays he's written over more than 40 years of travels in "The Way of Wanderlust," and musings written during the pandemic in his e-book, "Wanderlust in the Time of Coronavirus." Don also leads tours for National Geographic Expeditions and for GeoEx.
• Matteo Pasini and his wife run the Villa Steno hotel in Monterroso, Cinque Terre.

• Patato, "Feliz Navidad," The Big Bang (collection) / Ellipsis Arts (in rejoin bed at seg A open)
• Vince Guaraldi Trio, "Christmas Time is Here (instrumental version)," A Charlie Brown Christmas / Concord
• KPM_KPM_2134_01801_Hacia_Bel_n_b_APM
• Pop Strings Orchestra, "Los Peces en el Rio," Guitarra Navideña / Discos Continental
• KPM_KPM_2134_00701_Gatatumba_a_APM
• SON_SCD_0360_02001_A_Denver_APM
• Michelle Sell, "Within Every Moment," Secret Harbor / Sugo
• Robert Mirabal, "Yellow Ram's Song," Song Carrier / Silver Wave
• Our Lady of Sorrows Senior Choir (Bernalillo, New Mexico), "Los Comanchitos," Music of New Mexico: Hispanic Traditions (collection) / Smithsonian Folkways
• Gordon Bok, "Matachines," Gatherings / Timberhead Music
• Marien Martin, "Campanas de Belen," Navidad de Angel / Bichon Produciones
• Our Lady of Sorrows Senior Choir (Bernalillo, New Mexico), "Los Comanchitos," Music of New Mexico: Hispanic Traditions (collection) / Smithsonian Folkways
• * Herb Alpert, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," The Christmas Wish / Herb Alpert Presents
• The Natale Italian Mandolin Duo, "Tu Scendi Della Stelle," Italian Christmas / (self-released)
• Rome Symphony Orchestra, "Panis Angelicus," Magnificat: A Musical Celebration of the Great Jubilee Year of the Year 2000 (various) / Amiata Records
• Benedetto Ghiglia, "Auguri di natale," La Bugiarda / CAM OST
• Paul Hillier Theater of Voices, "A wassail, a wassail throughout this town," Carols from the Old and New Worlds / harmonia mundi
• KPM_KPM_2078_00401_Snowfall_Over_Manhattan_a_APM
• Kate Rusby, "Here We Come A-Wassailing," Putumayo Presents A Family Christmas (collection) / Putumayo
• Sting, "Hurdy Gurdy Man," If On a Winter's Night / Decca
• Brothers of the Baladi, "Deck the Halls," A Time of Peace / (self-released)
• * The New Mayfair Orchestra, "Savoy Christmas Medley," 1920s Christmas: Rhythm and Booze (collection) / Holiday Classic Records
• KPM_KPM_2078_00401_Snowfall_Over_Manhattan_a_APM
• Seattle Pro Musica, "Weihnachten," Silent Night / (self-released)
• The Ringmasters handbell ensemble, William Ballard director, "Come, dear children," San Francisco Choral Artists: Star of Wonder / Reference Recordings
• NRBQ, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," Christmas Wish / Big Note
• Ryuichi Sakamoto, "Father Christmas," Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (soundtrack) / Milan
• Paul Winter Consort, traditional Italian melody "Dance of the Golden Bough," Wintersong / Living Music
• Spider Saloff, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Cool Yule / spidersaloff.com

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• Program #698a is designed to air just prior to Christmas Day, with references to Christmas and adjacent holidays and celebrations throughout the hour. Rick starts the first interview in segment A at 6:50 saying "Christmas is almost here."
• At 46:46, Fen Montaigne guesses there are around 10,000 people working across Antarctica in its summer peak season in December.