Program 703: Yucatan Holiday; Ambassador to Switzerland; Finding Atlantis

On the next Travel with Rick Steves, author Mark Adams reveals four possible Mediterranean locations where the legendary lost city of Atlantis could have been.

The former U-S Ambassador to Switzerland tells us what it's like, representing American interests in a country known for its neutrality.

And a longtime resident of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula describes what to look for, when you venture out beyond Cancun.

• Ellen Fields, founder of the "Yucatan Living" website
• Former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Suzan LeVine
• Mark Adams, author of "Meet Me in Atlantis"  (Dutton)

• Ellen Fields is the "working gringa" who ran the English-language Yucatan Living website for many years.  She discusses the types of traditional music found in the Yucatan on the site.
• The official tourism planning website for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
• The Casa de los Venados is a private home in central Valladolid with an extensive collection of museum-quality folk art from across Mexico.  It's open for visitors to view, most mornings at 10.
• Suzan G. LeVine was the United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 2014-2017.  She posts at @ambsuzi on Twitter.
• The website for the U. S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein includes links to travel advisories and emergency assistance.  
• Mark Adams is the author of "Meet Me in Atlantis."
• The four locations Mark explores as the possible site of Atlantis are Agadir on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Greek island of Santorini, the island nation of Malta, and Coto Doñado National Park in southern Spain.
• Tony O'Connell has updated his Atlantipedia website through December 2022. 

• Les Baxter, "Atlantis," Ultra-Lounge  (collection) / Capitol
• Trio Peninsular, "Ella," Mérida en canciones (collection) / Grabamaya
• Los Antiguos, "Sueños," Prehispanic Music 2, disc 1 (collection) / Producciones Mexicanas Discográficas
• Willie and Lobo, "Tribute to Manolo," Gypsy Boogaloo / Mesa-Blue Moon Records
• Mérida en cancion, "Quisiera," Mérida en canciones (collection) / Grabamaya
• * Orquesta Solista Ensamble de Mexico, "Viajera," México Sinfónico (collection) / Producciones Mexicanas Discográfias
• Hot Strings, "Swing from Berne with Love," Swingin' Round Switzerland (collection) / Swiss Radio International 
• Hans Kennel, "Muotathaler," Swingin' Round Switzerland (collection) / Swiss Radio International 
• Deep and Wide, "Easy Rider," Café del Mar, vol. 7 (collection) / Musicrama-Koch
• Joderklub Frutigen, "Gungglager," 23rd Swiss National Yodelling Festival Thun (collection) / Musica Helvetica-Swiss Radio International
• Andreas Vollenweider, "Skin and Skin," Behind the Gardens, Behind the Wall, Under the Tree / Kin Jou
• * London Philharmonic Orchestra, Moshe Atzmon, cond., "Historical Symphony Suite:  Homage to Stamitz; Homage to Haydn (Heinrich Schweizer)," East West Symphony and other compositions by Heinrich Schweizer (collection) / SRI Enterprises
• Guitar intro to Donovan, "Atlantis," Donovan's Greatest Hits / Castle-Sony Music
• Michael Levy, "Ancient Greek Musical Fragment:  Poem, Mor 1, 11f, Migne 37, 523 - arranged for a replica lyre," The Ancient Greek Lyre / (self-released)
• Ensemble Ethnique, "Asilah," Buddha Bar vol. 8, disc 2 (collection) / George V (France)
• Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, "En Aranjuez con tu amor," Bella España (collection) / Telarc
• Thomas Otten, "Ombra Mai Fu," Close to Silence / Virgin (France)
• Andreas Vollenweider, "Circulus Finalis-Return of the Heroes," Kryptos / Sony Classical
• Donovan, "Atlantis," Donovan's Greatest Hits / Castle-Sony Music
• Les Baxter, "Atlantis," Ultra-Lounge  (collection) / Capitol 

• At 16:35, Ellen Fields mentions that the Casa de los Venados in Valladolid has a daily open house at 10am.
• Starting at 26:50, Suzi LeVine describes how the Swiss serve as a "protecting power" liaison for the United States in its relations with Iran and Syria, and previously with Cuba.  She adds that Switzerland "just joined the U.N. Security Council this year."
• At 31:04, Suzi notes that the Swiss hold elections four times a year. 
• At 33:50, Suzi remarks that the foreign service staff rotate "every three and a half years," but that the career staff serve as the institutional memory of an embassy.
• Suzi mentions, at 36:57, that the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Iranian nuclear agreement have complicated international relations for the United States, such as in its relationship with China. She adds the Biden administration is currently taking pains to restore international trust, "not subject to the vagaries of political whims."