Program 705: Basque and Balkan Carnival; Sicilians; World Lit

The days preceding Ash Wednesday are famous for raucous festivals in many parts of the Western world. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll hear how ancient pagan traditions spice up carnival season in the Basque Country and the Balkans.

Guides from Sicily explain what sets their island culture apart from the rest of Italy.

And Harvard professor David Damrosch recommends authors whose works can transport you to China, Japan, Iran, Brazil, and sub-Saharan Africa.

• Agustin Ciriza, Basque tour guide from San Sebastián, Spain
• Claire Lohiague, Basque tour guide from Hasparren, France
• Slovenia-based tour guide Marijan Krišković
• Benjamin Curtis, author of "A Traveler’s History of Croatia" (Interlink Books)
• Sicily-based tour guides Mari Accardi and Alfio DiMauro
• Harvard professor David Damrosch, author of "Around the World in 80 Books" (Penguin) 

• Basque tour guide Agustin Ciriza specializes in custom tours in the Basque Country and along the Camino de Santiago.
• Benjamin Curtis is the author of "A Traveler's History of Croatia," and posts travel tips about the Balkans on his website.
• The Rick Steves online guide to Sicily.  https://www.ricksteves.com
• David Damrosch chairs the Department of Comparative Literature at Harvard University, and heads the Institute for World Literature. He's written "Around the World in 80 Books" to recommend classic and modern works that "are in conversation with one another and with the world around them." David suggests that Murasaki Shikibu from 11th century Kyoto, Japan, author of "The Tale of Genji," was the greatest female writer and poet of all time.
• Clean the World recycles partally used hotel soap bars.

• El Domingo, "Appartegnu All'onorata," Il Canto di Malavita (collection) / Play It Again Sam
• Oio, "Almeria," Ciao Mondo (collection) / Zoo
• Joaldunak Basque Procession (Hasparren, France)," Zubigainekoa:  Festival Music of the Basques of Navarra and Hasparren / PAN Music
• Burrunka, "Gugira," Ihauteriak: Carnaval en Pay Basque / Agorila
• Enrique Ugarte, "Donastiako-Iru-Damatxo," Music of the Basques (collection) / Arc
• Martin Irazoqui, "Fandango du Pays Basque," Folklore basque et traditions / Stick Music-Art Com JDC
• Carlos Nuñez and Lenine, "Nau Bretoa," Discover Carlos Nuñez, disc 1 / Sony Music (France)
• * David Shostac, "Le Basque," The Romantic Flute, vol. 1 / Resort Music
• Gotan Project, "Diferente," Lunático / XL Recordings
• Radost Folk Ensemble, "duj, duj," The Radost Folk Ensemble: Heirloom--25 Years / (self-released)
• Banda Ionica, "Come L'Aria," Off the Beaten Track (collection) / Music Rough Guides
• * Massimo Faraò Trio, "Viva la Mamma," Viva La Mamma (vari artisti, aka compilation CD) / Blue music  (Italy)
• Prague Castle Orchestra, "Maly Myslivecek," Ta nase pisnicka ceska / Bua International (Czech)
• Steve Erquiaga, "Pavanne (Faure)," Windham Hill Records Sampler '94 (collection) / Windham Hill
• Orchestre de l'Opera National de Lyon, Kent Nagano, cond., "Le Tombeau de Couperin: Prelude (Ravel)," Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin, etc. / Erato
• Mike Oldfield, "Musica Universalis," Music of the Spheres  / Decca
• Kate Smith, "Far Away Places,"  The Very best of Kate Smith (LP) (out of print) / (released by MGM in 1964)
• Slovak Radio Symphony, Gary Carpenter, cond., "A Lily Pond (Mayerl)," Music for a Devoted Gardener (collection) / River
• Pascal Rogé, "Reveries nocturnes for piano (Satie)." After the Rain: The Soft Sounds of Erik Satie / London Records
• Melos Ensemble, Gervase de Peyer, clarinet, "Quintet in B Minor for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 115, III-Andantino (Brahms)," The Key to the Classics: Brahms (collection) / Angel 

• The interviews in this week's segment A and the first half of segment B describe Carnival observances (pre-Lenten) in the Basque Country, and in the Balkans, specifically in Croatia and Slovenia.
• In a reset at 25:03, Rick notes that Ben Curtis is now based in Prague, and his latest book is "Understanding Global Poverty."
• At 31:37, Mari remarks that people from all over Italy, not just Sicily anymore, are leaving the country to find a job.
• At 49:50, David Damrosch says he has a bi-lingual translation of a 1975 work by a Congolese novelist "coming out this Spring."

Program 705 Haiku Awards

Tiny Hotel Soap
First I bathe, then you're off to
Global Soap Project.
— Babette Salus, Springfield, Illinois

Cloud pearls curl proudly
above Lake Superior.
Water winks below.
— Jeffrey Staley, Bothell, Washington

Our flying tin lands.
Sardined passengers await
a can opener.
— Pamela Wilding, San Rafael, California