Program 709: America’s Favorite City Parks; Europe’s Great Trails; Egypt 2023

On the next Travel with Rick Steves, a tour operator from Cairo updates us on a massive new archeology museum that's about to open at Giza. It will display the riches of ancient Egypt in one grand museum.

Cassandra Overby provides more options for exploring the long distance hiking trails of Europe.

And we hear how elegant parks were designed in the 19th century to provide green spaces for American city dwellers.

• Historian Laurence Cotton, producer of the PBS documentary "Frederick Law Olmsted:  Designing America"
• Cassandra Overby, author of "Explore Europe on Foot" (Mountaineers Press)
• Tarek Mousa, proprietor of Egypt and Beyond Travel

• Laurence Cotton first released the documentary "Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America" in 2014.  
• The Olmsted 200 website describes Olmsted's legacy for his 2022 bicentennial.  
• Laurence spoke with Rick about the Olmsted bicentennial on Travel with Rick Steves program 687 in September, 2022.
• Cassandra Overby is the author of "Explore Europe on Foot," which includes mile by mile information for 15 long distance walking trails.
• The opening date for the Grand Egyptian Museum has been postponed, but organizers promise it will be ready by late 2023.
• The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is where ancient mummies are displayed in Cairo.  https://nmec.gov.eg/
• Siwa Oasis includes a salt lake for swimming, about 350 miles west of Cairo.
• Tarek Mousa operates Egypt and Beyond Travel, which specializes in tours of Egypt, the Middle East, and Morocco.
• Rick's one hour TV special on Egypt is streaming on demand on the Rick Steves website.

• Hossam Shaker and Ensemble, "Lama Bada Yata Sama," The Rough Guide to the Music of North Africa (collection) / World Music Network
• Solilman Gamil, "The New Nubia," Global Meditation, vol. 4: Music from the Heart (collection) / Ellipses Arts
• Floratone, "Floratone," Floratone / Blue Note
• KAPT_KAPT_0018_00501_French_Gardens_APM
• Nancy Allen, "'Menuet' from 'Suite Bergamasque' (Debussy)," Ravel & Debussy / Angel 
• Enid Kathan, "New England Idyls for piano, op. 62 - Indian Idyl (MacDowell)," Music for the Appalachian Trail (collection) / Gasparo Records
• Nina Simone, "Lonesome Cities," A Single Woman / Nonesuch
• * The Rust Belt Brigade, "Low Bridge (Erie Canal)," single / (self-released:  https://therustbeltbrigade.bandcamp.com )
• Third Force, "We Should Be Together," Panorama, disc 1 (sampler) / Higher Octave
• Charanga Cakewalk, "Carmela," Latin Lounge / Putumayo
• Gody Klay Trio, "Something for Steven," Swingin' Round Switzerland (collection) / Swiss Radio International-Musica Helvetica 
• English Chamber Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin, "St. Paul's Suite H118 (op. 29, no. 2) - IV:  Finale - The Dargason-Allegro (Holst)," British Composers Guide to Britain, disc 2 (collection) / EMI
• Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Gavin Sutherland, conductor, "Suite for Timothy: I-Allegretto  (Pamela Harrison)," English String Miniatures, vol. 5 / Naxos
• The Belmont Chorale, "Der Frohliche Wanderer (arr. for choir by Norman Luboff)," Music for the Appalachian Trail (collection) / Gasparo Records
• * Alberto 'Beto' Una, "Angels in the Desert (original Profundo Mix)," Buddha-Bar vol. 8 (collection) / George V
• Digital Bled, "Cairo Bar," VIP Lounge #2 / Wagram (France)
• Amr Diab, "Khalleeny Genbak," Allem Alby / Mondo Melodia
• Prague Symphony Orchestra, Emre Araci, cond., "'Şarki,' from 'Aria Nazionali e Canti Populari Orientali Antichi e Moderni (Callisto Guatelli Pasha)," Euro-Ottomania: 19th century European and Ottoman Orchestral Music / Brilliant Classics
• Phil Thornton and Hossam Ramzy, "Sunrise over Giza," Immortal Egypt / New World Music

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• Rick mentions that "tourism in Egypt took a hit a few years ago" in the billboard, and adds that a new museum at Giza "promises to transform tourism" there. The new museum is also mentioned in the segment A open, this week's promo, and during the segment C interview. Rick adds that Egypt is anticipating a "big jump in tourism" at the end of segment A, in forward-promoting the segment C topic.
• In a reset at 6:12, Rick notes that "last year" Laurence helped us celebrate the bicentennial of Frederick Law Olmstead.
• City parks discussed in segment A include Central Park in New York City, The U. S. Capitol grounds in Washington, Niagara Falls' Goat Island, the Emerald Crescent parks in Boston, Buffalo's connected park system, and Louisville's parks and parkways. 
• At 20:20, Rick says that Cassandra inspired him to take a week-long series of hikes in Switzerland "last year." At 27:17, Rick adds that he's dreaming of the Italian Dolomites for his next hike.
• At 30:21, Rick remarks there are "no covid concerns up in the altitude" when hiking.
• Rick notes that his one-hour TV special on Egypt is available to view on PBS Passport at 44:17, and to stream on the Rick Steves website, at 47:50.
• At 44:23, Rick introduces the topic of the billion-dollar Grand Egyptian Museum as "big news."  Tarek replies that "it's almost ready" to display more than 29,000 pieces of Egyptian antiquities. 
• At 49:17, Tarek discusses how "in the last year" inflation is getting expensive in Egypt, and the impact of grain supplies cut off by the war in Ukraine.  He notes that Egypt's political instability has steadied since 2013. 
• At 51:36, Tarek says that Egypt is "one of the safest countries in the world" to visit, and describes government-based protections for tourists. 
• Rick raises the question of safety for women and gay travelers, at 54:42. Tarek replies that downtown is "completely safe" for women travelers, but cautions against open displays of affection between any travelers.