Program 742: Sharks; Beyond Havana; Pompeii

On the next Travel with Rick Steves, a deep-sea diving instructor from Australia tells us why he's not afraid of sharks — well, most of them.

A Cuba travel expert looks at the places and experiences you can explore across the island, beyond Havana. And the rules that govern travel to Cuba for US travelers.

Plus, a guide from Italy helps us step into a day in the first century, frozen in time, at the ruins of Pompeii, on the slope of Mount Vesuvius.

• Chris Taylor, co-author of "A Diver's Guide to the World: Remarkable Dive Travel Destinations Above and Beneath the Surface" (National Geographic)
• Cuba travel expert Christopher P. Baker
• Rome-based tour guide Nina Bernardo

• Carrie Miller and Chris Taylor are the authors of "A Diver's Guide to the World." They also post underwater photos frequently to Facebook and Instagram at "Beneath the Surface Media."
• Christopher P. Baker's website includes links to his travel writing, photography, and information about his tour guiding in Cuba and Colombia. He also authored the 5th edition of the "National Geographic Traveler Cuba" guidebook.
• The US Embassy in Cuba outlines requirements for US citizens to visit Cuba.
• Rick has assembled an audio tour for Pompeii including a map of the site.
• Nina Bernardo can be reached by email at [email protected] for custom tours of Rome and southern Italy.
• Rick recommends the National Archeological Museum in Naples to see exhibits from Pompeii.
• There are two high-speed train options between Rome and Naples, with either Trenitalia or with Italotreno. Most options take just over an hour each way.

• "Does it make sense to just visit Ostia Antica, since we're staying in Rome, rather than a long day trip to Pompeii? I am really fascinated by how people lived 2,000 years ago — but we'll only have enough time for one of these sites." (Daphne in Kensington, Maryland)
• Advice for seeing Pompeii as part a cruise boat day trip. "I have a group of 10 people, ages 13–73. Our cruise ship will be docking in Naples at 7am and the boat leaves at 7pm." (Natalie in Ashburn, Virginia)
• "We would like to do a one-day tour of Pompeii and the Amalfi coast with our 14-year-old, from a base in Rome. Will this work as a bus tour?" (Alison in Spokane, Washington)

• Eliades Ochoa, "Que Lió, Compay Andres," The Stars of the Buena Vista (collection) / Tumi
• Katia and Marielle Labeque, "Le carnival dex Animaux - Aquarium," Carnival! (various artists) / The Rainforest Foundation - RCA Victor
• Magical Power Mako, "Sea of Joy," Lo Pop Diamonds / Altavistic
• Yothu Yindi, "Gapu (Tidal Mix)," Freedom / Hollywood Records
• Louis Armstrong, "Mack the Knife (from 'The Threepenny Opera') (Weill)," Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill: The American Theatre Songs / Sony Classical
• Dr. Didge, "Devon," Cross That Line (collection) / Ryko
• * Jazz Jamaica Allstars, "Marcus Junior," Double Barrel / Hannibal
• Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban, "Bodas de Oro," Mambo Sinuendo / Nonesuch
• GUM_GMT_8229_00301_Leaving_Cienfuegos_APM
• Maraca, "Havana Danzon," Descarga Total! / Ahí Namá
• Eliades Ochoa, "Con Dolor en el Alma," Estoy Como Nunca / Higher Octave
• Felix Chappottin, "La Guarapachanga," Cuba Classics vol. 2: Dancing With the Enemy (collection) / Luaka Bop
• Silvio Rodriguez, "Canto Arena," Canciones Urgentes / Luaka Bop
• KOS_KOS_0018_00201_Conquistador_APM
• * Horace Parlan, "Congalegre," Roots of Afro-Cuban Jazz (collection) / Blue Note
• Orchestra del Teatro la Fenice, Ion Marin, conductor, "'Serena i vaghi rai' from 'Semiramide' (Rossini)," on the Cecilia Bartoli CD Rossini Heroines / London
• US Marine Band, "'The Destruction' from 'The Last Days of Pompeii' (Sousa)," The Heritage of John Philip Sousa, vol. 2 / The Robert Hoe Collection
• MEZ_MEZ_0009_00501_Antiche_Architettura_APM
• TCS_TCS_0021_01001_Villanella_APM
• Billy Joel, "Delusion," Creating the Perfect Atmosphere (sampler) / Sony
• TCS_TCS_0021_00901_Neapolis_APM
• Han-Na Chang, cello, "'Sicilienne,' from 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme' (Faure)," The Swan / EMI Classics

* Indicates filler music used during breaks between segments

• In this week's billboard, Rick refers to tensions between the US and Cuban governments inhibiting travelers, and notes that most shark species don't actually want to eat humans.
• At 10:29, Rick notes that Australia averages around ten reported shark attacks a year.
• Chris Taylor refers to a sharp decline in the shark population in the past two decades at 13:53. Rick adds that Chris has written that sharks have had a 70% decline in their numbers, due in part to being harvested for their meat and for shark fin soup.
• At 16:18, Chris refers to one major tour operator in Nassau, Bahamas that offers shallow group dives to get close to sharks. He adds that small sharks live just 100 yards offshore from major coastal urban areas, such as Laguna Beach, California.
• At 21:26, Chris Baker says most Americans can go Cuba without much advance planning, under the US government's provisions for a license to travel "in support of the Cuban people." He notes that United Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest fly to Havana and other Cuban cities. Chris adds that American Airlines is the largest US carrier to Cuba with six flights a day to Havana.
• At 25:13, Chris explains that the 12km-long white sand beach and resort hotels at Varadero are technically off-limits to American travelers, due to US government rules about not patronizing Cuban government-run businesses.
• Chris says the average government-issued salary for Cuban citizens is equal to around US$45–50 a month, and that living costs are provided. He adds that tourism income supplements that. Chris explains that he pays local guides and assistants US$100 to $150 a day.
• Rick mentions at 40:24, and at 41:29, that Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, AD79.
• At 52:19, Rick tells caller Natalie that he was "just in Naples on a cruise."
• Nina tells Rick at 55:16 there is a newer fast train between Rome and Naples that takes just over an hour.