Program 746: Goodbye Eastern Europe; The Long Field in Wales

Update your view of the eastern half of Europe. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, author and historian Jacob Mikanowski helps us appreciate how most countries from the Baltics to the Balkans have modernized since the Cold War, and to see the kinds of challenges they face today.

Also, artist and creative writing teacher Pamela Petro shares the joy of being "Welsh by choice." She tells us some of the words she's learned in Wales that describe feelings we don't easily express in English.

• Jacob Mikanowski, author of "Goodbye, Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land" (Pantheon)
• Pamela Petro, author of "The Long Field: Wales and the Presence of Absence, a Memoir" (Arcade)

• Jacob Mikanowski is the author of "Goodbye, Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land."
• Jacob writes observations about the world on occasion for the Chronicle of Higher Education.
• Pamela Petro is a lecturer in creative nonfiction at Smith College in Massachusetts, and directs the Dylan Thomas International Summer School at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David.
• Pam is the author of "The Long Field: Wales and the Presence of Absence, a Memoir." She writes in The Guardian about visiting her favorite megalith sites in Wales.

• Martha Clancy, "The Ash Grove," A Hundred Thousand Welcomes / Darach Records
• New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur, conductor, "Slavonic Dance Op. 72, No. 2: 'Dumka' (Dvorak)," Sensual Classics, Too (collection) / Teldec
• SON_SAS_0059_03001_Hungarian_Walk_APM
• KOS_KOS_0071_02101_Hungarian_Groove_APM
• Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Dimitry Yablonsky, cond., "Polka in B flat major, B 114 (op. 53a/1) 'For Prague Students' (Dvorak)," Dvorak: American Suite, Silent Woods, Prague Waltzes / Naxos
• Kocani Orkestar, with Señor Coconut, "Usti, Usti Baba (Altiplano mix)," Electric Gypsyland (collection) / Six Degrees
• TCS_TCS_0013_02101_King_s_Court_V_2_APM
• * Russian State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dmitry Yablonsky, "Waltz No. 2 (Shostakovich)," Shostakovich: Jazz Suites No. 1 - 2 / Naxos
• Arvo Leibur, violin, "Suite on Estonian Dances-II: Shepherd's Dance (composed by Eduard Tubin)," Tubin: Complete Music for Violin, Viola, and Piano / BIS
• Jana Bezek Trio, "Night Comes Every 90 Minutes," Cracow / Pavian Records
• Prague Castle Orchestra, "Maly Myslivecek," Ta nase pisnicka ceska / Bua International (Czech)
• Budapest Festival Orchestra, conducted by Ivan Fischer, "Hungarian Dances No. 8: 'Presto' (Brahms)," Brahms Hungarian Dances / Hungaroton Classic Ltd. (Hungary)
• Tarkeny-Muvek, "Ugy Szeretlek (So Much I Love You)," Rough Guide to the Music of Hungary, disc 2 (collection) / Rough Guides
• KPM_KPM_0827_0101_Longing_For_Home_APM
• * David Gould, "Divine Order," Feast of the Passover / Tzadik
• SOHO_SOHO_0104_02901_All_Through_The_Night_APM
• Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Richard Studt, dir., "Capriol Suite for string orchestra - Pieds-en-l'Air (Warlock)," English String Music / Naxos
• Ar Log, "Y Gwr a'l Farch - Pant Corlan Yr Wyn," Gorau Gwerin - The Best of Welsh Folk Music (collection) / Sain
• Thievery Corporation, "Saudade," Saudade / ESL Music
• Academy of Saint-Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, cond., "Early One Morning," Ultimate Classical Relaxation: The Essential Masterpieces / Decca
• Marilyn Bennett, "My Sheep were Grazing," Angels Among Us / Bennett Music
• Morgaine Le Fay, "Heather in the Valley," Up She Flew / (self-released)

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• Starting at 22:32, Rick compares a sense of divisiveness in the "eastern" European nations to contemporary conflicts in the United States. Jacob adds that there is prosperity now in nations such as Poland, but that squabbling is fostering new divisions. They discuss Viktor Orban's unilateral rule in Hungary, and pressures from the Roman Catholic Church in Poland.