Program 753: German Views; Mudlarking the Thames

On the next Travel with Rick Steves, a journalist from Germany shares a few timely thoughts on what his fellow citizens find appealing about America. And on the intriguing differences between our two societies.

We'll also find out what low tide in London can reveal, from a "mudlarker" who's spent years searching the River Thames for buried objects from the Victorian era, and as far back as Roman times.

Take a new look at the world, each week, on Travel with Rick Steves.

• Journalist Stefan Wagner
• Lara Maiklem, author of "Mudlark" (Liveright) and "A Field Guide to Larking" (Bloomsbury)

• Stefan Wagner's 2022 interview of Rick appears in English in This is Germany magazine. They compare how Germans and Americans view each other, and the world.
• Karl May is the German author who introduced a romanticized view of the American West to German readers in the late 19th century.
• Phoenix magazine wrote a tribute to the late Paul Winer in 2019, who was known as the "naked bookseller" at Reader's Oasis Books in Quartzite, Arizona.
• Stefan also talked to Rick about how Germans approach contemporary political and social issues on Travel with Rick Steves program #728 in September 2023.
• Lara Maiklem is the author of "Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames." She has hosted a TedX presentation on her mudlarking findings as well.
• The Thames Explorer Trust offers guided tours on the banks of the Thames, as well as educational field trips.
• Lara also recommends the Thames Discovery Programme for guided low tide walks along the Thames.
• The Museum of London has exhibits from London's past at Docklands and is preparing to open a new facility in the Smithfield area of the city in 2026.

• Academy of Saint-Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, cond., "Early One Morning," Ultimate Classical Relaxation: The Essential Masterpieces / Decca
• Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra, "Chama 2 Santa Fe," Opium, disc 2 / Epic
• Peace River Rangers, "Teen Age Boogie," Bear Family 'Perfect for Parties' Highlight Album (compilation) / Bear Family Records (Germany)
• Disney Studio Orchestra, "It's A Small World," The Sherman Brothers Songbook / Walt Disney Records
• Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, "Rolley Polley," The Greatest Hits / Rosin Records
• Deninger Blasmucki, "Zweifach," Bagdad Café (soundtrack) / Great Jones-Island Records
• Dominic Frontiere, "Hang 'em High," MGM Sneak Preview Compilation / MGM-Ryko
• Hans Meyer, "The Cuckoo Yodel," Bavaria: 15 All-Time Favorites (collection) / Madacy Records
• FDH_FDHLP_0126_00101_Floor_Show_APM
• Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, "Pride and Joy," Martin Scorcese Presents The Best of 'The Blues' (soundtrack collection) / UTV Records
• RTRO_RTRO_0201_04601_The_American_Dream_Full_Length_Full_Mix_APM
• SON_SCD_0677_03001_Bavarian_March_No_1_APM
• Christopher Parkening, "Simple Gifts," The Great Recordings, disc 2 / EMI Classics
• Sons of the Pioneers, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," The Legacy, The True and the Untamed (collection) / MCA
• * Jean-Luc Ponty, "In the Fast Lane," The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty / Columbia-Legacy
• Berliner Salonensemble, "Der Optimist," Einsamer Sonntag - So klang es damals im Caféhaus Folge 2 / Monopol
• Henri Rene, "Hansel and Pretzel," Cocktail Mix, vol. 1 (collection) / Rhino
• Kreuther Trio, "Obermueller Holbwalzer," Landler und Bayrische aus dem bayrischen Oberland / Bogner Records
• SOHO_SOHOA_0118_01401_Dancing_Dirndls_APM
• The Pearlfishers, "Berlin," Sky Meadows / Marina Records
• Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Victoria de los Angeles, "The Wish, op 74-1, B.33 (Zyczenie)," The Fabulous Victoria de los Angeles, disc 4 / EMI Classics
• * Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, "A Walk in the Black Forest," Going Places / Shout! Factory
• Ballistic Brothers, "Uschel's Groove," Cafe del Mar, vol. 5 (collection) / MCA
• John Doan, "Bransles de Village," The Renaissance Album (collection) / Windham Hill
• Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Richard Studt, dir, "St. Paul's Suite for strings, op 29-2, H. 118-No. 1-Jig (Holst)," English String Music / Naxos
• Ann and Nancy Wilson, "My Thing Is My Own," The Renaissance Album (collection) / Windham Hill
• BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Murray Gold, "Fish Custard," Doctor Who, Series 5 (soundtrack) / Silva Screen
• Boston Pops, John Williams, cond., "Deep River," Sony Almanac 1992 Highlights of the Year (sampler) / Sony Classical
• Petula Clark, "I Know a Place," Petula Clark: Platinum and Gold Collection / BMG Heritage
• 101 Strings, "London Bridge Is Falling Down," Songs of England / Madacy

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• At 10:09, Rick tells Stefan that the Oktoberfest in his town does not allow dogs or children.
• At 15:48, Rick asks Stefan about German impressions of Donald Trump. Stefan replies that about 80 percent of Germans would not support him, and adds there is a growing influence of the AFD far-right political party, which attracts 20 percent support in Germany. Rick includes that Trump's support base in the US is around 30 percent.
• At 31:32, Rick compares Germany's opioid addiction rate, with some 2,000 people dying per year in Germany, to around 80,000 in the US. Stefan adds that trust for government is fading in Germany, with autocratic philosophies gaining more adherents in Europe. Stefan also contrasts the biggest issues for German voters in their 2020–2021 elections with the "culture war" issues that dominate in the US.
• At 34:00, Stefan says that 58 percent of electricity in Germany came from "regenerative" means "last month," and that Germany may be one of the only countries to abandon nuclear power so far.
• Rick compares the "tens of thousands" of people who die from gun violence in the US with the much smaller figure Stefan gives for gun-related deaths in Germany. They then discuss how Germany often follows US trends, five to ten years later.