Program 763: Favorite Scottish Walks; Oslo Harbor Front; Beating the Crowds

The right to roam provides you with plenty of options for enjoying scenic hiking trails in Scotland. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll get recommendations for taking the high road, and the low road, for a stroll in the Scottish countryside.

We'll also hear how recent renovations have turned the Oslo harbor front into a popular place to gather for a concert, get a little sun, or even take in a sauna with a view of the water.

And listeners tell us how they've been coping with crowds of fellow tourists at the major sites in Europe.

• Helen Houston, tour guide from Saline, Scotland
• Liz Lister, tour guide from Fife, Scotland
• Curtis Rojak, proprietor of Viking Biking in Oslo, Norway

• Helen Houston specializes in tours of the historic town and castle at Stirling.
• Liz Lister provides custom walking tours and offers transportation transfers in Edinburgh.
• Liz and Helen co-host the Scottish Blethers podcast from their home bases in Fife, Scotland.
• Liz and Helen recommended walks in the city of Edinburgh on Travel with Rick Steves program #603 in June 2020.
• Curtis Rojak founded the Viking Biking tour company, which offers cycling and hiking tours in Oslo.
• The Visit Oslo website provides a guide to the urban saunas on the Oslo Fjord.
• Curtis spoke with Rick about living in Oslo on Travel with Rick Steves program #748 in March 2024.

• "I was in London at Easter break and all the major attractions were crowded. I went to Southwark Cathedral — quite historic and Shakespeare worshipped there. Quite the opposite from Westminster Abbey. Instead of crowded major department stores, I opted for resale charity shops and peaceful walks through the Victorian arcades. In contrast to the crowds at the National Gallery, I truly enjoyed the much less crowded, yet delightful collection at the Courtauld Gallery. Keeping your mind open to alternatives can really enhance your trip!" (Mary in Wilder, Kentucky)
• Recommendations for escaping the crowds in Barcelona. "When you're ready to flee the crowds on the Ramblas, or at any of Gaudí's heritage buildings, try a day spent mostly with locals, combined with a spectacular city view, by taking a public bus to Tibidabo's heritage mountainside amusement park. Also recommend going to a football match in Venice via vaporetto." (Michael in Washington, DC)
• "In Italy, I like to stay in the quaint seaside village of Camogli, with its painted houses (1 hr by train from Cinque Terre). I prefer to explore the trails around the Parco Portofino area. I hike around the bay to Punta Chiappa, then take the ferry to the abbey of San Fruttuoso and then another ferry to Portofino and walk along the flat road past stunning beaches to Santa Margherita. From here it's only 10 min by train back to Camogli. It's a stunning area with mainly Italian tourists." (e-mail from Meg in Perth, Australia)
• Caller enjoyed the crowds in Berlin. "Saturdays at the Brandenburg Gate are when and where local groups gather to demonstrate for their particular cause. Because it is Germany, this is all very organized. We saw group one demonstrate about dental benefits in the national health plan (not sure yet whether they were for or against), followed by a group of large gay men dressed in leather harnesses. Who wouldn't find that fascinating?" (Pat in Genoa City, Wisconsin)
• Caller recommends Northern Ireland and adjacent Donegal for scenery and charm to rival the more crowded "tourist" spots in Ireland. (Ryan in Altadena, California)

• Peatbog Faeries, "Captain Coull's Parrot," Celtic Crossroads (collection) / Putumayo
• Keltik Elektrik, "Wild Mountain Thyme," Celtic Crossroads (collection) / Putumayo
• London Philharmonic Orchestra, Franz Welser-Most, cond., "Scottish Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, op. 45: I-allegro un poco agitado (Mendelssohn)," Mendelssohn Symphonies 3 & 4 / EMI Classics
• Lynne Arriale Trio, "Red Is the Rose," Come Together / Motema Music
• KPM_KPMLP_1151_00201_The_Gay_Highlanders_APM
• SOHO_SOHOA_0108_01901_Loch_Lomond_APM
• Patrick King, "Flowers of Edinburgh (reel)," Celtic Legends / REL
• Old Blind Dogs, "The Wee Wee German Lairdie," The Collection / KRL
• * Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson, flute, "Bourée (2001 remastered version) (J.S. Bach)," The Very Best of Jethro Tull / Parlophone-Warner Bros.
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen, cond., Harald Aadland, violin, Jon Sønsebø, viola, "Vision (from Suite No. 3, op. 19) (Kurt Atterberg)," The Nordic Experience, disc 1 (collection) / Warner Classics
• SON_SCD_0047_01401_Canope_APM
• KPM_KPM_2138_0901_Colour_the_Sunset_a_APM
• SON_SCD_0223_02201_The_Oslo_Promenade_APM
• Sinikka Langeland, "Brudesang Frå Solør," Wizard Women of the North (collection) / Northside
• KPM_KPM_0371_00601_Cities_Never_Sleep_APM
• * Annbjorg Lien, "FoNIx," Wizard Women of the North (collection) / Northside
• CEZ_UBM_2336_02201_Happy_to_Ride_APM
• PRM_PRM_0140_00101_Sweet_Life_APM
• Jerry Murad's Harmonicats, "Lindenstrasse (The Street of Linden Trees)," Try a Little Tenderness / Sony Mod-AFW
• John McCormack, "The Star of the County Down," Songs of my Heart / EMI Classics
• Izumi Tateno, "VIII: Boat Trip in August, from 'Sun and Cloud, op. 10'2 (Palmgren),'" The Nordic Experience, disc 2 (collection) / Warner Classics

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• This week's billboard and the open to segment A refer to the crowding that people are experiencing lately at popular tourist sites in Europe. That's also the premise for the segment C open phones.
• In the open to segment B, Rick refers to Oslo as one of the most improved cities in Europe in recent years, due to its revamped harbor front.
• At 21:38, Curtis tells Rick that his children are 5, 8, and 10 years old.
• As an example of the family focus of Norwegian society, at 21:55 Curtis says that many employers get their staff to leave work at 3:30 in the summer, 4:00 in the winter, to be with their families. He adds that most Norwegians feel they benefit from the social services their taxes provide.
• At 26:45, Curtis says that people walk outdoors in Oslo, even in the winter and in rainy weather.
• Rick notes at 32:47 that the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Norwegian kroner has dropped to 11 krone to the dollar, making it much more affordable for American visitors than it used to be.
• Rick refers to finally taking trips "we could only dream about during the pandemic" in the open to segment C.
• At 40:40, caller Mary says she was in London "this past April for Easter break." Rick tells her of his own observations from Southwark Cathedral "two weeks ago."
• At 53:57, Rick says that we'll check in with more callers about crowding issues in their travels "later this summer," and invites listeners to e-mail us their accounts for tackling overcrowding.