Program 774: Spectacular Landscapes; Four Points of the Compass; What's in a Name?

Just how far will you go, to enjoy a spectacular landscape? On the next Travel with Rick Steves, a tour guide from the scenic Lake District of England recommends two wilder alternatives, in Switzerland and Iceland.

We'll also explore our sense of direction, and the surprising history of the points on a compass, that we might otherwise take for granted.

And we'll look at how the world can change around us, when places take on a new name.

See the world from a different angle, on the next Travel with Rick Steves.

• Yorick Harker, tour guide from Cockermouth, in the Cumbria Lake District
• Jerry Brotton, author of "Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction" (Grove Atlantic)
• Eric Weiner, author of "Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life" (Simon & Schuster)
• Gene Openshaw, author of "Michelangelo at Midlife: Chasing the Tomb of Julius II" (Miner of Light Press)

• In this week's program, Yorick Harker and Rick talk about the spectacular landscapes of Iceland, Switzerland's Lauterbrunnen Valley, and the milder Lake District of northwest England.
• Yorick spoke with Rick about exploring the Iceland backcountry on Travel with Rick Steves program #641a in February 2024, and about day trips from Reykjavík on program #609 in August 2020.
• Jerry Brotton is the author of "Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction" and "The History of the World in 12 Maps." He also has recently started hosting a podcast called "What's Your Map?"
• Eric Weiner's latest book, "Ben and Me: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life," explores the example of Ben Franklin for our own desire to age gracefully. He also writes occasional columns on Medium, Afar, and for BBC Travel.
• Gene Openshaw is the author of "Michelangelo at Midlife: Chasing the Tomb of Julius II," and co-wrote with Rick "Europe's Top 100 Masterpieces: Art for the Traveler."
• A reproduction of Vermeer's painting of "The Kitchen Maid" is included in a 2020 blog post from Rick.

• KPM_KPM_0145_03301_Mowing_the_Barley_APM
• Light Music Society Orchestra, Vivian Dunn cond., "Little Suite I: March (Duncan)," British Light Classics (collection) / Warner Classics
• DED_DED_0153_09901_Country_Garden_APM
• CEZ_CCB_1035_00801_Gunar_s_Waltz_APM
• Les Armaillis du Grand Muveran, "Ranz des vaches," Folk Music of Switzerland-Suisse romande, Ticino (collection)," Swiss Radio International
• Peeni Waali, "Nice Time," The Return of Peeni Waali / Mensch Music (Switzerland)
• * Orchestra da Camera di Padova e del Veneto, Bruno Schneider cond, "Horn Concerto K-495-Rondo-allegro vivace (Mozart)," Mozart: The Horn Concertos / Claves
• KAPT_KAPT_0018_00201_Elegant_Garden_Party_APM
• London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox, cond., Howard Shelley, piano, "Suffolk Suite III-Suffolk Morris-'Ritmico' (Carwithen)," Doreen Carwithen: Piano Concerto, Bishop Rock, ODTAA, Suffolk Suite / Chandos
• Newberry Consort, "La Spagna," composed by Heinrich Isaac, from 15^th-century secular music of Spain, on the CD Missa de la Mapa Mundi / Harmonia Mundi
• Ella Jenkins, "The World is Big, The World is Small," Songs and Rhythms from Far and Near / Smithsonian Folkways
• Carlos Núñez, "Salve Finisterrae," Discover, disc 2 / RCA Victor-SonyMusic
• * Baltimore Consort, "Les Buffons," The Renaissance Album (collection) / Windham Hill
• CEZ_CEZ_4478_01301_In_the_Rose_Garden_APM
• Opening glissando to Burhan Ocal and the Istanbul Oriental Ensemble, "Bashbasha," Caravanserai / Network (Germany)
• BRU_BR_0167_03301_Tea_At_The_Ritz_APM
• Ry Cooder, "Restoration," Geronimo: An American Legend (soundtrack) / Columbia
• SON_SCDV_0985_04801_Inspired_Thinking_C_APM
• Freiburger Barockorchester, "Aria: Del minacciar del vento (Handel)," A Decade of Excellence (sampler collection) / harmonia mundi

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• When referencing viewing the volcanoes of Iceland, at 14:28 Yorrick says "especially in the south at the moment."
• Jerry Brotton, at 22:36, describes the "earthrise" image taken by the Apollo moon mission "in December 1972" as the most reproduced photograph in the world. 
• At 20:35, 32:33 and 37:50, Rick refers to "Four Points of the Compass" as Jerry's "latest book."
• At 35:13, Jerry refers to recent views of Ukraine as now part of the "West."
• This week's segment C topic deals with name changes for a number of places around the world in recent years.
• In the reset at 43:38, Rick calls "Ben and Me" Eric Weiner's "latest book."
• At 45:36, Eric refers to the "derogatory geographic names task force" in the US Department of the Interior. Rick then mentions recent references to the "Salish Sea" to describe the waters off Seattle, "Aotearoa" as the traditional name for New Zealand, and the renaming of Barrow, Alaska, to its indigenous name of "Utqiagvik."
• At 52:45, Rick says that some major American newspapers will not accept his column if he uses the name "Palestine" to describe particular territory in Israel.
• At 55:46, Rick says that Gene Openshaw "has written a new book" about Michelangelo.