Program 779: Bristol; Barcelona; Bruges

Explore three distinctly different styles of historic European cities on this week's Travel with Rick Steves.

We'll hear how Bristol has transformed itself from an industrial and maritime powerhouse into a creative center for the southwest of England.

Learn why the Catalonian culture of Barcelona, sets it apart from the rest of Spain.

And discover what visitors have enjoyed for centuries on the cobbled medieval streets of Bruges, in Belgium.

• Charlie Rawson, tour guide based in Bristol
• Jesús Ruíz, tour guide based in Barcelona
• Nico Favoreel, tour guide based in Bruges

• Rick writes about the newfound appeal of Bristol.
• Charlie Rawson's website.
• Watch Charlie's Monday Night Travel tour of Edinburgh's best sights.
• Exhibits on the 19th-century engineering achievements of Isambard Kingdom Brunel are on the SS Great Britain, docked at Bristol.
• Banksy's street artworks are featured on his website.
• The Rick Steves online guide to Barcelona includes photos of its innovative architecture.
• Jesús Ruiz specializes in private tours of Spain and Portugal from his home base in Barcelona.
• Antoni Gaudí was one of the great "modernist" architects of Barcelona.
• The Rick Steves online guide to Bruges.
• The Visit Bruges website.
• Nico Favoreel spoke with Rick about Bruges and Western Flanders on a Monday Night Travel session in 2023.

• "We had the most delightful time in Bruges. We hiked through the beautiful riverside park to the old medieval gate of the city. Our host at the Hotel Marcel referred us to a very quaint little restaurant just outside the gate called De Achtste Dag Buurtcafe in Werfstraat 3. It is in a beautiful old mansion full of wonderful antiques and a hostess that made us feel right at home.” (Jim in Colorado Springs, Colorado)
• "Bruges is one of my favorite European cities. I love the old city center and architecture. One of my favorites there is a short walk from the busy old town and feels like a step back in time. The Princely Beguinage Ten Winjgaerade consists of a church and about 30 houses built in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The simplicity of the architecture, the uniformity of all the buildings being white, and the serene atmosphere of the complex transported me to another time." (Katheryn in Decorah, Iowa)
• "My friend and I spent three lovely days in Bruges at the end of a bicycle/barge trip. As we traveled from Amsterdam to Bruges, the architecture got older and more interesting and Bruges was the highlight!" (Marti in Atlanta, Georgia)

• TCS_TCS_0025_00801_Poor_But_Handsome_APM
• Light Music Society Orchestra, Vivian Dunn, cond., "Mock Morris-Room Music Tit-Bits #1 (Grainger)," British Light Classics (collection) / Warner Classics
• J-Walk, "French Letter," FHM Presents Bar Culture 2 (collection) / Virgin-EMI
• AXS_AXS_2028_00301_Roland_From_Bristol_APM
• Jack Buchanan, "Everything Stops for Tea," Music Hall-The Absolutely Essential Collection (disc 3) (collection) / Big 3
• MPATH_MPATH_0031_00401_Sunrise_in_Catalan_APM
• * Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Gavin Sutherland, cond., "Giocoso (Albert Cazabon)," English String Miniatures, vol. 5 / Naxos
• A New Funky Generation, "Labumba '98," Café del Mar, vol. 5 (collection) / MCA
• CEZ_CEO_2142_00601_Las_Noches_de_Madrid_APM
• SEL_SEL_6109_00301_Viva_Barcelona_APM
• Montoyita con Estrella Morente y Joaquín Cortés, "Paseíllo de mi ilusión," Fragua Futura (collection) / NM (Spain)
• Ketama-Diabate-Soto, "Pozo del deseo," Songhai 2 / Hannibal
• Montserrat Caballé with Freddie Mercury, "Barcelona," Viva la Diva: The Best of Montserrat Caballé / RCA Victor
• Gotan Project, "Diferente," Lunático / XL Recordings
• SEL_LSC_1015_00501_Italian_Capriccio_Op_45_APM
• * Jordi Saval, Montserrat Figueras, Hesperion XXI, "Cabanilles-Batalla Imperial," Metamorphoses Fidei / Alia vox
• Divanhana, "Intro," Bilješke iz Šestice / RSG Radio (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Megashira, "At Last," Saint-Germain des Pres Café (collection) / Wagram
• Eddie Jobson, "Ballooning Over Texas," Piano One (collection) / Private Music-RCA
• SON_SCD_0724_03501_Gardens_In_The_Rain_A_APM
• John Doan, "Bransles de Village," The Renaissance Album (collection) / Windham Hill
• CEZ_CEO_2078_01101_Leopold_II_APM
• Wim Mertens, "Close Cover," In Search of Angels (soundtrack) / Windham Hill
• Deeds Carillon, Don Cook, carillonneur, "Selections from the Repertorium of Johannes De Gruytters," Bells of Dayton / (self-released)
• Daan, "Housewife," Simple / Daan

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• In this week's billboard, Rick notes that Barcelona is "getting a reputation for being too popular to handle the demand."
• At 27:30, Jesús mentions recent elections in Catalunya that reduced the separatist imperative in that region of Spain. He adds that regional autonomy includes having its own fiscal system now.

Pgm #779 Haiku awards

Old dog's chariot
Noble in your last travels
Like Cleopatra.

— Sherry Seethaler, La Jolla, California

On Capri's chair lift
Feet grazing tops of vineyards
Wine futures below.
— Carla Rutschman, Bellingham, Washington

Visit Modena
See the Maserati shop
Bring back a red one.
— Richard Cross, Arlington, Texas