Program 786: Greek Passions; In Love with the Louvre; Balkan Discoveries

Visiting the world's largest museum is likely to feel overwhelming at first. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll get advice for how to approach the massive collection at the Louvre in Paris, so that you'll fall in love with the world's greatest museum.

We'll also separate the customs from the cliches that you might find on a vacation in Greece. And we'll get ideas for exploring the Balkan peninsula as a scenic, and affordable, alternative to the tourist crowds of Western Europe.

• Apostolos Douras, tour guide from Athens
• Journalist Elaine Sciolino, author of "Adventures in the Louvre" (Norton)
• Cameron Hewitt, senior writer/content manager at Rick Steves' Europe

• Elaine Sciolino writes about her discoveries on French society from her home base in Paris. Her latest book is "Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World's Greatest Museum."
• Elaine spoke with Rick about the Seine and the bridges of Paris on Travel with Rick Steves program #593 in February 2020, and program #607A in March 2023. She describes the flirtatious nature of social interactions in France in her book "Le Seduction," and on program #254a in 2013.
• Cameron Hewitt is Rick's senior content producer and writer. He provides tales from his own European travels in his book, "The Temporary European."
• The Rick Steves "Central Europe" guidebook covers sites in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Romania.

• St. Germain, "Pont des Arts," Tourist / Blue Note
• SON_SOVS_0102_02501_Mataranga_APM
• Parasksévas Grekis, "Zorba's Dance (Horos tou Zorba)," Greece-Grece - Mikis Theodorakis / Mikis Theodorakis (self-released)
• Intro to Nana Mouskouri, "Ta Pedia Tou Pirea ('The Children of Piraeus,' aka 'Never on Sunday')," Nana Mouskouri, The Voice of Greece, vol. 1 / Autarc Media
• Haris Alexiou, "Zilia Mou," Live '92-'97 / Mercury-Polygram (Greece)
• Ilias Mastoris, "Nafplio," O Ihos Tis Polis / Metronomos
• * Andreas Vollenweider, "Skin and Skin," Behind the Gardens, Behind the Wall, Under the Tree / Kin Jou
• David Patrick, "Scherzetto, op. 108 (Jongen)," French Organ Masterworks / Sanctuary Classics
• CEZ_CEV_3007_00401_Vendages_au_Chateau_APM
• Mistinguett, "La Tour Eiffel est toujours là," On Chantait Quand Même (collection) / Promosound
• Ensemble PAN, "Danse d'Abroz," The Island of St. Hylarion / New Albion
• Orchestre de l'Opera de Lyon, Kent Nagano cond., "Le Tombeau de Couperin: Prelude (Ravel)," The French Experience, disc 2 (collection) / Warner Classics
• Pascal Rogé, "Avant-dernieres pensées (Satie)," After the Rain: The Soft Sounds of Erik Satie / London Records
• Le Garcons Bouchers, Pigalle, "Pascal le keupon et l'amour," Urgence (disc 2) (collection) / Virgin France
• * Miles Davis, Michel Legrand, "Stompin' at The Savoy," Legrand Jazz & Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud / Poll Winners
• Berkovitza Folk Brass Orchestra, "Romano Vogi," Selected Humans / (self-released, from Berkovitza, Bulgaria)
• SON_SAS_0015_02201_Vilaja_Cottage_2_APM
• Fanfara Tirana, "Merre lehte (Take it Easy): Neighbors' Music is Cool, Part 1," Brass Noir: On the Trans-Balkan Highway (collection) / Piranha
• Koçani Orkestar, "Fantasia for Clarinet," Electric Gypsyland (collection) / Six Degrees
• !Dela Dap, "Zsa Manca," Gypsy Groove (collection) / Putumayo
• Georgia Kelly, Dusan Bogdanovic, "Yano Mori," A Journey Home / Global Pacific

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• In his open at 7:27, Rick says Apostolos has been tour guiding "for about 20 years."
• At 13:12, Rick describes being in Nafplio, Greece at Easter.
• Elaine describes, at 34:30, how 120 euros buys a year-long pass to the Louvre.
• At the end of segment B, at 37:56, Rick notes the release date for Elaine's book is April 1, and mentions US cities where she will be on a speaking tour. Rick adds that the French government "has just announced plans" to renovate the entrances to the Louvre by 2031, and to display the Mona Lisa in her own room.
• Rick opens segment C noting that much of Europe is "inundated with tourist crowds," and suggests much of the Balkans as an untouristed alternative destination. Cameron later explains how there may be few American tourists, but many others from eastern and central Europe, and the Muslim world, will vacation there.
• At 46:11, Cameron notes that no visas are required for American travelers to the Balkan countries, and that English is widely spoken. However, he adds there may be challenges scheduling public transit across national borders. At 48:18, he notes that Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo as a separate country.
• At 50:00, Cameron says Albania "is really hot right now" as a fledgling budget beach destination. Although raised prices last year had put a serious dent in its ascending tourism. He also explains how Albania's reputation for rental-car theft may no longer be valid.
• At 52:57, Cameron reports that the cost for hiring a local tour guide in the Balkans can vary from around US$50 to $100.
• At 55:52, Rick observes that the historic regional factionalism of the Balkans appears to be happening in the United States.
• At 56:55, Cameron reveals that the only Balkan country that appears to lean toward Russia is Serbia.