Program 791: Scottish Castles; Mars on Earth; Checking In

It's one of the driest places on Earth. Which makes it ideal for camping under the stars, and exploring the furthest reaches of space with high powered telescopes. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, an American journalist from Santiago tells us what he's found in the high-altitude Atacama Desert of Chile.

Plus, tour guides from Scotland recommend a regal variety of castles you can visit in their country.

And listeners tell us what makes their travels feel extra-special.

• Scottish tour guides Liz Lister and Helen Houston
• Mark Johanson, author of "Mars on Earth: Wanderings in the World's Driest Desert" (RMB)

• The Rick Steves online guide to Scotland.
• 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 cohost the Scottish Blethers podcast from their home bases in Fife, Scotland. They also talk with Rick about how their cultural icons, and even a few tourist clichés, help to reinforce their Scottish national identity. It's on Travel with Rick Steves program #780 from January 2025.
• Mark Johanson is a freelance journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and writes about what he found in the Atacama Desert in his book "Mars on Earth." Mark has also authored a number of books and articles on destinations in South America, Southeast Asia, and the US for Lonely Planet, including "A First-Timer's Guide to Chile's Atacama Desert."
• The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array is a multinational scientific endeavor at San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, operating the largest telescope in the world.
• In Rick's advice to a caller planning a honeymoon in Italy, he recommends taxi driver Raffaele Monetti in Sorrento for sightseeing the Amalfi Coast, and the dressy restaurant Il Gabriello at Via Vittoria 51 in Rome. He also suggests viewing the Pitti Palace in Florence with a local guide to avoid lines.

• Caller went to Scotland and Ireland with his son "recently, in the fall." They talk about the advantages of going in the November off-season, as well as traveling with kids in Europe and visiting ancestral places in Scotland. (Ed in Los Angeles, California)
• Caller is planning a trip to Iceland in September for five days and is looking for Rick's recommendations about the Golden Circle, and allowing time for other excursions to the South Coast. (Paul in Stillwater, Minnesota)
• "I was shopping at Le-Marche-aux-Puces in Clingancourt, and found a blown-glass lamp I wanted to buy. I didn't have enough cash — this was before they took credit cards. The shopkeeper let me take the lamp and said he'd pick up the money at my hotel's front desk after I went to the bank. My hotel was a half hour Métro ride from his shop! He came and got the money. Who in the US would do that for anyone — especially a foreigner?" (e-mail from Michelle in Livermore, California)
• "Rick's program about Belgium" reminded caller of when she lived there, working for an airline. She's bilingual in French, but says she mostly ended up speaking English with the trilingual staff. Includes a cute story about a language mishap. (Eithne in Orlando, Florida)
• Caller asks for romantic ideas for an upcoming honeymoon in Italy. Rick recommends an Amalfi Coast driver, a romantic restaurant in Rome, and taking a fresco class. (Cory in Sacramento, California)

• KPM_KPM_2248_00401_Flamingo_Movement_a_APM
• BRU_BR_0081_02501_Castle_Of_Kelvingrove_APM
• Old Blind Dogs, "The Salmon Leap," The Collection / KRL
• Kirkmount, "Hathorne Tree of Cawdor," Late Summer Air / (self-released)
• Mediaeval Baebes, "Star of the Sea," Mirabilis / Nettwerk
• * Regional Vermelho E Branco, "Vale do Jovari," Inuit to Inca: A Native American Odyssey (collection) / Putumayo
• KAPT_KAPT_0167_01201_Tierra_Atacama_APM
• OCHO_OCHO_0009_00301_Carretera_Despejada_APM
• SON_SAS_0228_022501_ñuke_Mapu_B_APM
• Le Griser, "Fusión a Distancia," Buenos Aires-Paris: The Electronic Tango Anthology, disc 2 (collection) / PMB Music (Argentina)
• Manu Chao, "Mundorévès," La Radiolina / Nacional Records
• Manu Chao, "Sone Otro Mundo, " La Radiolina / Nacional Records
• * Gotan Project, "Triptico," Buddha Bar, vol. 3, disc 2 (collection) / George V Music (France)
• SON_SCDV_0626_02501_Flamingo_Connection_A_APM
• Tannahill Weavers, "Macarther," The Mermaid's Song / Green Linnet
• Leif Ove Andsnes, "Humoresque-Bagatelles for piano, No. 1 'Goddag! Goddag! Goddag!' (Carl Nielsen, composer)," A Portrait / EMI Classics
• OMI_OMN_0145_00601_Dream_Spinner_APM
• Venice Baroque Orchestra, Giuliano Carmignola, violin, "Violin Concerto in E, No. 1: Allegro, 'La Primavera' from 'The Four Seasons' (Vivaldi)," A Classical Odyssey (collection) / NARM

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• At 6:50, Rick says we're "overdue" for checking in with listeners, in promoting today's segment C "open phones" material.
• At 28:57, Rick says that lithium is an important mineral for the future. Mark Johanson explains that it's the primary mineral now being extracted from the Atacama region.
• Mark adds that Chile is one of the wealthiest countries in South America, at 30:33, due to the land it controls in the Atacama. He explains that Chile is also one of the most economically divided and unequal countries in the Americas, with a popular uprising and revised constitution in 2019. Rick compares this to the current political situation in the United States. Mark suggests that tourists visiting smaller towns in Chile are welcome, and their money can help local people.
• Caller Ed from Los Angeles opens his conversation at 40:30, talking about visiting Edinburgh "recently, in the fall" and describes the city atmosphere "in November."
• When talking with caller Paul, Rick refers to the long-running Icelandair stopover option in Reykjavík, and suggests itineraries for a week on the island that favor time for the South Coast.