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Turning into a Tuscan Pasta-Making Machine

One of my favorite agriturismi (farmhouse B&Bs) in Tuscany is Cretaiole, where Isabella and Carlo host about 15 visitors at a time for week-long stays (doubles for around $1,200 per week). They put together a fun-loving cultural boot camp where guests choose from classic Tuscan activities lined up for them every day. We stayed here as a base while we did our filming. And we joined them one night for the pici pasta-making party. With Isabella’s guidance, we kneaded it, rolled it, and then ate it. Young and old alike, for a few memorable minutes, we were all pasta-making machines. Cooking classes are so popular in Europe these days. What is your favorite such experience?

This is Day 15 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and beyond. Find more at blog.ricksteves.com.

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The Story Behind Siena’s 750-Year-Old War Relic

I was just filming in the cathedral of Siena, my head spinning with its amazing art. Suddenly my Siena guide, Roberto, points out a tall, 750-year-old wooden post near and dear to the hearts of the Sienese people. As if it happened yesterday, he explained, “It was booty from a battle won at 8 a.m. on September 4th, 1260 — the last time we beat our arch rivals — the Florentines.”

This is Day 13 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and beyond. Find more at blog.ricksteves.com.

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Barcelona’s Ramblas RIP?

For more than a century, strolling down Barcelona’s main boulevard, the Ramblas, has been the thing to do when visiting. Sadly, the charm of the Ramblas has not survived the rise of mass tourism in Barcelona. Back when locals enjoyed strolling here, there was plenty of business to keep characteristic flower stalls, bird markets, and newspaper stands healthy. It’s what gave the Ramblas its unique cultural charm. But today, the local clientele that kept these characteristic stalls in business is gone, replaced by tides of tourists. Consequently, the street is lined with what many tourists buy — tacky trinkets and lousy street food. Still, if you come to Barcelona…you’ve got to ramble the Ramblas.

This is Day 12 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and beyond. Find more at blog.ricksteves.com.

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Traveling in Spain’s Fast Lane

We hear so much about Europe’s problems. Traveling here, I see its successes. Spain, with one of the most miserable economies in Europe, is now laced together by bullet trains so good that you hardly need to fly. Here’s a quick peek at the ride from Madrid to Barcelona — nonstop with speeds ranging from 250 to 300 kilometers per hour (around 180 mph). It’s so nice to zip from downtown to downtown without having to deal with airports in 2.5 hours. And my train ticket included subway rides on either end, which made it even better. On the plain in Spain, the AVE train puts you in the fast lane. (You may want to turn up the volume for this video — I’m whispering so I don’t disturb slumbering passengers.)

This is Day 11 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and beyond. Find more at blog.ricksteves.com.