I’m sunburned — just home from an exciting football weekend in Indiana at Notre Dame, where our son (Andy, a junior there) proudly marched for his first game as part of the elite corps of scowling and intimidatingly tall “Irish Guard.” It was “praise the Lord and pass the football” for this Midwest ritual. (I find less culture shock between Europe and Seattle than between Seattle and South Bend.) With the disappointing score, the homily Sunday morning at Mass was appropriately on humility. Back in the office, the pressing order of business: Choose the theme for this season’s public television pledge special. (For simplicity, I like to say “PBS,” but that’s not really accurate. PBS is the biggest distributor of programming for public television, but my show is distributed by American Public Television — APT. So, I say public television.) In past years, I used to spend as much as 30 days visiting 30 different stations during the December and March pledge-drive seasons. Now I’m down to about 12 days in 12 cities, and rely on producing what’s called a “virtual pledge event” once or twice a year to help in the necessary fundraising. This is done in Portland at my “presenting station” (OPB). We do it live there, but we don’t ever say Portland or Oregon Public Broadcasting (to OPB’s disadvantage yet to the advantage of a hundred other stations who will run the show). I talk in general terms about “your public television station” and each station then puts its call letters and phone number on the screen. I love the efficiency of these “virtuals” — they free up time for me to make more TV shows in Europe while virtually “hosting” pledge events all over the country. Last year, I had my biggest single pledge break at WTTW in Chicago after running our “the making of” special that showed our film crew actually making the episode in Milano. I flew home realizing that this struck a chord with PTV viewers and potential supporters — seeing how small producers like us are scrambling to bring this programming to public television. For our next “virtual,” we plan to show this, then the actual Milan show, and round it out with a sneak preview of our new Burgundy show (shot two months ago, which I think is the best of our new series in the works). We’ve never shown an episode before the series as a whole debuted. But I’m excited to make this exception. The problem: What to call a special with no geographic focus. I brainstormed with my boss at OPB and we came up with a winner: “Rick Steves Insiders’ Europe.” While I’m thinking of TV, I need to start setting up the last six shows for our new series. We have seven shows shot and mostly produced in 2007. Six more shows will give us the standard 13 for our promised release date in October 2008. I suspect I’ll be really hot on Greece and Turkey after my next month’s trip there, so we’ll likely have shows on Athens with Delphi, the Peloponnese and Istanbul. That’ll be shot in the spring (fine weather, early enough to keep our editor busy back home) then we’ll need three more to shoot in summer — I’m thinking Copenhagen, Stockholm and Talinn/Estonia. But there is a world of options. Stay tuned. (And go Irish!)
New TV Shows and Culture Shock in the Heartland
Comments
Two things: 1. I both congratulate and sympathize with your son Andy. Congratulate because I, too, once knew the thrill of marching in Notre Dame Stadium – it was my first assignment as a freshman member of The Michigan Marching Band (sorry, Andy, we won that one, actually besting QB Joe Montana). Sympathize because, well, I obviously went to The University of Michigan, and we lost our home opener as well – to a Division 1-AA school nicknamed “Appy State”. By the way, we expect a formal “thank you” from Notre Dame for burying your loss to Georgia Tech deep in the news cycle. 2. Rick, you mentioned the ratings success of your “behind the scenes” episode. I, too, was a fan. Perhaps you would consider making more of these “non-destination specific” type shows, such as your “Travel Skills” 3-parter? I’m sure there are many more general travel topics to be mined from ETTBD, and they tend to be timeless. Just promise me you’ll never do a show on “Appy State”! Todd
I hope and pray my MSU Spartans crush the Irish in a few weeks. Go Spartans! Have fun in Greece.
I was thinking of a general blog title for this new series taking place stateside. How about “Blog Gone it- I’m Home” or something like that. You have to name the new blog entries something. Right? Fred in Atlanta
look forward to your new public tv shows, Rick. Do you ever think you will do a guidebook on greater Greece, aside from Athens in your general Europe guide? (maybe my Europe guide is too old and you are including more these days.)
Love to see a new show on Istanbul!!
Hey Todd, Appalachian State was actually my safety school. Go ACC & North Carolina teams (except Duke & NC State)!!! :-) Hi Rick–I thought your behind-the-scenes show was terrific, and now my husband and I amuse ourselves with a Where’s Waldo-type search for your producer and your cameraman’s meal each week. We also love the episodes in HD. Keep it up and enjoy your vacation while the rest of us have to knuckle down after the summer. Go Tar Heels!
There is nothing like a football game in South Bend. Andy gets the real Notre Dame experience. I’m a ’91 ND alum and was a manager on the field during most of my tenure, as well on the sidelines during the ’88 National Championship. The sprituality on the Notre Dame campus during a championship season exceeds even St. Peters in Rome.
I grew up in the Midwest (and acutally lived in South Bend for a year) until I moved to Oregon in 1975 and found “home”. I couldn’t agree more on the cultural differences between the midwest and the west coast. I’m a west coast girl. I love the behind the scenes shows. Thanks for all the public tv info . . . some of that was new to me. Happy travels!
We spent $10 on your 2007 Italy book; we were looking forward to a dreamy vacation on the Almafi coast (including a stay in one of your recommended hotels.) Well Rick, we’ll never buy your books again, and we’re telling our friends. The Amalfi coast is a TOURIST TRAP HELL and after seeing Pompeii and Ercolano – fantastic, of course – we beat it. Your recommendation for the ‘friendly family that runs Hotel Il Nido’ is total crap. We both speak fluent French/Italian, we are far from ‘ugly Americans’… and Gianni who runs the place barely looked us in the eye. WTF? He acts like mafia. Furthermore, it’s not a hotel, it’s an ALBERGO, several notches under a hotel in Europe. Breakfast was gross, couldn’t eat it after 2 days. Food in general in Sorrento is poor quality, made for stupid tourists who don’t know better. Net/net Rick, you are doing the travel biz a disservice and I can no longer support your globalizing business – which is what you are doing. Please stop ruining these places.
Hmmm…Rachel, with an attitude like yours, I’m not surprised that Italians were reluctant to look you in the eye. They probably couldn’t stand your presence. If you look for the dark side, you’re sure to find it; if you look for the fun things in life, they seem to never stop jumping out at you. It’s all in your perspective. I hope we never cross paths. You’re attitude is sure to ruin even the finest day. Please stay home. Your visits are surely ruining it for those of us who follow – even with smiles on our faces.
Ditto Love to Travel!!
Rachel, I’m curious – and be honest now – have you traveled in Europe before? If so, do you generally have a good time or a bad time? Do you have any friends and do they have as negative an outlook on life as you? Please answer honestly now.
Rick, your work in promoting ALL the Public Channels is well respected and certainly appreciated. THANKS.
I want to comment a little on Rachel’s post. I’m sorry she had a bad time in Italy; that’s an awful long way to go to be so bitter. Attitude is everything; my mom & I tried one of Rick’s recommended hotels in London, and she hated it. We checked out after 1 night and found a Comfort Inn down the street with an elevator. Mom was able to relax in an environment she found comfortable, and we kept using our guidebook. My experience of the Amalfi coast this year is that it may be more rustic than we are used to. Depending on the time of year, maybe Rachel could have tried something else, like a rented villa (my experience-great value for $). And don’t just rely on Rick for advice; ask locals. If you speak the language, ask a local in their language. Try something more down-market and savor the change. Life is too short for bitterness, and our precious time off is too valuable to lose in anger. I hope Rachel keeps on traveling, & I hope she will use the rest of this site for recommendations.
Oh, and I totally disagree about Sorrento. It was one of the most charming places in Italy I’ve ever been, and I had the best pizza of my life in a little restaurant off the Piazza Tasso this past February. And I bought the most gorgeous custom-made sheets I’ve ever had the pleasure to sleep on. And the Limoncello!!! LOVE Sorrento!!
I hope no one minds that this may be a duplicate from me, but just for Rachel — —
In addition to clothes, money, and a passport, the most important thing to take with you on vacation is a positive attitude. It’s amazing how many stupid, ignorant, inefficient, obnoxious people we meet when (if?) we are in a bad mood.
That was first published as my Letter to the Editor of the Wall Street Journal, 30 years or so ago.
For 25 years I traveled somewhere most every week on business, in the years before the years of travel with my Sweetie.
Welcome back Jim and I ditto your advice. Life is all about attitude.
Rick, please do one on Tallinn, Estonia. I have been there twice but it was back in 95 and 96. I loved the country and would love to see how much it has changed since I have been there. I think people would really enjoy Estonia.
One more thing about Estonia. If you would be interested in experiencing another part of Estonia, another great place to visit is Tartu. It is home of the major university in Estonia and has a great medium sized town feel. Check it out as I am sure you would love it there. I have spent over a week there and really loved it.
Rick, when my husband and I visited Roma in 2004 we did the Scavi tour under St. Peter’s. (That’s the Necropoli, below the level where you find the tombs of popes.) We had a wonderful young seminarian as a guide. It was a very moving experience We got our tickets before leaving home. You may not be able to take your cameras with you, but I highly recommend you take the tour.
Rick – Enjoy your shows and blog!! I was also at the game this weekend and sadly it was a poor showing for my first weekend as a graduate student! We were just told today that our executive MBA class will be going to Turkey and England for our international portion in 08′. I look forward to purchasing your books to see what I should look forward to. Go Irish!
Rick: I would love to see a show on Talinn/Estonia… I’ve been there twice over the past few years and it is time to let the masses know about this wonderful city/old town/county(plus you’ve got to love that the first thing everyone who returns from there mentions is that the entire city is populated by supermodels — I am convinced that this is the result of a Soviet program to breed super hot Eastern Bloc spies). PS: Fight On! and Beat the Irish! Love your shows and books!
Keep up the great work, Rick. Go Seahawks!
Since when is it a crime to challenge a recommendation? I thought Rick was touring Greece, not being enshrined on Olympus! Rachel disagreed with recommendations–is that a reason to question her sanity or right to exist? Come on people, it’s not all sea shells and balloons in Europe. To Grant, I too would love to see a show on Tallin.
Rachel: “He acts like mafia?” “We’re not ugly Americans?” How can you reconcile those two statements in the same paragraph? Just curious.
Rick, have you thought about visiting and/or filming in Riga? I was there in 1990, just before Latvia’s independence from the USSR, and found it to be a charming small city. I wonder what it’s like now.
Karen, after reading her comments, I suspect that Rachels problem was that she was already more “down-market” than she was comfortable with. Some people don’t do down-market well. I stayed in the Rick recommended Hotel Abeerdeen in Rome and LOVED it. Would absolutley stay there again.
Sharyn, My daughter in law is from Riga Latvia. She and my son go there every summer to visit her parents. They love it so much! I hope to go there next summer. Back in March, I was in Edmonds for the travel classes, and did talk to Rick personally. I asked him about Riga, and he has been there and really likes it. My daughter in law owns a B&B and I gave the information to Rick. I hope he does add that to his list to do a show. He even has a tour guide all ready if he wants to use my daughter in law, Gundega. She knows Latvia inside out, and she is very beautiful on camera! How about it Rick? Lisa P.
This winter go to the IceHotel in Sweden. Make it part of your Sweden segment and maybe go back in the summer and show how the Sweds love the summer outdoors.
Five of us Oregonians will take measure of the lands of black lamb and gray falcon (the Balkans)later this month (September, 2007)and we have checked your blogosphere. I have trod Balkan paths before but have yet to follow them to Bosna-Hercegovina. I found your blog on Mostar enlightening. Fueled by your burned-black analysis of the post-war cultural split therein, I plan to take a precious walk over that old transcultural span and blog later with some additional Hercegovinan tragedies. Cheers, Web Ruble, Fairview, Ore., book author/retired journalist.
Rick, come on! Take a look at one of Europe’s best undiscovered countries; Finland!
Rick, I loved your comment about more culture shock between Seattle and the midwest than between Seattle and Europe. As a native midwesterner who does not have any interest in football, it made me laugh out loud! As one thinking person to another Rick, thanks for validating my feelings.
Rachel, it’s unfortunate you didn’t enjoy your stay in Italy, but I have to agree with many of the others here in that your attitude and bitterness seems to be part of the problem. To add to that, you seem to be somewhat vindictive (“we’ll never buy your books again, and we’re telling our friends”). You might want to read Rick’s travel philosophy, which is usually listed in his Guidebooks. For example, “if something is not to your liking, change your liking”. Rick’s ETBD travel style emphasizes smaller, local establishments rather than large tourist traps. Based on my impressions of your post, I suspect you would have been much happier staying at a five-star property. I travelled Italy and other countries last fall, and aside from a rude ticket agent in Milan, the people were wonderful! I stayed almost exclusively in lodgings shown in Rick’s books, and while they weren’t fancy they were all clean, safe and affordable. Hopefully your future travels will be more enjoyable?
Ken – Don’t hold your breath.
Rick, why just film Estonia, why not Lithuania and Latvia also. I know about as much about making TV programs as a turnip but I wonder if you could not give a good overview of the 3 countries in 2 shows. Just a thought. Now, Rick you can’t just throw out that culture shock thing and not explain further. Full disclosure time I have lived my entire life in Chicago. But I have visited your neck of the woods 3 times, most recently this summer. I gotta be honest Rick while the terrain is obviously different in the Pacific Northwest, I don’t notice much difference in the people. Although being from the Midwest maybe I just don’t know how to think.
Rick, I’d love to see you do a TV show on Iceland and Malta as new backdoors.
i sypathize with you about culture shock in the midwest. I find it kind of funky and strange actually. i have family in the south, and that seems pretty normal to me. but there is somthing about small town, mid USA that is off. when im there, all i want to do is go somewhere else. i even consider myself very open minded. it could be possible that the extra fast, high paced southern california living has corrupted my soul. But why do i enjoy small town Europe? mexico? california? oh well, any suggestions?
this is just a quick follow up to my last post. Mabey i dont like the midwest becuasue i dont like american football. bunch of overpaid, steriod using cry babies. dog fighters as well. :D ha ha! the NBA is the same. in fact, i hope the dream team gets their butts handed to them again like last time. Baseball, is the only true light in this utter darkness. Go Angels!
I recommend that you do a video, for Television, at some of the Cyclades islands of Greece : FOLEGANDROS, SIFNOS, PAROS, NAXOS. You already did a video of Greece that includes Athens. And, I recommend doing a video at Tallin in Estonia. You already did good videos at Copenhagen and Stockholm.
Although I am a religious follower of Rick’s guidebooks and shows, I think Rachel has a point about one thing: guidebook hotel recommendations can be hit or miss. Over the last decade, I’ve spent a lot of time in European hotels. Originally I followed the guidebooks, and they worked well. But over the past few years, it seems that hoteliers have become better at identifying reviewers and offering them the best service. Now, I always check with TripAdvisor before booking any hotel. I’ve found it to be extremely accurate. Before booking, take a minute to check the reviews from other travelers — it may save you a big headache.
Yes, a show on Iceland would be wonderful. I had the chance to visit there several years ago. I really enjoyed the thermal baths and hikes that the country offered. Reykjavik was a kick with a Scandinavian flare.
Rick, We love your books and have watched every show many times. We used your Italy 2007 book to explore Tuscany and the Cinque Terra and all your reccomendations lived up to our expectations. We loved Gianni Franzi & the Sicilian Bakery (name?) in Vernazza, LaCrociona in Montalcino, Hotel Davanzati in Florence. Another place “back door” travelers may enjoy is Dolce Toscana in Montescudaio. This was by far our best vacation ever, thanks to you. Planning to go to Ireland in 2008 “through the back door”…..
Regarding Rachel & Crusty’s Post: “Since when is it a crime to challenge a recommendation?” Posted by: Crusty – Sep 05, 2007 Indeed it is not a crime, but where on earth are your manners, Rachel? You could have made your point without being so vile. Yes, everybody has a right to their opinion, but please, let’s have a little courtesy and respect for other readers and their opinions. Shame on you Rachel for relying solely on one guidebook. It sounds to me like you didn’t do your homework as well as you should, and shifting blame to everyone but yourself. You are the one that has to take responsibility for yourself. Surely you must know that the world is full of differing opinions, including guidebook writers? Ugly American? If the words in your post are any indication of who you are, you’d better re-think that one. If you disagree, then I suggest you calm down prior to posting comments in anger. You may garner more sympathy with less venom.
To Crusty: It’s not what she said, it’s how she said it, and how her attitude betrays her claims that she and her companion are well-mannered and reasonable people. If her nasty and vindictive post is any indication (“We’re never buying anything from you, and we’re telling all our friends!”), her self-perception is very different from reality, and maybe that Italian clerk (you know, Rachel, the mafia guy) was wise not to look you in the eye.
Hmmm, it sounds like we need a new series, Midwest America through the Backdoor. I travel from my home in Wisconsin regularly to NYC and less often to the west coast; and while I love those trips, I’m always happy to get home. Use those ETBD travel skills next time you’re here and you’ll find interesting things to do and see. You might want to discover the history and culture as well as learn more about the people who live here–many of whose ancesters came from the Europe we’re all visiting. And don’t forget that in addition to small town midwest there are cities like Chicago and Minneapolis.
Good luck to Andy and ND in the future, but for now GO JACKETS! We were there and also got a sunburn. Love your books Rick
I was wondering who Rick would cheer on if the Irish took on his beloved Huskies (especially with the Huskies having Notre Dames’ former coach). On a different note, I was hoping to get a clarification from Rick on a couple of things. 1st….In London Trad and Mod, Rick says the London Eye is made of British steel, Dutch engineering, and German/French/and Italian parts….yet on the third part of the Travel Skills special he says the London Eye is comprised of a Swiss motor/Italian steel/and German design, is there a way to find out the specs on the Eye? Keep in mind, 90% or better of my knowledge of Europe has come from Rick, and I know how hard he works and what a perfectionist he is and he is one of my heroes, also. I am also unclear on the same episode of Travel Skills Rick states that “Barcelona lets Madrid wave her Catalonian flag”. With Madrid being the capital of Spain, wouldn’t Madrid have the say in which flags can be waved, and isn’t Barcelona in Catalonia?