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Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

Here you can browse through my blog posts prior to February 2022. Currently I'm sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on my mind solely on my Facebook page. — Rick

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Video: A Symphonic Journey to England

A few years ago, I teamed up with Cascade Symphony to create Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey, an hour-long special that explores Europe’s Romantic music.

This was the soundtrack of the Victorian Age, back when the sun never set upon the British Empire. And in this clip from the special, we travel to jolly olde England, where you’ll hear the grandeur and confidence behind Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance.

Re-watching this clip, I remember the fun challenge of introducing each of these great works of patriotic music. I had to give each piece some historical and cultural context — just as all of our guides at Rick Steves’ Europe Tours endeavor to prepare our tour members to find both meaning and joy in new cultural experiences.

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We Met Our Goal! $500,000 for Bread for the World

We Met Our Goal

We did it! Rick Steves’ Europe travelers have met our goal of raising $500,000 to help empower Bread for the World to combat structural poverty and hunger.

2,123 of you gave $100 or more each, totaling $282,073. As promised,  I matched the first $250,000. Together, we raised $532,073 to fight structural causes of hunger. All this money — 100% — was given to Bread for the World to advocate (as they so expertly do) in our halls of government for policies that help the hungry both at home and abroad. This is not “handouts for the lazy,” and it’s not “trickle down,” either.  Good Americans, surrounded by a sea of abundance (and in the midst of what I see as a political storm of greed), struggle to simply feed their children. Our initiative is smart compassion in action.

Now let’s see if we can go beyond our goal! Please let your loved ones know about this timely challenge. You have until this Sunday to join us and get your thank-you gift — my European Christmas gift pack or the Rick Steves’ Europe Complete Collection DVD Box Set — before Christmas.

Giving in partnership with caring travelers like you makes my work even more gratifying. Thanks, happy holidays, and Merry Christmas to all.

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Video: A Symphonic Journey to the Czech Republic

A few years ago, I teamed up with the Cascade Symphony to create Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey, an hour-long special that explores Europe’s most stirring Romantic-era anthems.

In this clip from the special, we drop in on the Czech Republic. As throughout Europe in the late 19th century, Czech nationalists and Romantics teamed up to celebrate their unique cultural heritage. Bedrich Smetana’s masterwork, “The Moldau,” is the unofficial anthem of the Czech Republic… and if you’re headed to Prague, you’re sure to hear it. Enjoy this little musical trip to Bohemia.

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Thanks! You Gave Me My Christmas Present…and It Cost Me $215,050

Dear Traveler,

Three weeks ago I issued a challenge, and got a great response. Thanks so much to the 1,567 travelers who’ve responded so far to my Christmas fundraiser for Bread for the World.

Together, you’ve contributed $215,050. And with my match, collectively, we’ve raised $430,100 to help power Bread for the World’s work in explaining to Congress the needs of our nation’s poor, homeless, and hungry people. Bread for the World has been very effective in its advocacy work encouraging our government not to balance the budget by cutting vital services to our nation’s most needy. With discussions about tax reform these days, this message is more timely than ever.

 

Check to Bread for the World

 

In addition to my personal matching challenge, I promised to thank those contributing $100 or more with a special Christmas gift of my European Christmas book, DVD, and CD (or my Complete Collection DVD Box Set). So far, we’ve mailed thank you packages to more than 1,500 of you.

While this equals last year’s campaign, we’re still about $35,000 short of our 2017 goal of $250,000. And there’s good news: There’s still time to join us. If you’d like to help us reach this exciting goal, donate by December 10. I’ll pop your gift into the mail within 24 hours and you’ll get it before Christmas! Learn more and make a donation at ricksteves.com/bread.

Thanks so much for making 2017 a very expensive Christmas for me. Giving like this, in partnership with caring travelers like you, makes my work even more gratifying than it already is. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to all.

Rick Steves

P.S. My friends at Bread for the World are thrilled! They send their thanks and share their determination to honor your gifts by working hard and smart to transform this contribution into effective action in Washington D.C. To learn more about their impressive work, visit www.bread.org. This is the compassionate spirit of America in action this holiday season.