Travel with Rick Steves

The stereotype of bland food in Britain is changing. Actress and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey tells us how Britain has become a "Curry Nation." Also, the owner of a fair trade coffee company explains the workings of the coffee industry, from the perspective of the growers. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

There's a lot you can understand about Italy by observing how they operate their rail lines. Author and long-time Verona resident Tim Parks lets us in on the Italian way of doing things. Guides from the scenic Amalfi Coast take listener calls and share highlights of their corner of Italy, from Positano to the isle of Capri. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Hear about some of the heritage sites around the world that are in danger of being destroyed by war, weather, and neglect. Learn what is lost when an endangered minority language disappears from earth. Also, mountain climbing legend Ed Viesturs explains how he tackles Mount Everest and the rest of the world's highest peaks — without an oxygen mask. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Find out more about Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi and how the Winter Olympic games are affecting local attitudes. Pauline Frommer offers enthusiastic tips for making a visit to New York City fun and affordable. And friends from Europe share their local traditions for welcoming in the New Year in Spain, Croatia, Wales, Scotland, Belgium and Portugal. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Hear about holiday traditions in Wales, Hungary, Sicily, Scotland, and even Santa Fe where locals have unique ways to light up the season. Hear how scientists at a research station in Antarctica make merry. Plus listeners share some of their favorite Christmas memories from holiday travels. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Take a look at the conflict centers of the world through the lens of a foreign correspondent from the BBC. We hear how Christmas with the troops in Afghanistan can be a bit of a surreal experience. Get a look at how they celebrate the holidays in Switzerland and Austria. Rick also learns the essentials of serving a well-balanced savory cheese plate the way it's done in France. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

In the Loire Valley in central France, dozens of historic estates are ready to impress you with everything from elaborate gardens and architecture to authentic displays of medieval hunting and defense techniques. Plus, two guides recommend the sites in Brittany where even the rocks can show you a good time. Also, Leslie Carroll digs up juicy backstories on Europe's ruling families, and their "notorious royal marriages." For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Italian food expert Fred Plotkin delves into the local dessert specialties of Italy, and tells us where you can find the best gelato in the entire country. A guide from Sicily advises us how not to upset the "food police" when eating your pasta. Also, we'll get an overview of the dozens of neighborhood food markets you can shop at in Paris. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Hear how J. Maarten Troost found contentment and sobriety, sailing in the wake of Robert Louis Stevenson among the South Sea islands. Journalist Lisa Napoli describes the pressures to modernize and connect with the outside world that are changing the Himalayan country of Bhutan. Also, tour guide Asa Danielsson from Stockholm explains how a strong sense of ethics and fairness shapes the social order in Sweden. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

A genuinely "down to earth" astronaut tells us what it's like living and working on the International Space Station. Colonel Cady Coleman explains how zero gravity changes the everyday things you do, and how circling planet Earth every 90-minutes will change your outlook on life. Plus, listeners share tales of their own unforgettable treks and travels, back on mother Earth. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.