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Post by me on Dec 22, 2005 23:17:38 GMT -5
just watched an episode of Globe Trekker about Baltics & Finland on the local PBS station.
how should i put this, i really like the topic of this show, it's about backpacking, but the presentation drives me crazy! they give tidbits of interesting and useful information to those who want to go, but the general disrespect really gets my goat.
also, for many of the episodes, the show is more about the host than about the place they visit. especially when this one American chick is the host. it wasn't quite as bad today, the host was a Scottish guy. but, as usual, they focused on the disgusting traditional food that, probably, no one eats anymore. sigh.
- d
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Post by Eagle on Dec 25, 2005 2:02:34 GMT -5
David, the Globe Trekker program is one of the Pilot Guides / Lonely Planet series. For some reason those are the only ones shown on the PBS stations. I regularly watch the others on Outdoor Life Network (most weeknights at 7:00 PM in this area).
I agree with you, the presentation doesn't entirely cover the areas they are visiting. However I guess to keep it to a one hour format, some compromises are necessary. The "American chick" you referred to was most likely either Justine Shapiro (born in South Africa but now American) or Megan McCormick. I can't remember the name of the "Scottish guy". Their most popular "adventure traveller" on LP is Ian Wright, who is English (London, I believe). Another of the "regulars" is Estelle Bingham. One of the former LP travellers, Christina Chang, is now on US network TV. I've seen her in episodes of the new "LA Dragnet" (show has been cancelled, I think) and also CSI Miami.
There are various "vintages" of those programs, and I believe some new ones have been made recently. I haven't seen the one of Finland and the Baltics for quite a while, so can't rember the content. I usually focus on the episodes concerned with Europe, and watch those on the Far East and South American ones if I've got nothing better to do (they are also interesting).
We have a Canadian version of the LP travel shows, called "Don't Forget Your Passport". They cover a variety of areas, including Europe, but I don't believe any new episodes are being produced at the moment. I usually watch the Euro episodes over and over, as some of the cinematography is excellent.
With regards to the food that is "required eating" by the travellers, I had to chuckle a bit during the episode when Ian Wright was visiting Uzbekistan (or somewhere in that part of the world). He was required to eat a sheep's eyeball, and the expressions on his face were priceless! Apparently, it's considered a delicacy by the locals, and to refuse is a grave insult! However, on the episode where one of the travellers (Justine, I think) was required to eat a deep fried Fruit Bat, she refused and simply commented that "I think I'll just imagine what it tastes like).
Anyway, I find them interesting and usually watch the re-runs.
Cheers!!!
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Post by dougjnotloggedin on Dec 27, 2005 17:24:28 GMT -5
"don't forget your passport" kinda sucks, imo. I catch pilot guides on oln and travel channel, it's pretty good. what you have to remember is these shows are basically introductions and aren't in depth at all, they really can't be. thankfully it's not as bad as valerie pringle's horrid travel show.
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Post by Eagle on Dec 27, 2005 18:09:54 GMT -5
With regard to "Don't Forget Your Passport", I usually only watch the episodes covering European destinations. The presentation is structured a bit differently than the LP shows, but perhaps they're just trying to offer a unique perspective? I do enjoy some of the cinematography - some of the scenes are stunning!
I didn't realize you received the Valerie Pringle shows in the U.S. I've just recently obtained digital cable, so didn't have access to them until now. The only episode I've watched so far is the one covering Lake Como, and I kind of enjoyed the show as that's an area I'm really looking forward to visiting. However, I agree that the presentation probably wouldn't appeal to the "backpacking" crowd.
I imagine you've also seen Rudy Maxa's "Smart Travels" on PBS. I quite enjoy those shows as they focus on Europe. However his travel style is considerably different than Rick Steves. Rudy seems to take the "luxury" approach, and that's not the way I'll be travelling. I couldn't afford one night in some of the Hotels he uses! Again, some of the photography in Rudy's show is excellent (especially now that it's mostly in HDTV - time to upgrade my old TV!!!).
Cheers!!!
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Post by jennifer on Dec 27, 2005 22:36:53 GMT -5
What channels are these things on? I have "Canal Evasion" but the shows aren't too great... Anyone know if I get any channel with this in Montreal on normal cable?
Thanks
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dougj
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 205
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Post by dougj on Dec 28, 2005 8:31:45 GMT -5
With regard to "Don't Forget Your Passport", I usually only watch the episodes covering European destinations. The presentation is structured a bit differently than the LP shows, but perhaps they're just trying to offer a unique perspective? I do enjoy some of the cinematography - some of the scenes are stunning! I didn't realize you received the Valerie Pringle shows in the U.S. I've just recently obtained digital cable, so didn't have access to them until now. The only episode I've watched so far is the one covering Lake Como, and I kind of enjoyed the show as that's an area I'm really looking forward to visiting. However, I agree that the presentation probably wouldn't appeal to the "backpacking" crowd. I imagine you've also seen Rudy Maxa's "Smart Travels" on PBS. I quite enjoy those shows as they focus on Europe. However his travel style is considerably different than Rick Steves. Rudy seems to take the "luxury" approach, and that's not the way I'll be travelling. I couldn't afford one night in some of the Hotels he uses! Again, some of the photography in Rudy's show is excellent (especially now that it's mostly in HDTV - time to upgrade my old TV!!!). Cheers!!! it's mostly the hosts on "don't forget" that get me. I don't know what it is, but they just rub me the wrong way. I live in canada, pringle's show is on the travel channel. I've watched a lot of her programs, and again it's her that turns me off. she's a bit of a stereotypical "ugly north american"....the one she did on newfoundland made me want to puke. typical quaint newfoundlanders and their dorys and fishing and blah blah blah. never heard of rudy max. |
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Post by Eagle on Dec 28, 2005 16:59:50 GMT -5
Jennifer, check your local listings for OLN TV. Here is the directory for today for your area (Montreal - I assume you have Rogers Cable?): www.tsn.ca/oln/Schedule.asp?Channel=OLN&ShowDate=Dec%2028%202005&TZ=0DougJ, the Rudy Maxa shows are only shown on PBS stations as far as I know. I haven't seen them for a few months, but check out www.rudymaxa.com/television.php for further information. I find his programs interesting, although his travel style is too extravagant for my tastes. I agree that some of the hosts on DFYP are a bit irritating at times. I don't mind watching Saskia (she's the "traveller" on many of the Euro programs - the episode on Switzerland and the Berner Oberland was great - I can hardly wait to get there!). Ross Shimmon did the program on England, which I really enjoyed as he covered some of the areas I visited last year. Fortunately, Pilot Guides / Lonely Planet have produced a few new shows, so hopefully there will be something that is of interest to all. Cheers!!!
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Post by jennifer on Jan 1, 2006 23:38:41 GMT -5
Nope, not Rogers cable.... Videotron  |
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Post by Eagle on Jan 9, 2006 19:01:24 GMT -5
David, the Globe Trekker episode on Finland & the Baltics was broadcast here last Saturday night. The "traveller" (you described as a "Scottish guy") was Neil Gibson (I think he did the episode on Machu Piccu also). I suspect this was one of the older shows (perhaps five years old?), but I usually enjoy watching them anyway especially if they're covering a European destination.
The current Rick Steves shows that are on PBS Seattle lately, seem to be mostly 1997 vintage, but occasionally one of the newer ones shows up. Again, I'll watch just about any travel shows covering Europe, even if I've seen them before. I really enjoyed the RS Christmas Special, and found some of the Christmas traditions in Europe to be awesome.
There was an interesting show on the CTV Travel channel the other day that I hadn't seen before, called "Top 10 Venice". It described (in their opinion), the best 10 things to see in Venice (No. 1 on their list was Piazza San Marco). I learned a few things and quite enjoyed it!
Cheers!!!
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Post by jennifer on Jan 9, 2006 19:39:24 GMT -5
Grr why do I only get Canal Evasion!!! |
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Post by Eagle on Jan 9, 2006 21:08:13 GMT -5
jennifer, is Videotron the only service available in your area? Might be time to switch companies, or perhaps you could order a different "bundle" with Videotron to receive some of the channels that have the good travel shows? Do you have a PBS station in your area?
PS: I just checked the Videotron web site, and I wasn't able to see the channel lineup - for some reason, the stupid site would only allow about eight characters to be entered in the address field. Without an address (fictitious or otherwise) and a post code, it wouldn't display the channel lineup.
However, I did check the TV guide and it indicates that Globe Trekker will be shown in your area on PBS station WETK on Jeudi (is that Thursday-sorry, my French is not that good) at 21:00. This week's episode will be Mexico City.
Perhaps you just need to order a different "bundle" of channels?
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Post by Jules80 on Jan 9, 2006 21:45:13 GMT -5
depending on where you live in quebec, you're limited to which channels you can get.... there is videotron english and french.
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Post by dumbdiety on Jan 25, 2006 20:13:14 GMT -5
Wow...I just caught an eppy of this on PBS (never saw it before)...
Good GOD is this woman annoying! She's in Mexico City, and she just seems....pissed. Granted, she does speak of the local history well enough, but her demeanor just screams "spoiled b*tch". Please tell me other people host these also!
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Post by Eagle on Jan 26, 2006 16:38:47 GMT -5
I haven't seen the episode on Mexico City for quite a while, but a quick check of the web site indicates that the "traveller" was Justine Shapiro. For the most part I don't mind her presentation or demeanor, but I do agree she does give the impression of a spoiled b**tch at times. At first I thought you might be referring to Megan McCormick, as I find her presentation a bit annoying at the best of times. YES, they have quite a few hosts / travellers. Check www.pilotguides.com/tv_shows/globe_trekker/travelers/index.php for further details. My favourite hosts would have to be Ian Wright and Estelle Bingham. You'll probably recognize Christina Chang from "L.A. Dragnet" (now cancelled, I believe) and she did a few episodes as the D.A. or something on "CSI Miami". From what I could gather from the web site, she might be doing a few more episodes of Pilot Guides now? I watch these shows regularly, as one version or the other (Pilot Guides, Lonely Planet, Treks in a Wild World or Globe Trekker) are on about three times a day on my local cable channels. I watched another show on CTV Travel the other day called "Karma Trekker" which was quite interesting, and the local PBS station has also started airing a show called "The Seasoned Traveller" on Wednesday nights at 19:30, right after Rick Steves. I've got LOTS of travel shows to watch, which is kind of a blessing given my current health situation (I have to "keep the dream alive" somehow!). Cheers!!! |
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