Archive for the ‘Wanderlust’ Category

Kevin and his sons visit the Topkapi palace’s harem complex and the Byzantine cistern to round out their long weekend in Istanbul. They reflect on the meaning of history, life, culture and geekiness.

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Beijing’s Forbidden City is one of the most fascinating palaces in the world, but Kevin doesn’t take you there this month. He does take you to a number of less well-frequented spots in Beijing, though, as well as a walk through Tiananmen square, where he muses on the People’s Hall of Doohickey, the modern face of China, and life in general.

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Sick of Prague, with its crowds of tourists? Head to Cracow. Poland’s ancient capital is one of Eastern Europe’s least appreciated gems, full of winding cobblestone streets, beautiful music, and pictures of the Pope. Kevin takes you through the city, listening to the famous trumpeter of Cracow, visiting the cathedral, with its dragon bones hanging at the entrance, chatting with a local tourism entrepreneur, and having an existential conversation with a giant walking mug of beer.

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Kevin takes you past Piccadilly, Leicester Square, and a series of other London landmarks, and he stops to talk to a number of antique booksellers on Cecil Court, all of whom are quintessentially British. He also chats with a Cockney cab driver and buys some tea. If you’re from London, are nostalgic for having lived there, or you just refer tea to coffee, this is the episode for you.

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Kevin takes a stroll down Dublin’s Grafton street, where he chats with a street musician and enjoys the bustle of an Irish afternoon… before heading into a number of pubs to speak to the barmen about life, Guiness, and the changing face of Ireland.

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This month, Kevin brings you to Europe’s capital, Brussels. He visits the city’s mascot, Manneken Pis, has a couple of beers in Belgium’s most renowned beer hall, describes the beautiful Grande Place, and has a chat over drinks with a couple of displaced Parisian friends, during which they discuss Brussels and Belgium as a whole. Beer and waffles and tiny bronze statues abound.

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If Monaco conjures up images of expensive cars, classy casinos and monstrous yachts, it’s only because that’s exactly what this tiny country is like. In this episode, Kevin explores Monaco, interviews a number of people in a vain attempt to find an actual citizen, takes his listeners to lunch at the fabled Café de Paris, and visits the marina to gawk at the super-yachts. Lastly, he goes into the casino to try his hand at the betting tables and fantasize about being James Bond.

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In this first episode, Kevin takes you to the small village near Paris in which he lives, where he interviews the mayor about the French art of mayoring, the French art of taking things relatively easy, and the French art of dealing with wild boar. He also speaks to another American expatriot and explores the very idea of “home” and what it means to be an American abroad.

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