Burt Wolf: Travels and Traditions

In 1911, Burt's grandmother and her one-year old daughter, Burt's mother, boarded a ship in Hamburg, Germany and immigrated to the United States. To mark this anniversary, Burt and his family sailed back to Europe on Cunard's Queen Mary -- same route, different accommodations. This program covers the history of transatlantic passenger ships and introduces you to what it is like today.

During the past decade, cruising the great rivers of Europe has become one of the most popular vacations for American tourists. In this program, Burt introduces you to Amsterdam, tours a museum dedicated to the history of women's handbags, and sails along the Rhine to Cologne.

Burt sails along the Rhine from Cologne to Rudesheim where he visits a museum dedicated to mechanical musical instruments. Along the way he passes the Lorelei Rock and explains the real story of how it got famous for luring ships into the rocks. Then he visits the city of Zell where the mayor and his band lead visitors in a parade through the streets of the town to a wine cellar underneath one of the government buildings.

Burt cruises along the Mosel River with stops in Cochem and Bernkastel in the middle of the Mosel wine region. He also tours the city of Luxembourg and cooks with Lea Linster, one of Europe's leading chefs and a major television personality.

As Burt visited the museums and galleries that are in his programs, he became aware of the extraordinary amount of great art that had been stolen --- over 6 billion dollars worth each year. This program will tell you about some of the works that are missing, why they are an important part of our history, and what you can do to help find them and earn millions of dollars in reward money.

Burt starts off in Nuremberg with visits to the 900 year old Imperial Castle, the open farmers' market and his favorite spice cookie shop. Then he sails to Regensburg to visit the remains of an ancient Roman fort. Next he cruises through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey where the Benedictine monks have been brewing one of Europe's great beers since 1050. In Linz, we learn about the Linzertorte and see the world's largest church organ.

Burt cruises through the Wachau Valley, a major area for Austrian wines. Then he visits Melk Abbey, one of Europe's largest and most impressive monasteries were Burt explains how the Catholic Church used Baroque architecture to undermine the Reformation. Then to Vienna for music and pastry, and finally a tour of Budapest.

Burt tours the ancient city of Lyon. Founded by the Romans in the year 43, it is the gastronomic capital of France. Then he visits the winemakers of Beaujolais, the twin cities of Tournon and Tain L'Hermitage connected by the oldest suspension bridge in Europe. Next is a stop at the Pope's Palace in Avignon, and the locations in Arles that inspired Van Gogh.