This week on the Travel with Rick Steves radio show and podcast: Rick gathers some old friends to hear about their childhood Christmases in Spain, Italy, and New Mexico. Then he brings in more friends to describe what you're likely to find this time of year in Austria, Australia, Japan...and Antarctica. Plus, a Brit from Bath explains how the English tradition of "wassailing" developed as a way to guarantee a good apple harvest — or at least an occasion to enjoy a warm drink with neighbors. Find

This week on the Travel with Rick Steves radio show and podcast: We hear why the city of Potsdam — home to elegant Prussian palaces and parklands, all in quick reach of central Berlin — is worth a day’s visit. Then we get a sense of what life was really like for the emperors of ancient Rome, with the help of classicist Mary Beard. And we travel back to 1978 with Rick and his longtime buddy Gene Openshaw as they recall their experiences along the infamous “Hippie Trail” to Kathmandu. Find your lo

Over the next two weeks, I’ll be sharing clips, extras, and behind-the-scenes notes from my one-hour special, “Rick Steves’ European Christmas.” (If you enjoy watching this show with friends and family, be sure to let them know!) The tour guide in me was determined to cover the biblical story of Christmas in this special while also explaining related holidays and traditions and meeting the locals. We learn about Epiphany, Advent wreaths, the origin of St. Nicholas, the pagan roots of many Christ