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Travel with Rick Steves

457 Visiting Bulgaria; European Coffees; Persian Mirrors; Saints of Italy

Travel with Rick Steves

Rick Steves

Places & Travel, Rick Steves, Travel, Public Radio, 721132, Society & Culture, Npr, Europe

4.52.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 September 2016

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A tour guide from Sofia discusses how Bulgaria's changed since it joined the EU, professional foodie Fred Plotkin explains why coffee varies across Europe, and writer Elaine Sciolino reveals what she learned about the public and private sides of Iran since living in Tehran as a New York Times correspondent. Plus, hear why patron saints are so important to Italian culture.

For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Things have changed since Bulgaria joined the European Union.

0:04.4

They used to be a close ally of Russia.

0:06.8

Now they want the United States to be their best friend.

0:09.5

This is the fate of the small countries.

0:11.5

We have always been trying to find our big brother.

0:15.0

Coming up in the hour ahead, we pal around with a buddy from the Balkans to learn about Bulgaria.

0:20.0

Or keep heading east to Iran.

0:23.0

Americans are more than welcome to visit,

0:25.0

but you've got to keep up with the rules.

0:27.0

Iran is a country of unpredictable repression.

0:30.0

There are not red lines.

0:32.0

The rules keep changing.

0:34.0

And hear how people in different parts of Europe have their own local preferences for how they like their coffee.

0:39.0

The Swedes like a mild or more aromatic coffee. The southern Italians in Naples. like an

0:45.0

intense intense for embracing coffee, the Viennese like it's slightly spicy.

0:50.0

The Viennese like it's slightly spicy. The coffee cultures of Europe and tips for visiting Bulgaria and Iran.

0:54.0

It's all just ahead on today's travel with Rick Steeves.

0:58.0

Many of the economic sanctions the international community as enforced against Iran were removed last January.

1:07.0

And there was dancing in the streets of Tehran.

1:10.0

But anything to do with Iran is not all that simple.

1:13.4

Hi, I'm Rick Steve's.

1:14.8

Coming up, journalist Elaine Scholino

...

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