They say there's an energy you can feel, even in the stones on the windswept Orkney Islands.

So when you're standing there speaking to yourself at night and you can see the Aurora Borealis above you,

it's something extremely special.

Coming up, local guide Kinley Francis introduces us to the prehistoric Megaliths and the Viking history

that his fellow Orchidians take great pride in.

Standing stones of Stennis is about 1500 years older than Stonehenge.

The grandeur of the Austro-Hungarian Empire lives on in the elegant architecture of Budapest.

A nighttime stroll along the Danube is an ideal way to admire its floodlit castle and bridges.

Driving home maybe 11 in the evening and looking over to the castle district and see all the lights there on,

and I'm just saying how lucky one can be to live in Budapest.

Hand listeners tell us when the kindness of strangers made all the difference in their travels.

Inside reviews of Budapest Orkney and your travel tales are just ahead on travel with Rick Steves.

Come along.

They don't really have a tradition for wearing a family plaid or playing the bagpipes in the Orkney Islands of Scotland.

In just a bit we'll hear how an impressive collection of prehistoric standing stones

help to define the dramatic archipelago of 70 islands leaning into the North Sea looking toward Norway.

Sometimes you need to get away from Google and your phone and talk to complete strangers when you travel in another country.

listeners share their stories from when the kindness of strangers saved the day in their international travels.

Let's start today's travel with Rick Steves enjoying the views of one of Europe's magnificent capitals.

The Danube River defines the two major halves of Budapest and it's been a lifeline for Hungary and it's more than 1000 year history.

We're joined now by two guides from Budapest who specialize in taking visitors around their beautiful city.

Peter Potsman and George Farcus.

...