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For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Every two years since 1990, Rick Steves has produced a new season of travel shows featuring his favorite European destinations. This October, public television stations across the USA are rolling out Rick's newest shows — 11 half-hour episodes taking you from Estonia to Bosnia-Herzegovina to Morocco and beyond. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit http://www.ricksteves.com

During dinner, tour member David Preston had to take a moment to demonstrate how baggy pants are just the ticket when your money belt keeps sliding higher. (A friend from Twin Cities Public Television in Minnesota, David couldn't resist slipping in a pledge pitch at the end of his demo.)

At the market, most of our group members — including the men — bought the local baggy pants, which are the standard attire for village women. Walking across town to the home of a family who was hosting us for dinner, we decided to dress up as best we could. The locals are likely still talking about those crazy cross-dressing American visitors.

Handling 8,000 cruise-ship tourists a day, the bus lot at Ephesus (my favorite ancient site in Turkey) is a busy place. I was told local carpet shops provide these buses and drivers to the cruise companies at no charge. And guides, who accept less than the standard pay here, are given work according to how enthusiastically and effectively they sell carpets. I guess there's no question that each group will get to the shopping stop on time.

For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.