Announcer: AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION PRESENTS THE SPLENDORS OF THE WORLD IN THE LIFELIKE REALITY OF HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION.

HI.

I'M RUDY MAXA.

300 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, A WISE MAN SAID, "IF THE KING LOVES MUSIC, THERE IS LITTLE WRONG IN THE LAND".

WELL, IF THIS IS TRUE, EUROPE IS THRIVING.

MUSIC RINGS OUT FROM ITS CONCERT HALLS, OPERA HOUSES, FESTIVALS, MARKETS, AND STREET CORNERS.

WHEREVER YOU'RE HEADING--FROM IRELAND TO SCANDINAVIA TO ITALY--MUSIC IS YOURS FOR THE LISTENING.

NEXT, IT'S A MUSIC LOVERS' EUROPE ON "SMART TRAVELS."

Announcer: MAJOR CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR "SMART TRAVELS" IS PROVIDED BY EXPEDIA.COM, A TRAVEL WEB SITE THAT OFFERS TRAVELERS A VARIETY OF WAYS TO CREATE THEY TRIP THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, INCLUDING FLIGHTS, HOTELS, AND VACATION PACKAGES.

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION "SMART TRAVELS" IS A GRAND TOUR OF THE OLD WORLD, THE PEOPLE, PLACES, SIGHTS AND DISTINCTLY EUROPEAN FLAVORS.

OUR HOST IS TRAVEL WRITER AND COLUMNIST RUDY MAXA, PUBLIC RADIO'S ORIGINAL "SAVVY TRAVELER."

NOW TIPS, TRIPS, AND SECRET PLACES ON "SMART TRAVELS."

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING] TRAVELERS DELIGHT IN EUROPE'S WORLD OF LIVE MUSIC.

THEY GATHER--FOR CONCERTS, STREET MUSIC, AND OPERA-- TO HONOR MUSICAL GENIUS.

WHETHER OLD-STYLE OR CUTTING-EDGE, A MUSIC SCENE BREAKS DOWN CULTURAL BARRIERS AND PROMISES A SURPRISE.

IF THE OCCASION IS A MUSIC FESTIVAL, WELL, BEWARE.

YOU COULD LOSE YOUR HEART, TOSS AWAY YOUR AGENDA, AND FIND YOURSELF PRACTICING THE HARDANGER FIDDLE.

IT'S WORTH THE RISK.

THE POWER OF LIVE MUSIC STAYS WITH US LONG AFTER WE'RE TUCKED IN FOR THE NIGHT.

IN THIS HALF-HOUR, WE HIGHLIGHT MY FAVORITE MUSICAL MOMENTS IN SOME IRRESISTIBLE, WORTH-A-SPECIAL-TRIP DESTINATIONS FROM ITALY AND THE FRENCH PYRENEES TO IRELAND'S COUNTY CLARE AND NORWAY.

WE'LL HEAR FAMILIAR CLASSICS-- "AIDA" IN VERONA, AND MOZART EVERYWHERE IN AUSTRIA.

[ITALIAN FOLK MUSIC PLAYING] WHERE WE COME ACROSS MUSIC TO REMEMBER, WE COME ACROSS MUSICIANS TO REMEMBER-- SKILLED AND PASSIONATE.

THESE ARE ARTISTS, SO EXPECT SOME INNOVATIONS.

STILL, YOU'LL HEAR TRADITIONAL MUSIC ALL OVER EUROPE.

NOW IN MY DAY THAT MEANT ETHNIC OR FOLK MUSIC.

WE'VE ALL HEARD PARODIES ON FOLK MUSIC, BUT WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE SERIOUS FOLK MUSICIANS POKING FUN AT THEMSELVES IN THE FORM OF CABARET?

WHERE ELSE BUT IN ITALIA-- NORTHERN ITALY IN THE TOWN OF BOLOGNA?

WE CAUGHT THE UNPREDICTABLE GRUPPO EMILIANO IN A DRESS REHEARSAL.

GRUPPO EMILIANO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS "FOUR SOULS BOUND BY FRIENDSHIP "AND THE INCESSANT NEED TO MAKE MUSIC RATHER THAN JUST LISTEN TO IT."

PERFORMING TOGETHER SINCE 1979, THESE ARTISTS THRIVE ON THE PHYSICAL HARD WORK OF PLAYING, THE JOY OF BRINGING AUDIENCES CLOSE IN, AND THE CHALLENGE OF BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO OLD MUSIC.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, THEY INSIST ON DOING IT THEIR OWN WAY!

LIKE ITS VILLAGES, MUSICAL EUROPE OFFERS VARIETY, FROM NEW-AGE SOUNDS TO ANCIENT CELTIC, EACH A THEME FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP, YOUR OWN MUSICAL TREASURE HUNT.

EUROPE'S MUSIC IS WILDLY DIVERSE.

IT ENGAGES US PERSONALLY THROUGH RHYTHM, MELODY, HARMONY, IDEAS, EMOTIONS, AND WORDS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT CLASSIC GENRE OFTEN COMPOSED BY A MUSICAL GENIUS?

YOU KNOW, THE GRAND SLAM THAT CALLS FOR ORCHESTRA, LIBRETTO, STELLAR PERFORMANCE AND VOICES?

BRAVO!

YOU'VE GOT IT.

NEXT, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA!

[ORCHESTRA PLAYING] NORTH OF BOLOGNA LIES THE ELEGANT REGION OF VENETO, KNOWN FOR EXQUISITE LODGING, SCRUMPTIOUS DINING, AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS TO MATCH.

YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE POPULAR TOWN OF VERONA AS THE MEETING PLACE OF STAR-CROSSED LOVERS-- THE MONTAGUES AND THE CAPULETS, ROMEO AND JULIET.

[MEN SINGING IN ITALIAN] SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS PUT VERONA ON THE TOURIST MAP.

REMINDERS EVERYWHERE POINT TO VERONA AS PART OF THE BARD'S LITERARY TRAIL.

[SINGING CONTINUES] BUT WE ARE ON A SEARCH FOR MUSIC, SUPERB MUSIC, SO THE MAGIC FOR ME LIES IN VERONA'S UNSURPASSED OPERA HOUSE, THE MAJESTIC ARENA BEQUEATHED TO US BY ANCIENT ROME.

IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PRESERVED OF ITALY'S ROMAN AMPHITHEATERS, WITH 2,000 YEARS OF HISTORY.

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND LISTEN.

YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR GLADIATOR BATTLES, GRAND THEATER PERFORMANCES, AND CLASSIC OPERA!

[SINGING IN ITALIAN] WE'RE IN LUCK.

THE PROGRAM THIS EVENING-- SPECTACULAR "AIDA," A TRAGIC LOVE STORY UNFOLDING IN ANCIENT EGYPT.

MUSIC LOVERS HAVE FLOCKED TO VERONA'S SUMMER OPERA FOR MORE 90 THAN YEARS.

GIUSEPPE VERDI'S "AIDA" OPENED THE FIRST SEASON IN 1913.

EXCEPT FOR A BREAK DURING TWO WORLD WARS, THE OPERA HOUSE HAS PLAYED TO SELL-OUT AUDIENCES EVERY YEAR.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] TO SEEK OUT GOOD LIVE MUSIC IS A SURE WAY TO MEET THE LOCALS.

VERONA'S PRODUCTION OF "AIDA" HAD TO DELIVER TO A SAVVY AUDIENCE, MANY OF WHOM KNEW VERDI'S SCORE INSIDE AND OUT.

NOW SHOULD YOU FIND YOURSELF IN AUSTRIA LOOKING FOR FORMAL MUSIC, WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART IS EVERYWHERE!

MOZART WAS BORN IN SALZBURG, WHERE HE WAS CELEBRATED AS A CHILD PRODIGY, EVEN BEFORE HIS TOUR OF ROYAL COURTS IN EUROPE AT AGE 12.

TODAY, THE TOWN VIGOROUSLY HONORS ITS NATIVE SON.

STATUES, MUSEUMS, CHOCOLATES, EVEN THE AIRPORT IS NAMED AFTER MOZART, AND EVERYWHERE, HIS MUSIC IS PLAYED.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING] AT AGE 25, RESTLESS AND READY TO ESCAPE, WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART HEADED FOR THE CITY LIGHTS AND SOPHISTICATION OF VIENNA.

IN THE MAGIC CITY, HE COMPOSED AND PERFORMED REMARKABLY AND LED A LIFE OF HIGHS AND LOWS FOR 10 YEARS.

AND THEN AT AGE 35, HE WAS DEAD.

A SHOCKINGLY SHORT LIFE FOR THE LONG, BRILLIANT LEGACY HE LEFT.

HE GAVE US GREAT OPERAS, INCLUDING "DON GIOVANNI," "THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO," "THE MAGIC FLUTE," AND CHURCH MASSES, SYMPHONIES, PIANO AND VIOLIN CONCERTOS, AND THE REQUIEM HE LEFT UNFINISHED.

[SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] FOR GOOD REASON, MOZART'S MUSIC IS FEATURED IN CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

FOR A MEMORABLE EVENING, WE'RE ATTENDING A CONCERT IN VIENNA'S ELEGANT ORANGERIE AT SCHOENBRUNN PALACE.

[WOMAN SINGING] NIGHTLY CONCERTS TAKE MUSIC LOVERS BACK TWO CENTURIES TO THE GENIUS OF MOZART.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A MUSIC LOVERS' TOUR OF EUROPE WITHOUT AN EVENING IN AUSTRIA APPLAUDING THE ENDURING WORK OF THE MASTER.

[PERCUSSION PLAYING] EVEN WITH MOZART ON THE BRAIN, DON'T LEAVE VIENNA BEFORE ITS HOUSE OF MUSIC CATAPULTS YOU TO THIS CENTURY.

ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, YOU'LL FIND THE MIND FOREST-- FUN FOR ANY AGE--A PLAYFUL, INTENSE EXPERIENCE WITH HYPER-INSTRUMENTS.

[PERCUSSION SOUNDS PLAYING] MAKING MUSIC THROUGH ACTIONS!

NO SHEET MUSIC OR ACTUAL INSTRUMENTS, JUST HAND MOTIONS AND COMPUTERS.

[PIANO PLAYING] MILLIONS OF VISITORS LINGER ON ALL 5 FLOORS OF THE HOUSE OF MUSIC WITH ITS HISTORY OF THE CLASSICS TO EXPERIMENTS IN SOUND.

[ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING] FOR ME, THE MIND FOREST RULES!

OR ACTUALLY, I MEAN, I RULE!

THAT'S BECAUSE SENSORS RESPOND TO MY EVERY MOVE!

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING] ONE EXHIBIT EVEN MAKES YOU THE MAESTRO OF A VIRTUAL ORCHESTRA!

THIS SHOULD BE EASY, RIGHT?

[MAN SPEAKING GERMAN] HE'S MAD AT ME.

HE'S SAYING THAT-- HE'S SAYING THEY CAN'T PLAY WITH MY LEADING.

IT'S NEW-AGE, IT'S VIRTUAL, IT'S CRAZY, INTERACTIVE MUSICAL FUN!

MUSIC HAS ALWAYS MESMERIZED.

IN GREEK LEGEND, THE SONG OF SIRENS ON THE CLIFFS LURED SAILORS TO A WATERY DEATH.

THERE WAS ORPHEUS WHO COULD TAME WILD BEASTS WITH HIS HARP, AND IN MEDIEVAL TIMES, THE BLOW OF A TRUMPET CALLED TROOPS TO BATTLE AND CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

TODAY, WE TRAVELERS SEEK OUT MUSIC THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER, LIFTS THE SPIRITS, AND HELPS TELL US WHERE IN THE WORLD WE ARE.

[CELTIC MUSIC PLAYING] LET'S SAY, WE WERE DROPPED BLINDFOLDED ONTO THIS SPOT-- BREAKING WAVES, WHIPPING WIND, AND A FAMILIAR IRISH SOUND ALL AROUND.

WITHIN SECONDS, WE'D KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

MAYBE IT'S TRUE THAT IT'S "EASIER TO UNDERSTAND A NATION BY LISTENING TO ITS MUSIC THAN BY LEARNING ITS LANGUAGE."

WHERE BEST TO TEST THIS THEORY THAN IN WESTERN IRELAND, WHERE MUSIC IS THE SOUL AND HEARTBEAT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE?

ON THE ARAN ISLANDS, OR NEAR GALWAY, THE SOUNDS OF FIDDLE, FLUTE, AND UILLEANN PIPE DRAW YOU TO THEM--READY OR NOT.

IRISH MUSICIANS STAND PREPARED TO PLAY IN FESTIVALS, PUBS, ON STREETS, OR AT AN EXCITING NEW MUSIC CENTRE.

ABOUT 60 KILOMETERS FROM GALWAY, THE TOWN OF ENNIS LIES NESTLED ON THE BANK OF THE RIVER FERGUS.

FOUNDED IN THE 13th CENTURY BY FRANCISCAN MONKS, TODAY IT'S THE LIVELY CAPITAL OF COUNTY CLARE.

ABOUT 24,000 PEOPLE LIVE HERE.

THE GLOR IRISH MUSIC CENTRE OPENED IN 2001, AND THIS PRIDE OF ENNIS IS MOVING FULL BORE ON ITS MISSION TO "CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY AND VIBRANCY OF IRISH MUSIC."

A BLEND OF MUSIC MASTERS, SERIOUS STUDENTS, AND CREATIVE SPACES MAKE POSSIBLE THE WORK OF GLOR-- TO LEARN, RECORD, AND PRESERVE GENUINE IRISH SONG AND DANCE.

[DANCER'S FEET TAPPING] IT'S A STIMULATING PLACE, DRIVEN BY TRADITION AND INNOVATIVE SPINS.

GLOR NURTURES CREATIVITY.

THE CORE OF TRADITION REMAINS, BUT THE INTERPRETATION OF A PIECE EBBS AND FLOWS-- VIBRANT, QUIET, OR PLAINTIVE-- DEPENDING ON THE EXPERIENCES AND ARTISTIC CHOICE OF THE MUSICIANS.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT GLOR'S HARD WORK TO KEEP ARTISTIC VALUES ALIVE ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS.

WHO WOULDN'T LIKE TO HANG OUT IN A VIBRANT SCENE, ENJOYING EXTRAORDINARY TALENT?

NOW ONE OF THE PERKS OF A TREASURE HUNT LIKE THIS IS FINDING CAMARADERIE AT EVERY TURN.

APPRECIATION IS CONTAGIOUS AMONG MUSIC LOVERS.

[SINGING IN NORWEGIAN] IN A DIFFERENT RUGGED LAND, WE MEET MORE EXTRAORDINARY TALENT AT A FESTIVAL IN TELEMARK, NORWAY, A FEW HOURS SOUTH OF OSLO.

A BREATHTAKING DRIVE TAKES US PAST JAGGED LANDSCAPES AND HISTORIC SITES.

WE DRIVE TILL WE REACH SAUHERAD, A VILLAGE ADORNED WITH FRUIT TREES AND TWO 12th CENTURY STONE CHURCHES.

IT'S AN IDEAL BACKDROP FOR ENJOYING TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN MUSIC.

WE'RE GUESTS AT EVJU BYGDETUN, AN 18th CENTURY FARM HOUSE, STILL A WORKING FARM.

UNTIL THE END OF THE 18th CENTURY, THIS FARM WAS OWNED BY A NOBLE ICELANDIC FAMILY THAT INCLUDED A FEW ROYAL KNIGHTS.

THE TRADITIONAL COSTUMES ARE RATHER REGAL LOOKING, BUT SO FAR NO SHINING ARMOR IN SIGHT.

[WHOOPING] KEEPING THE PAST ALIVE IS THE MISSION OF EVJU BYGDETUN, THE REGION'S CULTURAL CENTER.

[MAN SPEAKING NORWEGIAN] [WHOOPING] WE PEEK INTO AUTHENTIC, RESTORED COTTAGES, ADMIRE COLLECTIONS OF SILVER AND CRYSTAL, AND SAY A WORD TO THE GOATS AND CHICKENS.

BUT ONCE THEY BRING ON THE FEAST AND A HARDANGER FIDDLE, YOU'RE IN THE PRESENCE OF A TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN DINNER.

THE HARDANGER FIDDLE IS LIKE A VIOLIN, AND IT'S ONE OF THE FEW EUROPEAN FOLK MUSIC TRADITIONS TO SURVIVE NEARLY UNCHANGED.

EACH INSTRUMENT IS HANDMADE AND DECORATED, OFTEN WITH A MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAY.

AMAZING.

4 OR 5 SYMPATHETIC STRINGS UNDERNEATH THE FINGERBOARD CREATE ECHOING OVERTONES.

ONCE YOU'VE HEARD THIS FIDDLE YOU'LL ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE MELODY AND DRONE OF THE HARDANGER.

MUSIC LIKE THIS MAKES YOU PART OF A COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE TO PARTICIPATE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST TO TAP YOUR FOOT TO THE BEAT.

[HARPSICHORD PLAYING] AND YOU'LL KEEP YOUR FOOT TAPPING AT MIM IN BRUSSELS.

FORGET THE STEREOTYPE OF SILENT ROOMS.

THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM, KNOWN AS MIM, HOLDS ANCIENT, RARE INSTRUMENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

[ACCORDION PLAYING] MIM CALLS ITSELF "A MUSEUM OF THE NEW GENERATION" AS OLD INSTRUMENTS COME ALIVE AT A TOUCH AND THE SPACES RESOUND WITH MUSIC.

[RECORDER PLAYING] IT'S INTERACTIVE LEARNING, WHERE FAMILIES, STUDENTS, CHILDREN, AND PERFORMERS CAN PUT ON HEADPHONES, TAKE TOURS, TRY OUT MULTIMEDIA, TOOLS AND ATTEND CLASS.

ONE OF THOSE UNEXPECTED FINDS, MIM IS BRUSSELS' MUSIC LINK TO THE PUBLIC.

[SNARE DRUM PLAYING] PART OF THE JOY OF SEEKING OUT MUSIC IN EUROPE IS THAT, AT TIMES, YOU COME UPON A JAM SESSION OR A SOLO VIOLINIST QUITE UNEXPECTEDLY OR A TRIO THAT BREAKS INTO SONG AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE WHEN YOU'RE RIDING A TRAM OR HIKING UP A MOUNTAIN.

[SINGING IN FRENCH] LIKE THIS GROUP, BANDOLETS.

FOR ONE THING, THEY NEED NO INSTRUMENTS, ONLY THEIR VOICES, THEIR HARMONY, AND THEIR TRUST IN EACH OTHER.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A TRAVELING A CAPPELLA MUSIC TROUPE, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE IN THE FRENCH PYRENEES.

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR REGIONS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE, ITS CAPITOL CITY IS TOULOUSE, AND ITS VILLAGES, FORESTS, AND SKI SLOPES ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF VISITORS YEAR-ROUND... AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE, LOTS OF GROUP SINGING GOES ON.

BANDOLETS SINGS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PYRENEES.

AFTER THE ROMAN EMPIRE FELL, THE REGION FACED ONE WARRING GROUP AFTER ANOTHER.

TODAY'S RE-CREATIONS OF MEDIEVAL JOUSTS REFLECT THE STRUGGLES WITH THE VISIGOTHS, THE FRANKS, AND THE BASQUE, TO NAME JUST A FEW.

LIFE'S HARDSHIPS ARE EXACTLY THE STUFF OF TRADITIONAL BALLADS.

[PIANO PLAYING] IN THE LAND OF KINSHIP AND COAL MINES, CONTAGIOUS IS THE WORD FOR WELSH MUSIC.

Men: ♪ I REMEMBER THE FACE OF MY FATHER... ♪ Max: IN SOUTH WALES, IN THE TOWN OF PONTYPOOL, THE GARNDIFFAITH GLEEMAN CHOIR CARRIES ON AN AGE-OLD TRADITION OF WELSH MEN SINGING THEIR HEARTS OUT.

♪ HE'D LAUGH AND SAY, "THAT'S ONE MORE DAY" ♪ ♪ "AND IT'S GOOD"... ♪ Maxa: OFTEN INCLUDED IN BALLADS ABOUT BATTLES AND CONQUESTS OR A CRISIS UNDERGROUND IS A LONGING FOR HOME AND LOVED ONES.

♪ AND LET ME SING AGAIN ♪ ♪ TAKE ME HOME TO MY FAMILY... ♪ Maxa: WHEREVER WELSHMEN GATHER, IN A PUB OR A CHURCH, THEY SEEM TO BREAK INTO SONG.

THEIR LEGENDARY REPUTATION HOLDS FAST.

Gleemen: ♪ TAKE ME HOME ♪ IN SELECTING THE FINALE OF OUR MUSICAL TOUR, I CAN'T HELP MYSELF.

WE'RE HEADING BACK TO ITALY, WAY SOUTH IN AGRIGENTO, SICILY.

WE'VE MADE A LOOP BACK TO A LONG-STANDING GROUP OF TALENTED MUSICIANS WHO PUT THEIR SPIN ON TRADITIONAL MUSIC, AND WHO THRIVE IN A STUNNING SETTING AMONG THE HOME OF THE ANCIENT GODS.

[GUITARS PLAYING] DIOSCURI, THE FOLK BAND OF AGRIGENTO, SICILY, IS NAMED FOR THE TWIN GODS CASTOR AND POLLUX, THE DIOSKOUROI.

THE DIOSCURI REPRESENT, IN THEIR SIMPLEST FORM, THE EVER-CHANGING CYCLE FROM DARK TO LIGHT AND LIGHT TO DARK.

[SINGING IN ITALIAN] FOR MORE 30 THAN YEARS, DIOSCURI HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR SOLO PERFORMANCE, CHORAL HARMONY, PURE ACOUSTIC MUSIC, AND, ABOVE ALL, VIRTUOSITY.

ON THESE SHORES GREEKS FOUGHT GREEKS.

THEN CAME ROMANS, SPANISH, AND FRENCH CONQUERORS.

TODAY DIOSCURI'S OLD SONGS KEEP ALIVE THE HISTORY, TRADITION, AND SPIRIT OF ALL THINGS SICILIAN.

[SINGING CONTINUES] SICILY'S SOUTH COAST IS HOME TO THE RUINS OF A FIFTH CENTURY GREEK CITY KNOWN AS THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES.

DESPITE ITS WARRING PAST, TODAY AGRIGENTO SEEMS IDYLLIC, EVEN SPECTACULAR.

HERE WE WANDER THROUGH REMNANTS OF HISTORIC TEMPLES, HOUSES, AND STREETS NEAR THE DRAMATIC COASTLINE, IMAGINING LIFE IN AN ANCIENT SOCIETY.

DESPITE COUNTLESS CONQUESTS, SICILY, THE CROSSROADS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, REMAINS FIERCELY INDEPENDENT AND PROUD OF ITS HERITAGE.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] AND SO WE'VE SEEN HOW GREAT MUSIC CAN MAKE FOR GREAT TRAVEL.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO FEEL THE MOOD AND SPIRIT OF A PLACE?

EVEN THAT SKEPTIC PHILOSOPHER NIETZSCHE SAID, "WITHOUT MUSIC, LIFE WOULD BE A MISTAKE."

BUT IT'S NEVER A MISTAKE TO BUILD A THEME TRIP TO EUROPE.

START WITH SOMETHING YOU LOVE AND FIND IT EVERYWHERE.

AS FOR ME, I'M OFF TO MY LESSONS ON THE GUITAR, THE UILLEANN PIPES, AND THE HARDANGER FIDDLE.

CATCH MY DEBUT.

I'M RUDY MAXA, AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "SMART TRAVELS."

Announcer: ALL VIDEOS AND DVDs OF "SMART TRAVELS" ARE 24.95 EACH PLUS SHIPPING.

CALL 800-866-7425 FOR THE 3-EPISODE DVD "ON EUROPE JUST FOR FUN," "FOUR GREAT CITIES II," AND "A MUSIC LOVER'S EUROPE."

DETAILS OF ALL OF OUR TRAVEL VIDEOS, DVDs, AND BEST GUIDEBOOKS ARE ON THE WEB AT SMARTTRAVELS.TV.

MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED.

TO ORDER CALL THIS TOLL-FREE NUMBER OR VISIT US ON THE WEB.

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org-- MAJOR CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR "SMART TRAVELS" IS PROVIDED BY EXPEDIA.COM, A TRAVEL WEB SITE THAT OFFERS TRAVELERS A VARIETY OF WAYS TO CREATE THE TRIP THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, INCLUDING FLIGHTS, HOTELS, AND VACATION PACKAGES.

TRANSATLANTIC AND EUROPEAN FLIGHTS PROVIDED IN PART BY BMI, AN AWARD-WINNING, FULL-SERVICE AIRLINE BASED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

WITH MORE THAN 2,000 FLIGHTS A WEEK TO OVER 35 DESTINATIONS, BMI FLIES MORE THAN 9 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR.