Search - Globe Trekker: Europe 5-Pack on DVD

A Good Introduction To European Travel

Robert I. Hedges | 01/14/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Globe Trekker" is a consistently good travel show, with interesting itineraries that are a mix of tourist havens and off the beaten path wonders. This set features nine shows on five discs: England, Italy, France, and Spain each get two episodes, while Germany gets a single episode. (Lest you think Germany gets the short shrift, the episode is one of the best in the series and features the always excellent Justine Shapiro.)

The England disc features my two favorite "Globe Trekker" hosts, Ian Wright and Justine Shapiro. The always wacky Wright gives an overview of England and Wales, while Shapiro focuses on historic England (e.g. the Battle of Hastings, the birthplace of King Arthur, etc.) Even if you aren't a history buff, the episode is captivating and highly recommended.

The Italy disc is a mixed bag, and even though I have been to Italy several times, was not one of my favorites. Northern Italy is traversed by Megan McCormick, who can be annoying after a time. Having said that, she does an excellent job with the traverse of the Italian Alps, though the coverage of Milan and Venice is a bit cursory. That's really not her fault, of course, in a one hour show, there's only so many things you can get around to. The Southern Italy episode with Justine Shapiro was more interesting to me because it went to more out of the way places, places I had generally never heard of (outside Rome and Naples). I always appreciate how the hosts in this series are willing to go way off the beaten path to capture an original experience; in that Shapiro and Wright in particular excel.

I love France, and the France disc is excellent in every way. Justine Shapiro tours Northern France: her insight about the Normandy landing beaches, Brittany, and the Somme are always on the mark. This is one of the best episodes of "Globe Trekker". Southern France is also well done by host Christina Chang, with a memorable tripe to Lourdes, Marseille, and culminating in Monaco on the Riviera. I have been to Marseille and it's frankly not one of my favorite parts of France; the mark of a well done travel show is that after seeing this episode, I decided I should go back sometime and give it a second chance. Excellent job, Christina!

The Spain disc was my least favorite of the set. Although the episodes (featuring Shilpa Mehta and Christina Chang) were adequately executed, the features that were chosen as highlights were not especially compelling to me. These episodes are worth a look, but are largely the reason I didn't give this set five stars.

The Germany episode features the clever, adventurous, and beautiful Justine Shapiro, and it is one of the best episodes in the series. Shapiro deals with the aftermath of World War Two, the Berlin Wall, and many other troubling aspects of German history in a respectful manner. Her trip to the museum in Berchtesgaden and to Nuremberg are especially worthwhile. The episode is not all heavy history, though, as Shapiro makes time for Oktoberfest, mountain climbing in the Alps, and even skinny dipping (!) at the beach.

I recommend this set highly for anyone interested in European travel. Most of the episodes are excellent, with only a couple of average shows in the bunch."