Full Circle with Michael Palin

One of my three favorite travelers on video (the others are Rick Steves and Video Librarian contributor Rick Ray), ex-Monty Pythoner Michael Palin embarks on a 50,000 mile journey from the island of Diomede off the Alaskan mainland to Russia, Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Borneo, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Columbia, Mexico and (let me catch my breath here) back to the U.S.A. We watched the opener (and are currently working our happy way through the rest of the series like mice through camembert), in which Palin pokes around Nome, Alaska (end of the line, United States-wise), looks--from a distance--at bears in Kodiak, flies to Kamchatka in Russia, helicopters into Kronotsky National Park to check out the geysers and hot springs and ends up in Vladivostock where--in true Pythonesque fashion--he joins the Russian Pacific Fleet Choir for a rousing performance of "Poliushko Pole," a song he's been "polishing" (pun intended) during his down time between junkets. Fans of Palin's Pole to Pole (VL-4/93) and Around the World in 80 Days will love this latest edition to the intrepid traveler's impressive oeuvre. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)