A little older, a little mellower, and--to be honest--a little blander than his travel video colleagues, public radio personality Rudy Maxa hosts this 6-video series promising "tips, trips & secret places." In the initial episode of Belgium/Denmark/The Netherlands, Maxa takes viewers to a land renowned for two of the primary substances necessary to sustain life: chocolate and beer. Dutch-speaking in the north, French-speaking in the south, Belgium offers more than the finer things, with its capitol Brussels also serving as Europe's political capitol, hosting both NATO and the European Union. Visiting Brussels' Grand Square, Maxa points out the still-standing early 15th century Town Hall, and shares a bit of history about the reign of Leopold I and Belgium's 19th and 20th century colonial empire in Africa, before turning his attention to more offbeat subjects such as the "Mannekin Pis" (literally a urinating cherub fountain) and a comic strip museum (Tin Tin hails from Belgium). Rounding out the episode, Maxa drives to the frozen-in-time medieval city of Bruges, home of meandering canals, cobbled streets, and Europe's first stock exchange. Denmark and The Netherlands follow the same format. Nicely balancing the tried and true with the new and different, the HDTV shot Smart Travels actually does offer solid tips, promising trips and a handful of secret places sure to whet traveler's appetites. The other titles ($24.95 each) in the series are: Rome/Naples, Venice/Genoa, Florence/Tuscany, Paris/Provence and London/Out of London, with a companion book SmartTravels.TV Europe also available for $16.95. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)
Smart Travels--Europe with Rudy Maxa: Belgium/Denmark/The Netherlands
(2001) 90 min. $24.95. Small World Productions. PPR. Color cover. Volume 16, Issue 6
Smart Travels--Europe with Rudy Maxa: Belgium/Denmark/The Netherlands
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