Touring London, Paris, Rome

While a poor substitute for an actual trip to London, Paris, and Rome, Questar Video's latest release Touring London, Paris, Rome is considerably less expensive and armchair travelers run a much smaller risk of losing their luggage along the way. For each of the cities, the video offers an entertaining and informative thumbnail historical sketch, a visual guide to the major sights in the city, a visual guide to the real major sights in the city (namely, restaurants and shopping districts), and suggestions for day trips. Highlights include the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, London Tower, Big Ben (London); the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame (Paris), and Colosseum, St. Peter's, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain (Rome). The footage is contemporary (although shots of a smiling Chuck and Di are a little old), and the narration is interesting, and filled with tidbits. (For instance, I learned that eating "al fresco" did not mean "eating food which tastes like a famous painting style which originated in the 16th-century;" it simply means eating outside in sunshine. The next time the family dines at La McDonald's and we are seated on the plastic benches next to the colored playground equipment we will be supping "al fresco.") Samuel Johnson once remarked "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." Judging by the sights on Touring London, Paris, Rome he could have thrown in Paris and Rome as well, and--if he weren't such a sexist--included women in the analogy too. Highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)