Rundown for the Week of December 25, 1999
The Legend of Santa Claus
At this time of the year, for millions of children, Santa Claus is the most
important person in the world. Anyone who climbs into Santa's boots is
therefore facing a pretty tough challenge. The Savvy Traveler's Martin
Stott fancied the job, so we sent him off to learn the ropes. And since it
was the Dutch who brought the Santa story here to America, what better
place than Amsterdam?
Duty-Free Shopping
You're in the airport, you've got time to kill, you haven't quite maxed out
your credit cards this holiday season. So you wander into the duty free
shop. It's not like you really need a Gucci handbag or Mont Blanc fountain
pen, but what the heck, they prices are great...or are they? How do you
know you're getting a bargain? We sent Tom Verde to get the real scoop on
shopping duty-free.
Bad Taste Tour: The Christmas Museum
As our Bad Taste correspondent, Cash Peters has traveled places most of us
would never dare...a stripper museum, freak animal farm. He's explored the
world of medical oddities for the sole purpose of informing you, our
listeners with good taste, of what you're not missing. But it wasn't until
Cash ventured into the dark world of Christmas ornaments that we really
understood just how far this man will go.
The Season of Giving
Hear about an unlikely Santa Claus in Mexico. A postcard from Carmen
Delzell, whose "Letters from Mexico" come to us in care of producer Jay
Allison as part of his series "Life Stories."
Renaissance Cruise Contest Winner
Hundreds of letters poured in, illustrating some of the most heart-warming
and heart-wrenching stories imaginable. After a lot of debate, The Savvy
Traveler staff narrowed the choices down to five finalists. We sent their
letters over to Ira Glass, host of public radio's This American Life, who graciously
agreed to choose the winner.
Deal of the Week
Winter Bargains to Europe
Travelers' Advisory
Disabled Travel
Question of the Week
More Taxi Tales
Rudy's View
A Safe New Year
Next Week
Writer Andrei Codrescu talks about leaving his demons behind in Cuba.
"The pretty little rooster was brought forth and he proceeded to scratch me
and Miguel spit rum at my back and I felt tremendously relieved. In some
way, actually, I think the thing worked."
Hear about Codrescu's enchantment with Cuba. We hear about a hotel that
serves your environmental whims. And do you ever wonder about millennial
celebrations of the past?
"Did the knights of the round table wear paper hats? Did Joan of Arc have a
date? History doesn't tell us."
Hear what history does tell us during next week's edition of The Savvy
Traveler.
Cassette Copies
If you want your very own copy of The Savvy Traveler, order an audio cassette. It's easy. Just call 303-823-8000. The price is $15.
Rudy Maxa's Traveler
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