About sixty singers and dancers gave a magnificent performance in astrakhan hats and colourful waistcoats and bodices. BBC Two - Great Continental Railway Journeys That gave way to a red jacket, orange shirt and yellow trousers. / Great Continental Railway Journeys. Portillo made five separate journeys across France, Germany, the Low Countries, Switzerland, and the countries whose land made up the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. The first series, which used the longer title, was broadcast on BBC2 in 1980. Its rhythms were primitive and its themes unmistakably sexual. But 1936 was a turbulent time in Spain, with political upheaval descending into a brutal civil war. In Spains beautiful capital city, Madrid, Michael visits the 1930s art deco Telefonica Building and discovers what happened there during the civil war. At the Museo Reina Sofia, Michael hears how the bombing of a small town in the Basque region in 1937 inspired one of the 20th centurys most shocking works of art. Michael continues his rail journey through Spain with his 1930s Bradshaws guide. His first stop is Paris where he absorbs the atmosphere of La Belle poque, before travelling south to the Cote d'Azur. Today he experiences the dazzling cities of the pre-war Low Countries and tastes the delicacies of Brussels before travelling to the French sector of the Western Front, where from 1914, the trains carried a new cargo of artillery shells, and the Edwardian tourists of 1913 were replaced by soldiers, facing the horrors of the trenches. Along the way, he marvels at the Matterhorn and is rescued from an 'avalanche' by a St Bernard puppy. At Asilah, Michael lends a hand with the construction of Morocco's new 3 billion high-speed railway line to Casablanca. Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw railway guide, Michael Portillo takes the train down the spine of Italy as he travels from Rome to Sicily. Among the spectacular ancient Greek and Roman temples of Agrigento, Michael hears of the passionate ten-year search by a British archaeologist at the time of his guide for a long-lost ancient Greek theatre. I was reminded that the deference that propped up the empires was crumbling long before the first trench was dug. In Bologna, he embarks on a doomed search for spaghetti Bolognese until a cookery teacher shows him how to make a much more authentic tagliatelle al ragu. He travels to Leipzig on a historic railway line, built by British engineers in 1839. GREAT CONTINENTAL RAILWAY JOURNEYS SERIES 2 dvd REGION 4 michael Steered by his 1913 railway guide, Michael journeys through a prosperous pre-war Europe of emperors, kings, pomp and elegance. Without access to a smartphone, though, I had to wait until the morning to find out precisely why. Armed with his 1913 Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a Greek odyssey from Athens's port of Piraeus north to the city of Thessaloniki, captured the year before from the Ottoman Turks, who had ruled much of Greece for 400 years. Across the border in San Sebastian, Michael learns how diplomacy brought Britain and Spain closer together and rides on a hair-raising scenic railway. In the Capo district, he learns how the islands distinctive puppets are made and is enchanted to meet one carrying a Bradshaw. Like the railway traveller of a hundred years ago, Michael discovers a land full of surprises. In Baku, Michael explores the thousand-year-old walled quarter and is treated to a thrilling display of Chovgan, the national horseback game of Azerbaijan. Striking south to historic Cordoba, Michael dances with an unusual partner and enjoys all the fun of the feria. Travelling through what was, at the turn of the 20th century, one of Europe's youngest nations, Michael sinks his teeth into a Victorian gothic best seller and uncovers an unlikely fellow fan of his Bradshaw's. In 1983, the BBC made a further series on rail travel entitled Great Little Railways, this time exclusively featuring narrow gauge railways. On a railway journey from the capital, Palermo . Michael Portillo follows in the footsteps of Edwardian travellers to trace a route recommended in his Bradshaw's guide from the heart of France to the Mediterranean coast. In GREAT CONTINENTAL RAILWAY JOURNEYS, British broadcaster and journalist Michael Portillo travels on the great train routes . Without Guernica, said Portillo to the art historian who had talked him through what could legitimately be considered to be the greatest, most harrowing painting of the 20th century, they would never have met. There was a pause. Heading to Bilbao, he explores the industrial ties between France and Spain and learns to cook a traditional Basque dish. He then heads over the rail bridge across the lagoon to Venice, where he finds a microcosm of pre-First World War Europe in the Venice Biennale art exhibition. And I like your trousers. No, she didnt say the last bit. He left plans and models of every detail of his concept and it is now nearing completion, with spires and towers soaring above the Catalan capital extolling Christ, the Trinity, the Evangelists and the Apostles. Great Continental Railway Journeys by Michael Portillo - Goodreads With his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo ventures east to a land which a century ago was part of the Russian Empire and today is the independent state of Ukraine. His destination lies close to his heart: the ancient kingdom of Spain and land of his father. , tracks: At the Bolshoi Theatre, Michael performs an important role in one of Russia's most dramatic operas. Arriving in Munich, he finds a blue horse created at the time of his guidebook and discovers an early 20th-century pioneer who laid the foundations for the city's pre-eminence in science and technology today. Michael begins this journey in Berlin, the capital of Germany, which at the beginning of the 20th century was a powerhouse of science and technology. Italy's most famous ingredients, parmesan cheese and parma ham go down well in Parma, as does a trip to the exquisite Teatro Regio opera, where the company is rehearsing work by the hero of Italian unification, Giuseppe Verdi. Now he embarks on the sixth series of Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC Two), beginning in Spain and this time guided by the 1936 edition of Bradshaws Continental Railway Guide, which was a big year in that particular pais and for Portillos pa, a don and leftwing activist at the University of Salamanca, who was three years away from needing to flee Franco. Athens to Thessaloniki Were you still up for Portillo, a hundred years ago in 1997? Aboard the West Galician Railway, Michael hears how a 19th-century British railwayman sought his fortune in Galicia and ended up running the company. Hard on their heels in Madrid, he visits the scene of a grim assassination attempt at the royal wedding of a British princess and a Spanish king. Then, as expected, the fourth episode will air on Wednesday, August 26th. The first series, which used the longer title, was broadcast on BBC2 in 1980. Great Continental Railway Journeys, written by Michael Portillo, was published by Simon & Schuster UK in October 2015.[5]. Arriving in Munich, he finds a blue horse created at the time of his guidebook and discovers an early 20th century pioneer who laid the foundations for the city's pre-eminence in science and technology today. He samples the best of Swedish fika and takes an icy dip one of the countrys 96,000 lakes. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) This song completes a trio of great "message s Continue Reading 7 1 6 Quinn Cooper Starting in 2020, a new series featuring railways and locations in South East Asia is being broadcast on BBC2.[9]. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MOTIVATE :)Support me here : https://www.paypal.me/CSinha7This Will Enable me to Optimize My Creative Production to Showcase Journeys of. His idiosyncratic style strikes us as boldly modern a century later, but his building is in essence a gothic cathedral stripped of the buttresses. The highlight of the trip for me was to be given a private recital by the great Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu, playing music by George Enescu, a composer who was coming of age as Romania gained its freedom from the Habsburg empire, and who celebrated his country's folk tradition. There he seeks the protection of a local historian as he traces the story behind this notorious mafia hideout of the 1930s. He finds that the first constitution of the Netherlands was signed here and hears what the locals think about Dutch tolerance today. :https://www.buymeacoffee.com/journeysPlease Subscribe to Motivate:)This Will Enable me to Optimize my Creative Production to Showcase Journeys of Various . He also visits the forest of Compiegne, to hear how, after four years of conflict, the Armistice was finally signed in a railway carriage. Along the way, he recreates the famous Italian Job on an historic Fiat test track and follows fashion in Milan before investigating the early 20th-century British love affair with Lake Como in a seaplane. In the vast port, Michael joins a pilot boat as it leads a supertanker to its berth. Great Continental Railway Journeys continues on Tuesdays 9pm BBC2. [1] In the early series, Portillo explores the railway networks of continental Europe, but in later series he also ventured further afield. A romantic stop at the ruined Schloss in Heidelberg follows before Michael gets an insider's guide to share dealing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Michael Portillo continues his railway adventure which takes him across the heart of Europe. Title screen for most episodes from Series 2 onward. He begins in Israel, learning about the Baha'i faith and how it spread to Britain in the Edwardian era, hearing the story of the origins of Tel Aviv, and visiting the Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters of the capital Jerusalem. Michael Portillo, I said, seemed slimy . The beauty of the Carpathian mountains with their snow-clad granite peaks, gorges and lakes appears to him unchanged from their description in his 100-year-old guidebook and he is privileged to catch sight of some of the wild brown bears and wolves who continue to live in the region's last stretches of unbroken forest. With his 1913 guidebook in hand, he discovers in Tangier how this once proudly independent nation fell under the control of the French as rival European powers scrambled to extend their empires in Africa. Beginning in Warsaw, Michael is puzzled by how a city famously razed to the ground after the Second World War can appear so beautifully preserved. Michael goes to the movies in Potsdam and discovers the success of the Babelsberg Studios, where directors such as Fritz Lang and stars such as Marlene Dietrich worked. Michael's journey takes him through a patchwork of nations which a century ago formed part of the Austro Hungarian empire. Braving the force of the Goettingen wind tunnel, Michael investigates the track where model trains are fired at up to 360km per hour. The third series had six journeys, in one of which Portillo went further afield to travel on the railways in modern-day Israel. At a private museum dedicated to the life of the most infamous Georgian, Joseph Stalin, Michael asks how Georgians today feel about the former dictator of the Soviet Union. Great Continental Railway Journeys (TV Series 2012- ) - IMDb The night soil man told me as I emptied my chamberpot, I seem to recall. In the shadow of the citys splendid cathedral, Michael learns to dance the Jota. At the Museum of Modern Art in Berlins Kreuzberg, Michael sees how a leading artist of the era, Georg Grosz, warned of the rise of fascism in a haunting self-portrait. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GREAT CONTINENTAL RAILWAY JOURNEYS SERIES 2 dvd REGION 4 michael portillo NEW at the best online prices at eBay! In the ancient city of Plovdiv, Michael discovers a Roman amphitheatre built in the 2nd century AD and still in use today. In Carrara, he finds out how the marble used by Michelangelo is still quarried today and is invited to chip away at a contemporary sculpture. Great Asian Railway Journeys. The six episodes of 1994's Series 2 were also released on VHS. But whilst the facades are beautiful, behind the buildings were cheaply constructed warrens. His journey begins in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, and includes stops in the ancient city of Plovdiv, the region of Rumelia, and former capital of the Ottoman Empire Edirne. A performance of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty at Odessa's exquisite opera house rounds off his journey. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MOTIVATE :)Support me here : https://www.paypal.me/CSinha7This Will Enable me to Optimize my Creative Production to Showcase Journeys of. In the spa of kings, Marienbad, now known as Marianske Lazne, Michael samples the sulphurous waters and wallows in peat and mud. Great Continental Railway Journeys: Dresden to Kiel: Part Two Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo makes a grand tour of a favourite Edwardian destination - Italy - where he experiences first-hand the nation's need for speed in a state-of-the-art Maserati sports car. His journey begins in the capital of cuisine, Lyon, where he finds out about the early 20th-century Meres Lyonnaises, to whom the city owes its gastronomic reputation. . After sipping sherry in Jerez, he traces Winston Churchill's tense diplomatic mission to Algeciras on Spain's Costa del Sol and finishes with tales of British espionage on the Rock of Gibraltar. In January 2010 BBC Two broadcast Great British Railway Journeys, a documentary with similar basic idea to Great Railway Journeys but with a different format. Michael is in his element, stoking the boiler on the footplate of the enormous locomotive. With his 1913 guidebook in hand, Michael Portillo explores the stunning art nouveau architecture of the Czech capital. Now he embarks on the sixth series of Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC Two), beginning in Spain and this time guided by the 1936 edition of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide, which was . Both series are fronted by ex-politician Michael Portillo and in this European odyssey he travels around continental Europe, using George Bradshaw's1913 Continental Railway Guide. The Atlantic coast of France and Spain, Bordeaux, claret, trams. From the from the Italian Riviera to the Austrian Alps Michael visits remote villages of the Cinque Terre he then heads to Parma next up is the Alps stopping off in Rovereto he ends his trip at the Brenner Pass home to on of the world's longest rail tunnels. Bram Stoker had never visited Bran Castle, home of the fearsome Vlad the Impaler when he wrote Dracula, but he studied images in the British Library carefully enough to describe it well. Michael ends his journey in Thessaloniki where, in 1913, Greece's King George I was assassinated. Sorry, comments are closed for this item. English musician and sound artist Chris Watson worked as an audio recorder for the fourth episode "Los Mochis to Veracruz" of the fourth season. A little over a year ago, confronted by a new series of Great Continental Railway Journeys, I wrote a piece confessing that I couldn't stand its presenter. First is the pull of home "When you're 10,000 miles from Rome you stir extra care into your sauce," as Gianni Pisoni of Greenvale in Melbourne puts it. His destination is the Adriatic port of Trieste. Following in the footsteps of early 20th-century British tourists, he pays homage to the romantic poets at the foot of the Spanish Steps before boarding the train south. The Young British Artists who took on the old guard and changed the art world forever, Artist Roxana Halls paints twin sisters who survived a crocodile attack in Mexico, The trailblazing designer who worked with Ye and Louis Vuitton before his 2021 death, Sonia Boyce: Finding Her Voice. Watch Great British Railway Journeys Season 9 Episode: 12 Stream Online Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. Heading further into Andalusia, Michael arrives in Seville, the city he has made his Spanish home and where, in the city's tobacco factory, he learns about a gypsy girl named Carmen. 5 Episodes. Arriving in the Italian port of Trieste, Michael savours the imported coffee that fuelled a cafe culture. . His destination lies close to his heart: the ancient kingdom of Spain and land of his father, recommended in Michaels guidebook for its exceptional climate and glorious history. Back in the city again, Michael meets former Russia correspondent Martin Sixsmith to discover how the strikes, mutinies and massacres, which took place shortly before Bradshaw's 1913 guidebook was published, were to unfold and the part the railways were to play in those tumultuous events. I was at university and in bed, but heard the cheers going up from streets around. Leaving Hungary behind, Michael begins this leg in the elegant city of Vienna, he continues his journey to Salzburg, before heading to the magnificent scenery of the Salzkammergut region. Great Railway Journeys, originally titled Great Railway Journeys of the World, is a recurring series of travel documentaries produced by BBC Television. Michael hears how new rail lines transported spectators to the Nazi Olympic Games of 1936. Using his 1913 railway guide, in the second part of his journey through the low countries and France, Michael Portillo travels to the French sector of the Western Front, where from 1914, the trains carried a new cargo of artillery shells, and the Edwardian tourists of 1913 were replaced by soldiers, facing the horrors of the trenches.