This video guide to Germany provides a nice overview of the Rhine and Mosel regions of the country. Though the host, Rick Steves, is given to clumsy descriptions (he calls Rothenburg the "king of medieval cuteness") and at one point forces us to watch his young son eat a pickle, he is very knowledgeable about the area and its history. He takes us through towns that were once ravaged by World War II, colorful marketplaces, and villages along the sleepy Mosel River, which he prefers to the more trafficked Rhine. The focus, as in other videos from the Travel the World series, is on local people and customs. He stops by a village called Zell, for example, where the people tell long stories and drink lots of homegrown wine. In another location we see the end of a wedding where bride and groom saw a log to seal the deal. He also hits tourist hot spots like the ravaged Reinsfels Castle and the incredibly ornate Prince Bishop's Palace. The video includes all sorts of practical information, too, such as how to use tourist offices, how to ride the trains, and how to survive on a tour bus. --Jennifer Vogel

Product Reviews