Rick’s Fall Trip Report: Poland and Istanbul

Enjoy our live Monday Night Travel party with this video recorded on September 25, 2023.
Join Rick for Poland and Istanbul - two destinations he's been dreaming of revisiting since the pandemic first derailed his travel plans in 2020. With his crew, he filmed two TV episodes of Rick Steves' Europe in Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk before venturing into Turkey to update his Istanbul guidebook. Don't miss this special opportunity to stow away with Rick and get a peek into his work!
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[@headsuphockeypodcast2707]

I was in Krakow for 4 days and felt at home with my paternal great grandparents (Babcia’s side) side. I felt safe in Poland and touring to Warsaw was great

[@asechka]

Dear Rick: BRAVO!! And thank you!!❤

[@lukem9707]

20 years ago I almost ran you over. You were standing in a middle of a road and taking a picture of roadside shrine just outside of Krakow, behind a blind corner. My window was down and I could hear you say "I hope I don't get ran over for this picture" or something like that. I said to my wife, that was Rick Steves! She didn't believe me :)

[@joannarutkowska9990]

Poland 🇵🇱

[@Rene_Moor3095]

Thank you very very much for noticing and understanding that Poland and other countries in the region are Central Europe. !!!!!! 🙂🙂🙂 This is very important to us because we don't want to be associated with russia (and we never wanted to), but in fact, the Iron Curtain fell over 30 years ago, and we still hear that people around the world use this old division. And the word "eastern" reminds us of Russia, and for you, in the West, it means something worse, dirty and undemocratic. And we are not like russia and russians. The Baltic countries, Belarus and Ukraine are also, in my opinion, Central European countries. From a geographical point of view, the center of Europe is located at the eastern border of Poland or Lithuania (depending on the adopted measurement methodology).

[@mikewidyk4186]

@Rene_Moor3095 as much as I’d like to agree with you I disagree that Belarus and Ukraine is also Central Europe when it’s definitely not. Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary are Central Europe and there shouldn’t be much of a debate to be totally honest. Anything east of Poland and Hungary is a different region of Europe, that’s pretty much a fact and not an opinion. I’d put the Baltics along with the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden and Finland ) plus Denmark as Northern Europe. You would also have to add the Kaliningrad region of Russia too to that category. My hope is that one day in the not so distant future that part of Russia will be split in half by both Poland and Lithuania. So basically a 50/50 annexation, but that’s a totally different story and kind of off topic at the moment.

[@benz500r]

I used Steve's guide to France and everything was great. I pland on using Steve's guide to Poland. He talks very positive of Poland and I like that country. Should I say "see you in Poland next year?" I'm glad Steve rightfully calls it Central Europe as it should be called. Even geographically Poland is exactly in Central Europe.

[@henvastclair5052]

I visited Krakow last Spring -Loved it!

[@Rene_Moor3095]

You can add other Polish cities to your list too, as they are all beautiful. I suggest seeing Sopot, Gdynia, Zakopane, Wrocław, Poznań, Lublin, Łodź, Rzeszów, Kielce, Bydgoszcz, Katowice, Białystok, Szczecin, Zielona Góa, Jelenia Góra, Świdnica, Kazimierz Dolny nad Wisłą, Sandomierz etc. We also have many beautiful natural areas: the Słowiński National Park with moving dunes in Łeba, the Białowieża National Park with European bisons, and the Bieszczady Mountains.

[@DianeG208]

I loved the Krakow, warsaw trip you filmed. I appreciated my Polish heritage even more after learning how hard they tried to fight. Thank you, Rick! Safe travels

[@gorgegal835]

Wonderful video Rick. History lesson too, love it! I'm very hungry now🤗

[@johncillis3431]

Never got as far east during my tours and one business trip to see Poland, but I did get to see one of its most famous former residents, Pope John Paul the Second, and I have a couple of pictures of him, one from about ten feet and the other during the St. Peter's square blessing on Whitesunday in June of '84. It was a rare opportunity to see him. My next three Euro trips, between '89-91, were back door Eurail trips with 'Europe thru the back door' my guide and also language reference, though I was farely fluent in German. I am half Italian and a quarter Lithuanian, and it is my latter roots which make me celebrate the Polish spirit and their strength, and their keeping their culture memorable. If the war in the east is ever resolved, I will certainly visit, Poland, and China (wayyyy east) are on my bucket list, as is Dubrovnik in Croatia where a former colleague has left me a waiting invitation. I helped him while he worked in Mexico, where I met my wife in 94, my travels abroad guaranteed me finding my daughter's mother outside of the US, and she worked for an airline, which my Mom predicted would happen due to my business travel. Your PBS videos I used in '83 to convince my parents to tour Europe while the dollar was low...

[@Ledpooplin55]

I just went to both Krakow and Istanbul. Loved both visits.

[@DGKED-td7mf]

Thanks for all the great travel info. Unfortunatly I'm taking a break from youtube because of too many commercials

[@yakeosicki8965]

Sorry Rick, Żubrówka Vodka is a typical vodka for cocktails. The most popular cocktail is apple pie, which consists of Żubrówka vodka, good apple juice and ice cubes. The second popular cocktail is 303 Squadron(The Polish 303 Squadron was the most effective squadron during the Battle of Britain). The cocktail consists of Żubrówka vodka, cider and apple juice. Unfortunately, you are confusing two uprisings. In the USA, the local uprising in the Warsaw ghetto (1943) is more famous. The Warsaw Uprising of 1944 is more significant and tragic for the city's history. It was after the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 that Hitler ordered the destruction of Warsaw.

[@texasflood1295]

Rick, I would love to have more information on the “people corners” that you mentioned when describing Poland. I often look for these areas but I don’t always find them.

[@RickStevesTravelTalks]

Check out Rick's Poland information at www.ricksteves.com/europe/poland, Rick's travel blog (these are all his Poland entries): blog.ricksteves.com/blog/category/poland/, or join our Travel Forum where you can exchange advice, tips, and ask questions of fellow travelers at www.ricksteves.com/travel-forum

[@merrimcelderry519]

Great to see you and thank you for this!!!! Magic hour here and the Vodka sounds soooo good , I am polish and the town is my family name OLEVNIK POLAND my cousin has tried to find the town as the name has changed if you can let us know if you heard of hit please do. Our family was there and came to Wisconsin and that is where my dad was born. They family over there had a BLIND BAND which played for the CZAR at the time Nickolas and his family . The were witness to the demise of the family that night and were paying for them at the time..... one of the band members had sight and after that they all changed their names. My dad did not use that name at all he changed it to OLSEN... My cousin has amazing stories about this.. he lives in Jacksonville Florida. . WOnder if you ever heard of this small town at all. Love your shows all the time. Merrilyn Olsen Mc ELderry in Northfield Mn on facebook ifyou find out anything..Thannk you xx Merri

[@Rene_Moor3095]

Have I understood you correctly? Are you looking for a town in Poland that was once called OLEWNIK or OLEVNIK? To me, it sounds like a Polish surname, which in Poland is written OLEWNIK. We can help you as Poles, but we would need more information, e.g. in what part of Poland was this town, in what region? I couldn't quickly find a city with that name on the Internet.

[@martindworak]

I speak Polish, if it’s a town or a surname makes no difference, it would never use the letter “V”, that letter is not in the Polish alphabet. Olewnik sounds like a name of a town or village, good luck looking!

[@merrimcelderry519]

OH that is so wonderful to know that. Thank you so mnuch for helping me in this. I turned this over to a cousin in Jackonville Flordia who has done extensive study on this and gone over there..... and I can pass this on to him in email too He has not responded to me at all with storms down on his side of FLorida severe... But I will send this now. GOD BLESS you for helping us and I will let you know if he responds . Blessings Love to your famiily there and joy to you x Merri in Minnesota USA

[@martindworak]

@@merrimcelderry519 glad to help, I’m in Arizona, let me know if I can help further 🤙

[@merrimcelderry519]

How interesting I am planning to move to PHOENIX area .. my husband is out there now and I am trying to get him home here... the bus did not connect with him this morning out of Albuquerque so I am waiting to hear from him .. he works on the reservation out there helping the elders with wood and water.. and also helps them in hospital translations there. I have not seen him in so long. WE had planned to move there three years ago and our grandpa gave us land ..ten acres and we have a nice trailer on it.. and we were ready to go and my older son here in his fifties had a liver transplant in a hurry to save his life.. so we got through that.. Denny never got to come here he just kept working out there... His mom is in surprise and his family there too. our land not too far out but somewhat. Erick my son could move there now but it takes a bit of time getting medical records and all that . out there and lining up a place for him an apartment... a person to do his meds and things.. and Phoenix St Joe is a transplant hospital so he could go for his check ups there ..... we could spend at least winters there and come back to Minnesota for summer months , My son is healed from the transplant and doing well. I wait now for my husband to join is as soon as he can. I wonder where you are in Arizona...do you like it there. I had a Bible study i Albuquerque a few years back and I loved it out there. That is how I found my husband! In church.! I was born in Chicago. Illinois we had a dental business there until I was out of high school then moved up to ELY MN to have our dream.. mom , dad and I ran a small resort for a long time.. I lost my shirt selling it in parcels after dad passed on.. and my son here who had the liver transplant went to the blind school here9 Legally Blind) and he wanted to come back so here we are.. . Blessings and thank you for responding and hope you write where you are in AZ it would be funny if you are near Phoenix or Surprise. . Small world. Merri

[@kristintoo]

Always a great video :) When will the new edition be available? Thanks

[@umitozdemir465]

Enjoyed the section on İstanbul. Great job! Would have been nice if you could have secured a bottle of genuine Turkish Raki, instead of Ouzo, to demonstrate the national drink of Turkiye. The Ouzo did not even turn milky after adding water!!😊😊

[@DianeG208]

You like Vodka now! ❤️😁

[@eastman1084]

Żubrówka is the best to drink whith cold apple juice whith regards from north east Poland where this vodka is made chers brov

[@weeleelee5843]

I agree. That's delicious vodka.

[@krolkrzywonosy3230]

My parents were escaping Poland in 1945. My father was arrested by nazis in September 1939 and, again, by communists in 1945. My mother said when they saw destroyed Malbork, they saw the statue of the Blessed Mother, untouched by bombing

[@emoryfloyd3332]

Where do I get your book on Istanbul? I’m going there in November.

[@RickStevesTravelTalks]

Rick's Istanbul guidebook is available at store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/istanbul-guidebook

[@TheBTG88]

Hopefully, Rick takes a trip to the southern US border, if he thinks that the US only has " a few thousand refugees". Big blind spot for him.

[@DillyDahlia]

And too many of them aren’t *legal* immigrants. I think most Americans welcome with open arms people who want to come here legally and contribute to our society, not become a burden on it. And it can’t be ignored that thousands who are on the terror watch list have slipped over the southern border…especially terrifying with the most recent events.

[@Allright890]

Rick can you please describe traveling to Georgia counties once a best place to visit. 👋🏻

[@RickStevesTravelTalks]

Check out Rick's blog about his visit to Georgia in 2011: blog.ricksteves.com/blog/georgia-you-stole-our-hearts/

[@PlasticMachines]

The Led Zep song is pronounced Jamaica.

[@krystynagajewska6085]

Is no natsy it was Germany why no by saying Germany

[@krystynagajewska6085]

It’s no nazi is Germany

[@yjc7929]

In Auschwitz both Jews and Poles died. Most Jews that died in Auschwitz were Polish citizens Poland has a democratic government is a country where freedom of speech is much greater than in Canada The PiS government is disliked by Berlin and Moscow for many reasons Mr Tusk’s government in many ways was a servant of Berlin and Moscow

[@avi2125]

Dear Rick - I came back your reports because I am little tired of vloggers with their selfie sticks breezing through countries and cultures.

[@BigStiffWilly]

Rest in peace KingCobraJFS 🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@anunnakicrown]

TMDWU TUBES

[@greg5023]

I went on the RS Turkey tour in May and it was a ripoff.

[@3581tossit]

Why?

[@greg5023]

@@3581tossit This was my 8th RS tour. And last. I spent 7 years of my youth in the Middle East but had never seen Turkey. Turkey is quite photogenic, more so than I expected. And it is clean and has a good standard of living. The guide was entertaining but he was unprepared to share Turkey's history. He had us stand while he gave us Americans an hour long lecture on the workings of the free enterprise system before taking us into the Istanbul bazaar. In the Ottoman Palace he lectured us like we were first-graders. Leading us through the Ankara museum, he skipped the Gobekli Tepe exhibit. I got to see it only because a cashier pointed it out to me. The guide told us several times that Rick wanted Turkey to be his cheapest tour and he felt it could have been better. The lodging was not as good as RS tours in England and France. The included breakfast was often yogurt and stale bread and on some days that was followed by lunch at a convenience store along the highway. I've been on 8 RS tours since 2015. Three guides have been outstanding and two rather worthless. The guide on my German-Switzerland tour was a temp and because of her we completely missed seeing Neuschwanstein Castle. That was a miserable tour, we slept in un-air-conditioned hotel rooms during Germany's worst-ever heat wave.

[@jaakarone4828]

Watched this last night. What a fun and interesting episode. Well, right up until the point Rick decided to go on an unhinged conspiratorial rant. Maybe not so much Vodka for next weeks episode Rick?

[@greerlovesgovert]

I'm interested to know what part of this episode you thought was a drunken rant. Rick's comments about political and climate change refugees? That just seemed like common sense to me. This summer, for the first time in my east coast city, I had to spend a week indoors because forest fires had made the air outside too toxic to breathe. It doesn't matter how rich you are if you and your kids can't breathe the air. I think that's what Rick meant by finding another planet to live on. Yesterday in Manhattan, the city flooded because of bizarre torrential rains. Like Rick, I think seventy years of intensive fossil fuel reliance has cooked our collective goose. Here in north America, we're an island apart from the poorest people in the world, the folks whose lives are most destabilized by tyrants and climate change. They're floating into southern Europe right now, but how can we not take our share? I don't see how any compassionate person could look at that little girl selling kleenex on the streets of Istanbul and not want to help her.