Wonderful start to the new series. Portillo is delightfully entertaining in these railway journeys. Marvellous to see such beautiful images of Russia (makes me want to visit again!).
Love this show. Michael is such a warm and engaging presenter. And an excellent linguist too.
Fitting he was there on Navy Day - all those lovely men in sailor suits!
Portillo is usually good value for money and this had plenty of content.
It must have been obvious to even the casual observer, how absolutely clean and tidy was everywhere, I didn't see a scrap of litter anywhere. Not like the mess you see in this country.
Portillo is well known, but I can't see them "tidying up Russia" just for him. It must always be that way. Is this national pride? After all it's now a "new country," only 21 years old. Are there draconian penalties for littering, regularly enforced?
I remember back in the seventies a conversation with someone who had spent a month in Russia on a "trade exchange." Of course back then they were escorted everywhere, from the door of their hotel and back again and only to places decided by the authorities. But there was no disguising the fact that numerous old people, obviously past their usefulness to the state and probably unable to survive on whatever pensions they received, were used tidying up roadside verges and elsewhere, in all weathers. Their guides couldn't hide that from the visitors. Has this example of the "bad old days" now passed?
Perhaps there were serious penalties for littering under communism and the bad habits haven't yet crept in?
Or maybe Russians understand that littering ruins the environment for everyone - the question should be why do we do it, not why don't they.
Hes "well known" in Russia, really I doubt if hes "well known in this country" to anyone under 45. Im sure most of those Japanese tourists didnt know who he was.
Hes done "Russia" in 1 hour, now its Italy, does he go back to Russia.?
Hes "well known" in Russia, really I doubt if hes "well known in this country" to anyone under 45. Im sure most of those Japanese tourists didnt know who he was.
Hes done "Russia" in 1 hour, now its Italy, does he go back to Russia.?
Well I'm 41 and I know all about him. Was in my teens and early twenties when he was a minister.
Younger people will know him through his railway programmes.
Excellent start to the new series and his affable manner has superseded any ill-will I may have had for him and his part in "that woman's" utterly divisive government.
I was mightily impressed with that luxurious train he took from Moscow to Leningrad with the "Business Class" airline-type loungers and refreshment facilities.I would have appreciated a hint as to the actual cost for one of us to replicate the journey though.
Perhaps there were serious penalties for littering under communism and the bad habits haven't yet crept in?
Or maybe Russians understand that littering ruins the environment for everyone - the question should be why do we do it, not why don't they.
I'm really sorry to disappoint you all about Russians and littering but my girlfriend is Russian and I've spent some time there mostly around St Petersburg and litter is a big problem. Like most places the town centres are kept more clean than elsewhere but the amount of litter lying around in the forests by the sea is gross. It's like stepping 40 years or so back into the past. A good example of this kind of attitude, albeit in a US show, was in the episode of Mad Men when Don and Betty take their kids for a picnic and at the end just throw their litter onto the ground and drive off.
Britain is considerably cleaner but not very clean compared to some other European countries like Switzerland.
Love this show. Michael is such a warm and engaging presenter. And an excellent linguist too.
Fitting he was there on Navy Day - all those lovely men in sailor suits!
Yes, a real eye opener, who'd have thought that Rome has a lot of tourist spots, like the "Trevi fountain" ? really must get round to visiting.
When I went a few years ago, the Trevi fountain was empty for cleaning, and the Micheal Angelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel was obscured by scaffolding for restoration , and my disabled wife was moved on by the police for sitting on the steps in St Peter's Square in the Vatican.>:(
Another excellent journey tonight. I especially enjoyed the steam train still run on a main line, rather than a heritage line, the communist era cafe's and the Trabant drive.
Very educational too. I hadn't realised how Poland was split pre WW1, and also that Nowa Huta was apparently a "gift" from Stalin to the people of Poland.
Another excellent programme from Michael. Poland has some beautiful buildings but quite a sad history. Lets hope they have peace for many years to come. That's as long as Putin hasn't got them in his sights!
Comments
Great show
Fitting he was there on Navy Day - all those lovely men in sailor suits!
It must have been obvious to even the casual observer, how absolutely clean and tidy was everywhere, I didn't see a scrap of litter anywhere. Not like the mess you see in this country.
Portillo is well known, but I can't see them "tidying up Russia" just for him. It must always be that way. Is this national pride? After all it's now a "new country," only 21 years old. Are there draconian penalties for littering, regularly enforced?
I remember back in the seventies a conversation with someone who had spent a month in Russia on a "trade exchange." Of course back then they were escorted everywhere, from the door of their hotel and back again and only to places decided by the authorities. But there was no disguising the fact that numerous old people, obviously past their usefulness to the state and probably unable to survive on whatever pensions they received, were used tidying up roadside verges and elsewhere, in all weathers. Their guides couldn't hide that from the visitors. Has this example of the "bad old days" now passed?
Or maybe Russians understand that littering ruins the environment for everyone - the question should be why do we do it, not why don't they.
Hes done "Russia" in 1 hour, now its Italy, does he go back to Russia.?
Well I'm 41 and I know all about him. Was in my teens and early twenties when he was a minister.
Younger people will know him through his railway programmes.
I was mightily impressed with that luxurious train he took from Moscow to Leningrad with the "Business Class" airline-type loungers and refreshment facilities.I would have appreciated a hint as to the actual cost for one of us to replicate the journey though.
I'm really sorry to disappoint you all about Russians and littering but my girlfriend is Russian and I've spent some time there mostly around St Petersburg and litter is a big problem. Like most places the town centres are kept more clean than elsewhere but the amount of litter lying around in the forests by the sea is gross. It's like stepping 40 years or so back into the past. A good example of this kind of attitude, albeit in a US show, was in the episode of Mad Men when Don and Betty take their kids for a picnic and at the end just throw their litter onto the ground and drive off.
Britain is considerably cleaner but not very clean compared to some other European countries like Switzerland.
I expect he enjoyed his bath from Juri too.
Loved the chatting to the couple aboard that train to Messina. How comes we don't remember about the Messina earthquake?
Still the best thing on TV at the moment.
It really is.
When I went a few years ago, the Trevi fountain was empty for cleaning, and the Micheal Angelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel was obscured by scaffolding for restoration , and my disabled wife was moved on by the police for sitting on the steps in St Peter's Square in the Vatican.>:(
Not to mention its too Bxxxxy Hot.
Very educational too. I hadn't realised how Poland was split pre WW1, and also that Nowa Huta was apparently a "gift" from Stalin to the people of Poland.
Thank god we didn't go to Auschwitz - it would have ruined it somehow
I especially liked the gnomes in Poznan.
Me too. 10 years of EU handouts have worked wonders. Warsaw sure as Hell never looked as good as that pre 2004
Agreed - the programme sets out to be happy and uplifting, so it's no surprise Michael didn't visit Auschwitz.