Wanderlust Archives - WebTalkRadio.net

Kevin and his sons visit the Topkapi palace’s harem complex and the Byzantine cistern to round out their long weekend in Istanbul. They reflect on the meaning of history, life, culture and geekiness.

The Young and the Old, part 1. This month, Kevin takes you to Istanbul in the company of his two teenage sons, Marc and Nicolas, who do their best to ensure, as they put it, that the show is not just for “old people”, such as their father. Istanbul has long been one of Kevin’s favorite cities, spanning, as it does, continents and cultures and time itself. The visit was so rich that it has been cut into two seperate shows, this is the first part.

Beijing’s Forbidden City is one of the most fascinating palaces in the world, but Kevin doesn’t take you there this month. He does take you to a number of less well-frequented spots in Beijing, though, as well as a walk through Tiananmen square, where he muses on the People’s Hall of Doohickey, the modern face of China, and life in general.

Sick of Prague, with its crowds of tourists? Head to Cracow. Poland’s ancient capital is one of Eastern Europe’s least appreciated gems, full of winding cobblestone streets, beautiful music, and pictures of the Pope. Kevin takes you through the city, listening to the famous trumpeter of Cracow, visiting the cathedral, with its dragon bones hanging at the entrance, chatting with a local tourism entrepreneur, and having an existential conversation with a giant walking mug of beer.

Kevin takes you past Piccadilly, Leicester Square, and a series of other London landmarks, and he stops to talk to a number of antique booksellers on Cecil Court, all of whom are quintessentially British. He also chats with a Cockney cab driver and buys some tea. If you’re from London, are nostalgic for having lived there, or you just refer tea to coffee, this is the episode for you.