Please note this is a region 2 DVD & will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play Michael Portillo embarks on six memorable railway journeys across Europe armed only with his 1913 Bradshaw&s Guide & sporting his trademark colourful jackets! On his travels Michael visits towns & villages along the way exploring the sights & sampling local traditions while telling the story of what happened in continental Europe in 1913 when everything changed just before the world went to war TRANSYLVANIA TO THE BLACK SEAMichael travels to Romania where he encounters bloodsucking vampires & wild brown bears before visiting a fairytale castle with mod cons & calling in at the world&s first oil refinery ZERMATT TO GENEVAMichael is caught up in a war zone with the Red Cross & rescued from an avalanche by a St Bernard puppy; he also takes to the skies & tries his hand at watchmaking TANGIER TO MARRAKECHMichael leaves Europe behind to take in the sights smells & tastes of north Africa ending his journey with a traditional Berber breakfast in the foothills of the Atlas mountains GENOA TO THE BRENNER PASSMichael discovers how an Edwardian Briton brought &the beautiful game& to Genoa then whips up a pesto Genovese before making his way to the spectacular Brenner Pass RIGA TO TAMPEREMichael journeys from the icy Baltic Sea to the tranquillity of a Finnish lake En route he encounters medieval knights & enjoys a soak in a hot tub by the light of the midnight sun ROTTERDAM TO UTRECHTMichael roots around the world&s largest flower auction operates a crane in Europe&s largest container port & investigates Europe&s most famous red-light district!