Globe Trekker Series 13

1  Los Angeles City Guide

Traveller Megan McCormick spends a week in southern California, USA, exploring one of the world's most exciting and glamorous cities, Los Angeles. Like thousands of wannabe stars who over the years have flocked to L.A.'s most famous suburb Hollywood in the hope of finding fame and fortune in the movies, Megan starts her trip by signing on at the Central Casting agency with other hopefuls trying to land a part in a movie as an extra. After taking a tour around Paramount Studios, she heads to Beverly Hills to learn the tricks of the trade used by the paparazzi who follow the every move of the stars who frequent the area. Using the city's surprisingly good public transport system, Megan heads to downtown L.A., discovering the now faded glamour of Broadway's grand old movie palaces, before checking out the thriving historic Central Market amidst a newly revitalised city centre.
Duration: 60'

 

2  Germany 2

Germany only became a country in 1871, yet no nation has had a greater impact on the face of Europe. Megan McCormick and Justine Shapiro set out on a journey to look beyond the stereotypes and seek out the real Germany. Megan begins her journey in Berlin. After World War II, Germany was divided into two countries: the Communist DDR in the East and the Federal Republic in the West. The most potent symbol of that division was the Berlin Wall which, until re-unification in 1989, ran right through the city. Megan sees one of the last remaining sections of Wall, checking out how the city's expansive new building programme and modern architecture is transforming the city into a European capital fit for the 21st century. Next Justine starts her journey in rural Lower Saxony, spending the night in a 'hay hotel' near the village of Langeloh - accommodation where you literally sleep on a bed of hay! Justine continues to the island of Sylt, a vast sandbar that juts out into the North Sea.
Duration: 60'

 

3  World War 2

In this one-hour Globe Trekker special, traveller Megan McCormick is joined by Ian Wright, Adela Ucar, Justine Shapiro and Estelle Bingham.Together they take viewers on a journey of discovery as they travel to some of World War II's key locations in Europe.Megan begins her journey in a quiet forest in Compiegne in Northern France.It was here that the armistice bringing World War I to an end was signed; many people believe that as the terms were so punitive against Germany this is also where the seeds of World War II were sown.We catch up with Ian Wright in Vienna, the birthplace of Hitler, who tells us about Hitler's early years there. Megan then travels to Nuremberg in Germany. Hitler chose this city as the location for his Nazi Party Rallies in the 1930s that would inspire the German nation to prepare for war.We catch up with Estelle Bingham in Anzio, Italy and Justine Shapiro on the Normandy beaches in France. Our journey ends in Nuremberg, Germany, where Megan visits Courtroom 600.
Duration: 60'

 

4  Volcanoes: Ring Of Fire

Volcanoes have always both fascinated and frightened mankind. Often causing massive loss of life, they've been worshipped as gods, and feared as homes for the devil. They emit huge amounts of poison gas and ash, yet provide some of the most fertile land on Earth. In this Globe Trekker Special Volcanoes: Ring of Fire travellers Megan McCormick, Ian Wright, Justine Shapiro, Alex Riley, and Sami Sabiti explore the world's most spectacular volcanoes, travelling from the heart of Europe, across the Atlantic and Caribbean, to the deadly Pacific Ring of Fire. In Europe, Ian Wright visits the Italian island of Stromboli, which has been continually erupting for at least a thousand years. Justine travels to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was destroyed in 79AD by an eruption of the nearby volcano Vesuvius... And Megan heads to the Greek Island of Santorini, where 1500 years before the demise of Pompeii a cataclysmic eruption destroyed local Minoan cities.
Duration: 60'

 

5  The Transatlantic Slave Trade

In this Globe Trekker Special , Zoe Palmer, Ian Wright, Justine Shapiro, and Megan McCormick, travel throughout Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, & North and South America, discovering the terrible truth about this shameful episode of history, which saw 12 million slaves taken out of Africa, and 2 million killed. All along the West African coast, from the C15th onwards, dozens of European forts were built to house captured slaves, before they were shipped across the Atlantic to the Americas. Justine Shapiro is at Ouidah in Benin, Megan McCormick travels to Elmina in Ghana, whilst Zoe Palmer visits Goree Island in Senegal, as well as the Cape Verde islands just off the African coast.We visit sugar and cotton plantations formerly worked by slaves in the Caribbean, and the United States - Ian Wright travels to Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos Islands, Zoe Palmer visits St Lucia and Guadeloupe, whilst Megan McCormick and Justine Shapiro are at former slave plantations in the United States.
Duration: 60'

 

6  Planet Of The Apes

This Globe Trekker Special is all about our fellow primates- lemurs, monkeys, and apes. In Planet of the Apes, hosts Ian Wright, Megan McCormick, Justine Shapiro, Zoe Palmer, Holly Morris, Eils Nevitt, Nikki Grosse, and Zay Harding, travel across Africa, Asia and South America, visiting the last strongholds of many rare and endangered species.Man's closest relatives amongst the primates are apes, with whom we share over 95% of our DNA. In Thailand, Justine Shapiro sees how the world's most agile ape, the White-Handed Gibbon, is being protected. In Borneo and Sumatra, Holly Morris, Megan McCormick and Ian Wright, get close up and personal with Asia's largest ape, the Orangutan - the largest tree-living animal in the world. In Tanzania and Zambia, we travel to see man's nearest relative of all, the Chimpanzee and in the remote mountains of Uganda, we trek to find the biggest ape of all, the remarkable Mountain Gorilla, of whom only six hundred or so survive in the wild.
Duration: 60'

 

7  Senegal/Zambia

Located on the west coast of Africa, Senegal is one of the continent's most exciting destinations.Host Zoe Palmer starts her journey in the capital Dakar, the vibrant home of more than two million people. After checking out the city's colourful markets and pulsating nightclubs, she visits historic Goree island, just offshore, to learn of its infamous past as one of the centres of the slave trade in West Africa. After catching a gig by the godfather of Senegalese music, Youssou N'Dour, Zoe learns about the harsh reality of poverty in Senegal, when she meets one of the thousands of Senegalese who over recent years have risked their lives attempting the perilous illegal journey in small fishing boats to Europe in search of a better life.Leaving Dakar, Zoe travels deep into the interior of Senegal, stopping off at the Muslim holy city of Touba, en route to the Niokola-Koba National Park.
Duration: 60'

 

8  Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Host Zay Harding visits Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to find out what has happened since peace came to The Balkans, discovering countries rich in tradition and history, and blessed with spectacular scenery. Starting in Serbia, and Zay's first point of call is a traditional festival outside the Kalenic monastery, which even includes a longest moustache competition. After fudging his way into the event with a 30 cm long fake moustache, Zay manages to get onstage before his moustache falls off and exposes him as a fake in front of everyone. The next day, Zay visits the local monastery, working hard to make amends for his antics by mucking out the stables and milking cows with the nuns.Zay travels on to the Serbian capital Belgrade, the former seat of power for all of Yugoslavia, and now famous for its nightlife. After a raucous night out on the town with local Eurovision Song Competition winners 'The Beauty Queens' he travels to his last destination Sarajevo.
Duration: 30'

 

9  Utah/The Wild West

Host Holly Morris starts her journey across Utah in the state capital, Salt Lake City. The adopted home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormons, Utah is blessed with breathtaking mountain and desert scenery; after visiting many of Salt Lake City's most historic and sacred Mormon sites, Holly heads into the nearby mountains to enjoy some spectacular skiing and adventure sports. Back down on the Salt Lake flats, Holly gets into the Wild West spirit by taking part in the annual Pony Express re-ride, which in total covers the 2000 mile journey traveled by horse-riders in the mid-nineteenth century carrying mail west from Missouri across hostile Indian territory all the way to the Pacific coast and California. Along with hundreds of other participants each covering a few miles of the route, Holly and her horse gallop for a few miles across the Utah desert, before handing the Pony Express mail on to the next rider to carry onwards across the West.
Duration: 60'

 

10  Honduras/Historic Trails: Great Mayan Sites

Host Brianna Barnes travels to Honduras, one of Central America's least known but most rewarding destinations. Starting her journey in the capital Tegucigalpa, she heads to the Caribbean coast, catching a ferry to the gorgeous Bay Islands, the country's most popular tourist attraction. On the island of Roatan she swims with dolphins, and descends over 2000 feet down into the offshore Cayman trench in a miniature submarine, coming across weird and very rarely seen deep-sea marine life. In the early 20th century Honduras was renowned as the archetypical 'banana republic', and even today the banana is of vital importance to the country's economy. Back on the Caribbean coast, near the port of La Ceiba, Brianna visits a huge banana plantation, discovering the amazing lengths to which growers go to keep the fruit unblemished to meet the expectations of Western supermarkets and consumers. Travelling inland, Brianna heads to the town of Santa Rosa de Copan, where she learns how to roll cigars!
Duration: 60'

 

11  The Holy Lands:Israel

Holy Lands is an exciting adventure through the heartland of Israel. Host Zay Harding walks in the footsteps of Jesus, delves into the mysteries of Kabbalah, explores the crusader tunnels of Akko, lives it up in the secular city of Tel Aviv and treks the Negev Desert. Zay's journey starts in Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, where he embarks on a two day hike along the Jesus trail to the Sea of Galilee. On his trek he visits many of the places where Jesus is said to have performed miracles and even has a go at walking on water himself. Zay then journey's north to the tiny hilltop village of Tsvat, famous as the birthplace of Jewish mysticism. After experiencing the secrets of Kabbalah through food and dance Zay heads to the coast, stopping at the beautifully preserved medieval town of Akko to explore the ruins of an underground Crusader city. Travelling down the coast Zay stops for a few days R&R in Israel's gleaming metropolis, Tel Aviv.
Duration: 60'

 

12  Madrid City Guide

Hemingway wrote, it's the most Spanish of all the cities, he would be surprised if he saw it today. Madrid, the capital of Spain is undergoing something of a renaissance; new modern building works going up all over the city, the arts are flourishing, it is home to the biggest gay pride in Europe, and for travellers Madrid is becoming known as the all night party capital. It's a great time to visit! Spanish presenter Adela Ucar, herself from Bilbao, lands at Madrid's funky new Airport building - terminal 4 - designed by London's Richard Rogers Partnership. From there she is off by taxi to the city centre, bedding down in 'The Cats' hostel where she will be staying for her visit. The hostel is aptly named, as 'The Cats' - or rather 'Los Gatos' - is a popular nickname that young Madrilenos have take to calling themselves. Why? Because cats come out at night. Adela wastes no time in heading out herself for the evening.
Duration: 60'

 

13  Jerusalem and West Bank

Host Zay Harding takes in the ancient city of Jerusalem, ventures into the Palestinian West Bank and explores one of the world's natural wonders, the Dead Sea. Starting in Jerusalem Zay visits the iconic Dome of then Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall. He gets a lesson in orthodox Jewish fashion and takes an historical walk along the old city ramparts before filling up on visions of the End of Days in one of the oldest cemeteries in the world. You can't travel in this part of the world without noticing the political tensions between Israel and Palestine. Zay takes a local bus to the Palestinian West Bank and the bustling city of Ramallah. Travel into the West Bank might seem scary at first as the journey passes kilometres of separation walls and military check points but once inside Zay enjoys the richness of the culture.
Duration: 60'