A companion to the phenomenally successful Great British Railway Journeys, these series see Michael Portillo swap his treasured copy of Bradshaw's Handbook for its stateside counterpart an 1879 edition of Appleton's General Guide to the United States and Canada.This eleven-DVD set features 55 episodes covering six different journeys:New York City to Niagara FallsPhiladelphia to JamestownSt. Louis, Missouri, to the Grand CanyonThe Twin Cities to Memphis, TennesseeBoston, Massachusetts, to Toronto, OntarioReno, Nevada, to San Diego, CaliforniaMichael's first journey takes him from New York City to Niagara Falls and the second traverses the mid-Atlantic cities and states: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jamestown, Virginia. The third follows the trail of 19th-century pioneers from St. Louis to the Grand Canyon. Michael's fourth journey begins in Minnesota's Twin Cities and ends in Memphis, Tennessee, while the fifth takes him a thousand miles from leafy New England over mountain ranges to the Great Lakes. In his sixth and final journey Michael travels a thousand miles from the Sierra Nevada mountains south along the coast of California to tell the story of a state that has transformed the world.Along the way Michael encounters revolutionaries and feminists, pilgrims and witches and rides some of the oldest and most breathtaking railroads in the world. He takes in Broadway, attempts to conduct a cattle auction, discovers gold and silver, learns how America's most famous railroad conquered the wild landscapes of the west and immerses himself in the culture and history of the continent's first inhabitants: the Native Americans.
U**H
Portillo's travels
Michael Portillo has switched from a political career to one applying a highly successful formula involving following nineteenth century railway travel guides. He combines railway and train enthusiasm with enjoyment of tourism. In this set of programmes, he crosses America (and part of Canada) applying a tried and tested system for each half-hour episode of a handful of local vignettes with shots of scenery and railway travel. The result is a pleasant tour of many parts of the USA, with a gentle sense of humour allowing Portillo to mix information with fun. One of the aspects that attracted me to this series was seeing places I had visited, along with some parts of the continent I would like to visit in future.
S**E
The ultimate armchair travel if you can't actually get there and like trains
Throughly enjoyed these. Portillo is a good presenter, respectful, not always seeking the camera and totally charning with the locals. Bit too much train information and I would like more details of the surrounding areas but this is not what the subject matter is about. Most enjoyable. Will be disappointed when they come to an end.
C**Y
Great series!!
Great series!!
S**R
Great series for train enthusiasts.
Watch series on TV...so now can watch the excellent series at leisure. Great for ideas when in USA.
W**S
A fabulous spectacular travelogue steeped in fascinating history
Whenever you watch the cinematic films of train journeys with Michael Portillo you know you are in for something special. The beautiful journeys in this boxed set are testament to this. Just like Michael’s knowledge, the views are expansive, the cinematography is breathtaking and beautiful, and fills one with awe at the splendour of the vastness of the American continent; and Michael’s gentle narrative draws you right into the landscapes and the history of the native Americans and the settlers that transformed a wilderness into a diverse haven of wonderment, charm, and tragedy – and it is all right there in glorious cinematic splendour to be savoured on the biggest high-definition TV screen you can access. Be WARNED – once you watch this you will be hooked into the majesty of railway journeys; you will seek out more of Michael’s amazing railway travelogues around the globe; and you will be rushing to your travel agent to savour these journeys for yourself – they beat the pants off flying.STAY SAFE
Trustpilot
4 days ago
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