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The second European volume in the Travel the World by Train series is a grab bag of locations from western Portugal to northern Finland, at the edge of the Arctic Circle. The first trip departs from Paris and traverses the Loire region of France. This line might well be called the "Castle Express." Then one boards the super-fast TGV to the province of Bordeaux, producer of arguably the world's finest wine. Ancient Roman history permeates the very air here. Another train runs through France's Basque country, passing the resort town of Biarritz, a favorite surfing spot.We cross a bridge into Spain and we're now in Spanish Basque country, in the picturesque Pyrenees Mountains. One of the more affecting Spanish sites is the town of Guernica, destroyed by Nazis in 1937 and immortalized in Picasso's powerful painting of the same name. After journeys through Portugal, it's on to Luxembourg, Belgium, and Holland. Memorable sites here include gorgeous Belgian Art Nouveau architecture and dazzling Dutch fields of tulips and windmills. When the train leaves Stockholm, Sweden, we are suddenly in a very different environment. The Scandinavian trains pass towering, dramatic fjords, sparkling lakes, and huge evergreen forests where reindeer run. These trips are shot in summer in a land where the sun barely sets at midnight: the effect is magical. As with all the videos in this series, the cinematography is impressive and the narration enlightening. --Laura Mirsky
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