Europe brims with world-class art, and we contemplate some of the continent's truly outstanding paintings, sculptures, and historic edifices. Then we learn about the historic and ecological importance of the Gulf of Mexico from a professor in neighboring Florida. And we consider the humble guidebook and what its pages can tell us, both in the moment and long after the trip is done.

• Author Peter Fiennes, former publisher of Time Out magazines and guidebooks
• University of Florida history professor Jack E. Davis, author of "The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea" (Liveright)
• Gene Openshaw, lead writer for the "Rick Steves Art of Europe" TV series

• Peter Fiennes is a travel writer based in London. He spoke with Rick about his book "Footnotes: A Journey Round Britain in the Company of Great Writers" on Travel with Rick Steves program #678 in June 2022.  His interview about his latest book, "A Thing of Beauty: Travels in Mythical Greece," aired on program #684 in August 2022.
• Jack E. Davis teaches history at the University of Florida in Gainesville. His book "The Gulf" is an environmental history of the Gulf of Mexico. It earned him a Pulitzer Prize for History in 2018.
• Jack Davis writes about the various names the Gulf has had, in a commentary he wrote for The Marjorie.org in January 2025.
• Professor Davis' prior interview with Rick about his book "The Bald Eagle" aired on Travel with Rick Steves program #680 in July 2022.
• Gene Openshaw researched and wrote the scripts for the "Rick Steves Art of Europe" TV series. He also co-authored "Europe's Top 100 Masterpieces" with Rick.