Episode 8 The Travel Show

If Cold War spy stories are your thing

then maybe you should head for Latvia.

In this week's programme, we'll tell you why.

Coming up on the programme, we go underground in Latvia.

We're on the hunt for gold in Colombia.

-Roger the hairy armpit.

-Three!

'I'll be hoping for a few laughs as I try out stand-up comedy.'

And Tommy will be testing a new way of getting around town

as part of Global Gadgets.

Welcome to The Travel Show.

This week, we're coming from Grand Central Station

in the city that never sleeps - New York.

And later on in the programme,

I'll be showing you why I've been having sleepless nights

as I prepare for a comedy improv session.

I don't know who roped me into that! But first...

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the agreement

that saw Russian armed forces withdraw from Latvia.

As the Baltic States reassess their relationship with Russia,

we sent Damien McGuiness to explore the Soviet-era military bases

that are now becoming popular tourist attractions.

Here on the very western tip of the former Soviet Union,

Russian secret services, in Soviet days,

would use this huge radio telescope

to intercept radio and telephone conversations among NATO allies.

When the Soviet troops left Latvia 20 years ago,

they removed or destroyed all their secret spying equipment.

But this huge dish was too big to take to Russia,

so Latvian astronomer Juris Zagars

took it over as a radio telescope to explore space.

In Soviet Latvia, he says, hardly anyone knew this dish even existed.

It was a secret military installation in the middle of the Latvian forest.

A forbidden no-man's-land on the USSR's border.

It was a restricted area for everybody.

Everybody who was entering was arrested and punished

and very few people were living inside

and these people have no right to leave this borderland.

Now, this is really interesting.

This part of the radio telescope was built by Soviet shipbuilders,

which is why this shape here

wouldn't look out of place on a Soviet submarine.

We've come right into the centre of the dish itself.

It's moving round very slowly, horizontally,

but it can also tip vertically, right over to a 90-degree angle.

But some of what the Soviets left behind is less visible.

In Soviet days, this was a hotel for the Communist elite, here in Latvia.

This building was a cover for a bunker, from where,

in the event of a nuclear war with the West,

Latvia's Communist government would still be able to run the country.

Ludmila...

'Ludmila worked in the hotel in the 1980s as a chamber maid

'and, now that it's a spa, she still works there, today as a manager.

'She says no-one knew there was a bunker right underneath their feet,

'but they all suspected something was going on.'

-TRANSLATION:

-As far as I was concerned,

what's forbidden is forbidden. That was it.

Maybe it was important not to think about it, to have a peaceful life.

Now, for very important guests, such as ministers or government leaders,

there was direct access from this hotel down to the bunker

through a secret passageway.

And here, deep underground,

you eventually get to the bunker itself behind this metal door.

Now, even people who managed to find this place

wouldn't necessarily be able to get in.

To do that, you need a secret password

and you give that through this red intercom here

to a guard on the other side of the door.

This is the main entrance of the bunker

and there we can see the plan of the bunker.

The coverage of the sonogram facility is 2,000 square metres

and 250 persons can hide there for three months

without any help from outside.

And this is my favourite room.

It's the office of the leader of the Latvian Communist Party,

complete with desk and chair.

Now, you can tell he was pretty important

because there are lots of phones on his desk.

The red one is a direct line to Moscow.

I ask Oskars, though, if keeping all this Soviet memorabilia

doesn't encourage nostalgia for a regime generally seen as oppressive.

Those persons who lived in Soviet time,

today maybe they trying to glorify the Soviet period

because they was young, they was happy.

But it doesn't mean that they're glorifying politics

or economical system.

Anyone feeling really adventurous, though,

can get even more off the beaten track.

So, now we've reached Skrunda.

This is a former military base where 5,000 Soviet troops

and families used to work, live, play, shop, go to school.

Everything is all in here.

'Nightclubs, bars, cinemas, schools, all deserted.

'It's as if an ancient civilisation had just vanished overnight.'

Short stories by Chekhov.

Oh, look. Here we've got an old map

showing who lived where on the army base.

So, at the top, you can see it says "information" in Russian.

And then it shows you who lived in which block.

So, on one side you have the administrators

and it looks like in the middle there,

that's where the army staff lived.

You know, the Soviet period was very difficult for many Latvians.

But having looked around at the incredible military installations

that the Soviet troops left behind, I can't help but think

that if these sorts of sights were used for tourists,

something very painful

could be turned into something quite profitable.

Damien McGuiness reporting from Latvia.

And if you're thinking of heading there,

here's The Travel Show guide to all the things you'll need to know

before you go.

Tip one - head to Latvia's capital, Riga.

This year, it's a European Capital of Culture,

which means a schedule of ballet, opera, art exhibitions

and musical performances will all be on offer to the public.

You can see the upcoming events

and book tickets through the official website.

Tip two - if you're thinking of booking a trip for later in the year

then you might catch Staro Riga,

the largest light festival in northern Europe.

The event is held in mid-November, when the city's buildings

and monuments will be illuminated by light artists.

And tip three - the country's transport network

is reasonably priced and buses run regularly.

If you want to take a tour

of some of the country's major towns and cities

then tickets can be purchased from bus stations,

online or from the driver.

Next, your travel update for this week.

If you're travelling to Jordan this year,

you'll need to take some extra cash with you,

as the price of a tourist visa has doubled.

It will now cost you £34 to enter the country.

However, if you're travelling in a group of five or more

and staying for more than three nights,

the current waiver on the visa fee still applies.

Here's some good news if you've ever faced hefty phone bills

when travelling in Europe.

The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour

of ending roaming charges.

The new legislation will see the charges scrapped across the EU

by December next year.

Skiing is not a sport known for being cheap,

and it might just cost even more than you thought.

The Post Office insurance group has found that British skiers

dropped £31 million of valuables on the slopes this winter.

Items left buried in the snow included phones, glasses and cameras

costing, on average, £219 per insurance claim.

If you've ever fancied a free holiday in Italy

then now's your chance.

But you'll have to roll up your sleeves.

The island of Ponza is offering free accommodation

to tourists who volunteer as litter pickers.

It's part of the city's plastic-free campaign,

which aims to keep the island's beaches clear of rubbish.

And finishing in the UK where, after decades underwater,

the HMS Alliance is now open for visitors in Portsmouth.

You get a chance to climb aboard

the last surviving British submarine from World War II

and find out what life was like for naval officers.

You know if there's one thing that universally excites mankind,

it's buried treasure, you know?

It's lost gold, it's X marks the spot,

it's quiet rumours and antiquated maps.

Then if you're talking about treasure,

you have to talk about the one, the big one,

the one that's claimed thousands of lives and billions of dollars.

Talking about El Dorado.

And that's why I was in Bogota, Colombia.

See, unbeknownst to most,

the legend of history's most famous search for lost gold

started and ended here.

And it all has to do with a tiny golden boat

called the Muisca Raft, found in some caves around Bogota in 1969.

The scene depicts a chief covered in gold,

surrounded by his soldiers and gold offerings

about to jump in the lake.

A scene that explorers would hear about, witness and pass down,

thus igniting the speculation of a city so rich

that people were literally covered in gold.

A place they would name El Dorado.

But how true was it all?

I sat down with William Gamboa, the director

of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, to find out.

Well, I think it was crucial for history

because the Muisca Raft showed and proved

that the legend was not a legend and a myth, but was...

well, something that really happened.

However, it was his mentioning of the lake where this all took place,

Lake Guatavita, that piqued my interest.

That lake is like miracle and mysterious,

and the lake is protecting the treasure

that is supposed to be at the bottom.

And so I hopped in a cab and headed to the town of Guatavita,

all the while with the most wonderful idea for my own treasure.

I would stop and buy a handmade flask.

Nice, sure, but hardly unique.

But what I'd do then is walk down to the lake

and take some of that water, the water that held flakes of gold

and the bones of those who dove down trying to find it.

But when I proposed this idea to my guide, Rudolf,

the protectiveness of the lake took over.

It was there, almost within reach, but still so far away.

My trip to Colombia had failed and my only treasure was a stupid flask.

But Rudolf had an idea.

And just like that, my idea for a true treasure was back on.

He showed me a small puddle of water,

an offshoot from the lake itself, to take from,

but as I held it and reflected back

over that mysterious, defensive and miraculous lake,

I couldn't help but realise what a special place we were in.

There's...a guy used to go out there

covered in gold on a raft and jump in.

And in this tiny little flask, you know,

I'm holding part of that energy.

And if that is not the most amazing treasure that you can get,

I just...I don't know what is, I really don't.

Still to come here on The Travel Show.

Why's there a banana on the TV?

Oh, well, it's a...it's a cartoon before the movie, Barnaby,

it's supposed to put you in a good mood.

'I'll be learning a thing or two about improv comedy

'from these jokers.'

You want more travel, but less effort, right? Well, I'm your man.

You need my helpy. You want my helpy? Yeah, you want some helpy?

I'm not being patronising,

that's actually the name of my first bit of kit.

The Helpy is basically a harness that attaches to your suitcase

and allows you to pull it along behind you.

If you're heading to the airport and you've got your suitcase,

you'll also have your travel documents, naturally.

You'll have a mobile phone

to make a quick call along the way and then, of course,

a free newspaper that you picked up from the hotel lobby.

Oh! With a coffee, just to keep you going along the way.

Oh! And a secondary bag,

because you'll always want some hand luggage there with you.

God forbid if you've got a small child with you as well.

CHILD CRIES

It's OK, I don't actually need the child - they get the gist.

All of the sudden, I'm realising I'm running out of limbs

to carry everything.

'It's quite easy to clip the strap onto the handles on the suitcase,

'but you might need another pair of hands

'to help you get the actual harness on.'

OK, so it's not so great if you want to turn a corner sharply

because the cord can get twisted

and it can cause the suitcase to flip over,

but if you're not going to pull off any wild manoeuvres

then your hands are freed up to burst into a little dance move

or even just go round high-fiving random people.

Can I have a high-five?

Can I get a high-five? Just a high-five?

Aw, man, in my face.

You know what it's like when you're on a trip,

you can only take a certain amount of clothes and, if you're like me,

the things you wore at the start of your holiday will start to smell -

your sweaty vest and your smelly socks.

But you don't want to send these down to the hotel laundry

because that can be quite pricey.

Ooh!

So, along comes the Scrubba, a wash bag for people on the go.

There's a textured washboard inside, which helps get the clothes clean.

Now, I know what you're thinking.

If you're in a hotel room,

you'd use a sink to wash your small items like this,

but think of the water that you're wasting.

Or perhaps you're on a camping trip

where you don't have a sink or running water.

Here's how the Scrubba works. You put in your soap or detergent.

Add the water.

Stuff in a few small items and then get scrubbing!

So, this may not be so effective with red wine stains

or perhaps with heavy soil, but it does mean

you can do some light washing wherever you are in the world.

Now, I asked my producers, I mean, I practically begged them,

to allow me to strip down to my underwear

to show you my next item in action, but they weren't so keen on it.

Last chance?

-No, Tommy!

-Fine.

The Clever Travel Companion is a range of clothing and underwear

with concealed pockets.

Imagine if you're on a beach or in a crowded city

and you want to keep your valuables on you,

safe and out of the way, then something like this is handy.

Yeah, I know that having a pocket on the front of your T-shirt

is a little bit geeky,

but if you got pick-pocketed or if you lost your passport

then that would ruin your holiday.

This way, it stays as our little secret.

I won't tell anyone if you don't.

Sh.

What do you get if you cross a skateboard with a Segway?

You get the nearest thing to a hoverboard,

just like in Back To The Future!

The Zboard is powered by a lithium-ion battery

which charges in just a few hours

and can go for ten miles at around about 17mph.

So, you press on the front pad to accelerate

and move the board forward.

And then the back pad acts as the brake

and also, if you hold it down, the reverse motion as well.

It ain't cheap, but being cool comes at a price.

The engine on there is so silent

that most people just thought I was on a regular skateboard.

Now, because of the weight of the motorised engine, it is pretty heavy.

Therefore, you can't whip yourself on and off the kerbs

or change direction quickly but, when it comes to the handling,

I did find the turning circle to be pretty sharp.

And, let's face it, if you are on a flat, level surface

then this is a whole lot of fun!

Now, Tommy might be The Travel Show's resident funny man,

but if you want real comedy, few places beat New York City.

Hundreds of comedy gigs are put on here every week,

from nervous first-timers taking their early tentative steps

to pros packing out huge venues.

With that in mind, the team are sending me to a comedy improv class.

And, let me tell you, scared didn't even start to cover it.

Come down here.

So you can get close to my sweaty pits!

'Improvisation in its simplest form is the art of creating a scene

'or play with absolutely no preplanning.'

We all are in unfamiliar territory.

'I've come along to The Pit in Manhattan

'to give it a go myself.

'The venue offers classes for first-time tourists,

'as well as a place for more experienced comedians

'to hone their craft.

'Lesley Collins, an improv veteran, led the class.'

I think I did see a ghost, not recently,

but, like, a few years ago.

THEY SHOUT

'To kick off, we did some warm-up exercises.'

-Un-boxers.

-Five.

-Boxer briefs.

'Everyone was given a category

'and had to list seven things in quick succession.'

Seven types of hairstyles.

-The bob.

-One.

-Bangalicious.

-Two.

-Short hair.

-Three.

-Long hair.

-Four.

-Pigtails.

-Five.

-Long tails.

-Six.

-Tails.

-Seven!

-OK, I'm really nervous.

I'm about to get a category and I've got to name seven different types,

what's going on, whilst patting my legs and rubbing my stomach.

They're coming, they're coming!

'Trust me, with the pressure on, it's not as easy as it looks.'

Seven creatures that make bad house pets.

-OK. Agarista!

-One.

-Erm... Gremlin with one toe.

-Two.

Er...Roger the hairy armpit.

'Right, game's over. Time for the comedy to start.

'I let the pros go first.'

You ever been in an old timey gang fight?

LAUGHTER

'All you're given is a word or song

'and where the skit goes from there is totally up to you.'

My fists are always right, bro.

Good. You're going to need to keep them there.

I like your attitude. I like your game face.

Yeah, it's a lot of fun.

It's not something I'd expect to be doing, but I'm enjoying myself

and you're learning a lot and it's a good way to meet people.

-I feel like I'm getting swindled here a little bit.

-But I'm nervous.

This is sort of like trying to release your inhibitions

in a place where people are so uninhibited.

..what your life could be like.

-I'm running for president.

-Yeah, I know!

'A key part of improv is supporting your scene partner

'and building on their ideas.

'Something these guys have down to a T.'

-Richard, but you probably know that too, right?

-I do.

LAUGHTER

You must be Joan.

Joan, yes, Joan Collins.

Future president of the PTA. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too, I'm sorry the book career didn't work out.

LAUGHTER

You are so funny(!)

Sorry about your failed marriage.

These guys are really good.

This is like... It's great to actually watch them at work.

But this is just like... This is too much.

'Before long, it was my turn.

'With knots in my stomach, I took to the stage.'

You asked for a seven-storey bronze statue of yourself. That's modest.

LAUGHTER

I mean, you had a school and a hospital levelled

so you could put this here.

LAUGHTER

-It's beautiful, though.

-It is beautiful, don't get me wrong!

-I'm coming round to it.

-I would think you would...

-You are a genius!

I mean, it takes a long time just to get around it.

-Good job!

-'All right, so the other guy

'definitely put in most of the legwork

'but I gave it my best shot.

'So, verdict time. How did I do?'

Ade did great! I know he was so concerned before the class.

He was very worried.

-It's just too much.

-What?

-This is too much.

'I think most people are scared at improvising

'cos they don't really actually know what it is

'or how much fun it is.'

They are also very concerned about being funny

and the pressure to be funny, but improv isn't really about that.

It's about being honest and having fun.

Nobody gets me more pumped up than you do, son.

'If you're on a budget in New York,

'improv gigs are a great way to pack in some entertainment.'

It's tremendous!

'A lot of places put on free nights

'and if not, tickets are usually cheap.

'Or, if you're brave enough, why not try it out for yourself?'

Know what? I was really sceptical about that,

coming in to do an improv class with some actor types.

But it was a lot of fun, my heart was pounding and I feel good.

I enjoyed it!

That's your lot for this week. Next week...

That looks like a lot of wasabi.

Carmen Roberts is in Tokyo to meet the people

who are opening their homes and kitchens to tourists.

And don't forget to check out our website,

where you'll find lots more from The Travel Show team,

and we are all over social media, so look for us there.

But from me, Ade Adepitan, here in New York, it's goodbye.

See you next time.