Essential Series 3

1  Nova Scotia

Take Canada's least known and smallest province with all the drama an Atlantic seaboard can offer, and add comedian Mike McClean to the mix, and you end up with an explosive combination. Lobster fishing in the rain, following Native American trails in a National Park, and grappling with the first male-only French colony in Canada all bring out the best and brightest in Mike.
Duration: 30'

 

2  Istanbul

It's a cliché but Istanbul really is the city where East meets West over the blue waters of the Bosphorus. It's also a 21st century city as Danann Breathnach discovers as he moves between mosques and modern art, palaces and bazaars, and nightclubs and even a branch of Harvey Nicholls. This is a portrait of a city that offers a lot more than Turkish Delight.
Duration: 30'

 

3  Eastern Turkey

Far from the resorts and sunbathers lies a forgotten country that has been closed to tourists for twenty years, until now. Eastern Turkey has been a land bridge for thousands of years where faiths clashed, empires rose and fell, and the landscape is scattered with a treasure trove of remains and archaeological sites. It's actually the place where civilization began as Danann Breathnach discovers on this unmissable journey.
Duration: 30'

 

4  Lithuania

Lithuania translates as Land of Rain, not on Danny Robins' visit. He discovers a gem of a Baltic State that literally sweeps him off his feet. From the modern to the ancient capital and from air to sea Danny will leave no stone unturned on his search for Lithuania's spirit. Will he find it in a bottle though?
Duration: 30'

 

5  Mozambique

Mike McClean dives right into this thrilling journey through one of Africa's least visited countries. From the safari savannah to the gleaming sands of the Indian Ocean Mike's mission to Mozambique finds him showering with a lion and discovering a coastline full of surprises.
Duration: 30'

 

6  Republic of Macedonia

Danny Robins packs his bags for a visit to the Republic of Macedonia. First on the itinerary is capital Skopje, which is steeped in history. Seeing as the area has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC, that's probably not surprising. Danny also takes a good look at Skopje's modern credentials with a tour of the hottest local nightspots before striking out for the south of the country, and Lake Ohrid, to try his hand at catching one of the famous local trout. Completing his historical tour, Danny visits Kokino, an archaeological site and megalithic observatory first discovered in 2001 and ranked alongside the likes of Stonehenge in historical importance. Lastly, possibly hoping for a touch of divine inspiration, Danny visits Demir Kapija to sample the wine of the Gods.
Duration: 30'