Passport To Adventure (4-DVD)

Not what I expected...(or advertised)...
We got this new as a gift. It was recommended because "we liked" Planet Earth and Manor House. The description of course states we will travel to exotic locals and see historical sites and explore history, etc. That all sounds great and we love history, geography and nature shows. We also have had good experiences w/PBS shows. So this sounded like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, we got this before there were any reviews on it.

Do they go to exotic locals? Yes.
Visit historical sites? Yes...briefly.
Explore history? Yes...even less briefly.

Do they ride bikes? YES, all the time (and not showcasing the countries, simply show them riding on dirt paths).
Do they ski, kayak, canoe and take tourist boat tours? Yes, about 3 times per show.
Do they eat at restaurants? OMG YES...and they always have a "local" sit with them and explain what the food is...this is very uncomfortable for the viewer and the "local".

If I were to write...

So far not bad (BUT)
I just bought this box set. I only watched 6 disks so far. Like I said, so far not to to bad, but and I know there is a lot of skiers out there and this will seem like I'm waw waw. There is way to much skiing parts in the first 6 DVDs. and when the two guides are either hoarse riding or bike riding, they go way to fast. The Idea is to take in the land not race by it and not see everything. If there with a group of people they many times race ahead of them as if to show off. The quality is fair. It also makes it seem like it is all about them (the guides). Better to shop for the (Over DVDs, like over America, California, ect.ect.)and if possible in Blu-ray.I wish there will be more of the Over blu ray dvds. If you by the passport to adventure box set, you may find your self not liking some of the disks. Color not that great, and wish it had some other guides or guide for the whole set. Some one who knows the show is not about them but about the land. Oh well, next time I'll have to do...

Should Be Titled "Watch Julie Snow Ski"
Approximately a quarter of the footage in this package is of the hostess, a middle-aged woman named Julie Conover, snow skiing. Half of the remaining footage is of her riding bicycles, kayaking, para-sailing, horseback riding... in essence, it's all about "Watch Julie, watch Julie!" True, they visit some exquisitely beautiful places, give cursory attention to cultural, architectural, and scenic items, then quickly return to Julie skiing... Julie hang-gliding... Julie rock climbing... Julie skiing AGAIN, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

This could have been an engaging series if significant footage had been committed to capturing the places they visited. Unfortunately horses, ski slopes, the sky, cows, and all of the other mundane items videotaped can be seen ANYWHERE. What a grand waste of videotape. Then, the entire series is presented with only two 30-minute episodes on each DVD (they could have fit six episodes or more on each DVD). Very disappointing; very disappointing...

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