Romania 101

This week on “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” the boys continue their discussion of must-see museums, churches, and curiosities in Rome. Plus, you’ll learn why cappuccinos are called that—and how they relate to rooms decorated with bones! Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: National Museum of Rome https://www.rome-museum.com/national-roman-museum.php  Capitoline Museums  http://museicapitolini.org/en/node  Capuchin Crypt https://museoecriptacappuccini.it/en/the-crypt/  Cat Ruins https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/torre-argentina-roman-cat-sanctuary  Bocca della Verita https://www.rome.net/mouth-of-truth  Ostia Antica https://www.ostia-antica.org/  Trastevere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trastevere  Where to Travel Now…While You Can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b07NlIkKDc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5PAA3WIWtg New Giant Marble Head! https://x.com/gualtierieurope/status/1936334736198144396   

Kiernan takes us to the City of Lights—Paris!—for a magical trip from French Impressionists to the gargoyles of Notre Dame. Plus, how to read stained glass like comic books and take home some museum-quality taxidermy. And Ryan reflects on the passing of Edmund White.

This week on “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” the boys share their insider knowledge on how to lock down fantastic trips and deals even if you’re a little late to the party. Hidden National Parks, secret city hideaways, and booking schemes await! Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: Julie Klausner https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/how-was-your-week/  Boop the Musical https://boopthemusical.com/  North Cascades https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm  Isle Royale https://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm  Great Sand Dunes https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm  Mesa Verde https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm  Badlands https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm  Rapid City Sculptor episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/city-of-presidents-with-james-van-nuys/id1438098925?i=1000451011128  Canyonlands https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm  Bear Ears National Monument https://www.blm.gov/visit/bears-ears-national-monument  Great State Parks episode https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-43-state-parks-with-peter-kujawinski/  Great State Parks NYT article https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/travel/state-parks-visit-colorado-nc-florida.html   Google Flights “Explore” function https://www.google.com/travel/explore  Skyscanner “Explore Everywhere” function https://www.skyscanner.com/transport/flights-from/us/?adultsv2=1&cabinclass=economy&childrenv2=&ref=home&rtn=1&preferdirects=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&inboundaltsenabled=false&oym=2507&iym=2507  AirBNB Experiences announcement https://news.airbnb.com/airbnb-2025-summer-release/  The Walker Library of the History of Human Imagination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Library_of_the_History_of_Human_Imagination 

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us to Romania—visiting Bucharest, Brașov, and Cluj-Napoca. Expect puppets, dictator mansions, and steampunk exhibits along the way. Things We Talked About In Today's Episode:  - Ceaușescu Mansion  https://timharford.com/2024/04/cautionary-tales-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-megalomaniac/ - Palace of the Parliament - "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum - Carturesti Verona  - The Puck Puppet Theater   https://teatrulpuck.ro/?lang=en @tomiksz13 the puppeteer  https://www.instagram.com/tomiksz13?

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys treat the ancient aqueducts like a flume ride and splash right into Rome! Kiernan and Ryan talk Emperors, SPQR, why columns make the best decor, plus just a touch of new Pope speculation. Our episode on Vatican City: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-197-vatican-city/ Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: “The Fall of Rome” podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fall-of-rome-podcast/id1141563910 “SPQR” by Mary Beard https://a.co/d/71DS93Z  “Roman Holiday” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rL5QxXF0g8  Colosseum https://colosseo.it/en/area/the-colosseum/  Forum https://colosseo.it/en/area/the-roman-forum/  Palatine Hill https://colosseo.it/en/area/the-palatine/  Pantheon https://www.pantheonroma.com/home-eng/ Borghese Gallery https://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/  Bath of Diocletian https://museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it/en/baths-of-diocletian/  Trevi Fountain https://www.blacktomato.com/us/inspirations/the-history-of-romes-trevi-fountain/  Spanish Steps https://romesite.com/spanish-steps.html  Catacombs of Saint Sebastian https://www.catacombe.org/  Lego Trevi Fountain https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/trevi-fountain-21062 

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” the boys celebrate the pod’s 200th episode with travel icon Rick Steves! Kiernan chats with Rick about his latest book “On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer” and about how keeping a journal can make one into a keener observer of culture.  Rick’s philosophy of travel is that if you haven’t come back changed, you didn’t do it right. This interview will leave you changed. Plus, a new artistic saint! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Rick Steves’ Europe https://www.ricksteves.com/  Free scans of every page of Rick’s journal https://www.ricksteves.com/about-rick/original-hippie-trail-journal  Saint Gaudi! https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/world/europe/antoni-gaudi-architect-saint.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare  Wanna help us celebrate 200? Leave a review (please)! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-office-a-travel-podcast/id1438098925  And a final note from Ryan and Kiernan: RIP POPE FRANCIS!

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us on three day trips from Santiago, Chile. First is Valparaíso, a coastal city known for its hills, historic funiculars, and street art. Then on to Valle de Colchagua, where wine tastings and a standout meal at Fuegos de Apalta make for a vino day. Finally, head to the Andes to soak in the mineral pools at Termas Valle de Colina. Plus, Kiernan talks about his old friend Corn Husker 55! Leave us a 5 Star Review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-office-a-travel-podcast/id1438098925 Santiago Episode: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-194-santiago-chile/ The Hills: https://www.moon.com/travel/trip-ideas/the-hills-of-valparaiso-chile/ Restaurants: La Concepción & La Caperucita y el Lobo https://museobaburizza.cl/en/home/ Our wine tour provider: https://colchaguawinetours.com/

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys head to Krakow, the intellectual heart of Poland. The city is home to beautiful churches, endless Pope John Paul II memorabilia, one of the oldest universities in the world (Copernicus attended), and moving remembrances of Jewish citizens killed in the Holocaust. Plus, a quick detour to the historic Wieliczka Salt Mine. Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: Schengen Area: https://dailypassport.com/what-is-the-schengen-area/ Remains of the Ghetto wall https://g.co/kgs/ammrVVz Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory https://muzeumkrakowa.pl/en/branches/oskar-schindlers-enamel-factory MOCAK https://en.mocak.pl/ https://www.instagram.com/prosciuttko_/?hl=en

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys Catholic out hard. In celebration of Lent, “Conclave,” and a Catholic Jubilee Year, Kiernan talks us through the top sites to see in Vatican City. Rome is expecting 32M visitors this year, and now each and every one can listen to Out of Office! Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: Jubilee 2025 https://www.usccb.org/jubilee2025  Holy Doors https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/5-holy-doors-what-every-catholic-should-know-ahead-of-jubilee-2025-4075  Saint Peter’s https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/  Pope John XXIII https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/martyrs-miracles-and-the-stuff-of-making-saints/  Vatican II https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-10/vatican-ii-council-60th-anniversary-video-history-background.html  Papal Altar and Canopy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Baldachin  Chair of Saint Peter https://www.ncregister.com/cna/historic-chair-of-st-peter-on-public-display-in-vatican-basilica-for-first-time-in-150-years  Tomb of Saint Peter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter%27s_tomb  Saint Peter Statue https://stpetersbasilica.info/Statues/StPeter/StPeter.htm  La Pieta https://fa-inkwell.org/1039/arts/artists-review-la-pieta-one-of-michelangelos-earliest-works/  Vatican Museums https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html  Laocoon and his Sons https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Cortile-Ottagono/laocoonte.html  Gallery of the Candelabra https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Galleria-dei-Candelabri/galleria-dei-candelabri.html  “School of Athens” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_of_Athens  Sistine Chapel “In Our Time” episode https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015vh8  Sistine Chapel pre-reading https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/art/michelangelo-last-judgment-sistine-chapel-vatican.html  Omio https://www.omio.com/  Jenny Nicholson on the Star Wars Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0CpOYZZZW4 

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan offers an overview of Berlin's museums, highlighting a few of his favorites, from the story of Hitler's rise and fall in an underground bunker to contemporary art in an old train station. Plus, Kiernan talks about Boston.