Michael Portillo explores the province of Quebec with his 19th-century Appleton’s Guide to Canada. He takes the fabulously scenic Charlevoix train along the north bank of the mighty St Lawrence River to La Malbaie.\n\nFollowing his guidebook to the beautiful basilica at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, Michael discovers the racks of crutches discarded by the healed and meets modern-day visitors in search of miracles.\n\nThe Train de Charlevoix, built to transport pilgrims, now conveys tourists along the north bank of the St Lawrence River to the Murray lakes. Michael tours the fine 19th-century houses, which were once the haunt of the Gatsby generation. Taking to the skies in a seaplane, Michael flies over the Laurentian Mountains to land on an isolated lake, where he fishes for trout for his supper.\n\nAt Baie St Paul, Michael heads for the high ground, where he discovers 6,500 tomato vines are under cultivation to produce wine. The waterfall at Montmorency is a spectacular sight – especially from a zip wire! \n\nFrom Quebec, Michael relocates to Canada’s Central Plains to begin a 1,000-mile journey across the vast Prairie aboard Canada’s last trans-continental passenger line. From the very heart of the country, he travels west to the majestic Rocky Mountains.\n\nOn this leg, Michael explores the Manitoban capital, Winnipeg, the nation’s chief railroad centre, known as the 'gateway to the west'. Joining the ranks of the 17,000 Canadian national students to have studied at the giant freight company’s national training centre, Michael has a go at marshalling a wagon.\n\nIn the French quarter of Saint Boniface, Michael cashes in at the Canadian Royal Mint and discovers the origins of the half-million Canadians who today identify as Metis. Michael meets a descendant of the 19th-century rebel leader now known as the Father of Manitoba and enjoys their traditional fiddle music.
Source: BBC 2
Series 2 Reversions: 9. Chicago To Champaign, Illinois
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Series 2 Reversions: 5. Santa Fe, New Mexico, To The Grand Canyon
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Series 2 Reversions: 4. La Junta To Colorado Springs
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Series 2 Reversions: 2. Sedalia To St Joseph, Missouri
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Series 2 Reversions: 1. St Louis To Jefferson City, Missouri
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Series 4: 10. Edmonton To Jasper
Michael Portillo continues west through the Canadian Prairie on his thousand-mile rail journey from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Jasper, Alberta. Following his 1899 Appleton’s g ...
11-10-2022
BBC 2
Series 3 Reversions: 3. Berkeley To Santa Cruz
Following his Appleton's guide, Michael Portillo makes a trip to the jewel in the crown of America's National Parks, Yosemite, to behold its towering granite cliffs, its giant s ...
06-06-2018
BBC 2
Series 4: 5. Kamloops To Calgary
Clutching his 1899 Appleton’s Guide, Michael Portillo boards one of the world’s most famous trains, the Rocky Mountaineer, to cross the backbone of the North America ...
26-09-2022
BBC 2
Series 3 Reversions: 5. Los Angeles To San Diego
Michael Portillo strikes oil in the suburbs of Los Angeles, contemplates his navel in the orange groves of Riverside, makes a California roll and paints a pretty picture in Lagu ...
11-06-2018
BBC 2
Series 2: 10. Albuquerque, New Mexico, To The Grand Canyon, Arizona
03-02-2017
BBC 2
Series 3: 19. Los Angeles To Laguna Beach
Michael Portillo strikes oil in the suburbs of Los Angeles, contemplates his navel in the orange groves of Riverside, makes a California Roll and paints a pretty picture in Lagu ...
07-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 4: 6. Halifax To Prince Edward Island
Michael Portillo begins a new journey on the tracks of the Ocean line to explore Canada’s maritime provinces en route to Quebec City.\n\nClutching his 1899 Appleton’ ...
27-09-2022
BBC 2
Series 3 Reversions: 6. Boston To Concord
Armed with his 19th-century Appleton's guidebook to the United States and Canada, Michael Portillo embarks on a 1100-mile railroad journey from Boston, Massachusetts, across the ...
12-06-2018
BBC 2