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More than 30 years ago, Michael Palin delighted audiences with his goofy antics as a member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus. No one who watched Palin's pratfalls would have guessed that he would become an accomplished world traveler.

Palin has traveled around the world in 80 days, marched from the North Pole to the South Pole and circled the countries of the Pacific Ocean.

Palin embarks on a new adventure for BBC Television, which will air on Bravo. The four-part series, "Michael Palin's Travels: Sahara," follows his 99-day trip through the Sahara desert.

The fun begins in Gibraltar, as Palin looks across the Straits of Gibraltar to the African coastline.

"What terror can the Sahara possibly hold when it's only 300 miles from a British home store, or a bobby, or a pint of warm beer?" asks Palin.

After watching a 21-gun salute to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's birthday, Palin gathers his bags and crosses the Straits of Gibraltar to Tangier.

He practices riding a camel on a beach, plays soccer with children and visits a steam bath where he gets "stretched." Then he is ready for the real adventure.

Palin has a wonderful sense of humor and a whimsical sense of adventure. He's not afraid to try anything or speak to anyone.

Palin's easygoing manner and delightful wit ingratiate him to everyone he meets. The footage of him interacting with local residents is obviously not scripted. Palin doesn't meet with heads of state or official tour guides. He finds local residents to provide tours of the cities and to relate the secrets of the region's history and culture. He prefers the average citizen, someone with whom he can share a drink and a laugh.

The series is filled with beautiful images of the desert and the people who call the sand home. Palin knows when to make a joke and when to stay quiet and let the images do all the communicating that is necessary.

Palin's itinerary keeps him on the move. He visits numerous cities including Chinguetti, Bamako, and the infamous Timbuktu.

"That's what travel is all about, learning something new and constantly having to say goodbye," says Palin.

The series is like watching a dear friend's vacation videos. But it's a bit more interesting.

Palin encounters sandstorms, military troops, border checkpoints, dangerous passages, crowds on rickety trains and temperatures reaching 134 degrees Fahrenheit. He even survives a gun blast by a revered hunter who demonstrates his ancient weapon.

Along the way, Palin witnesses male beauty pageants by nomadic herders and a reunion of the Desert Rats of Tobruk. He also participates in marriage ceremonies, tribal dances, and games such as desert draughts, which uses stalks and camel droppings. He finds buildings and cities, some made of mud, that have existed for centuries.

The people are very friendly with a relaxed view of life. They do not have the same strictures found in Western culture for travel and food preparation. The population has an innate ability to mix traditional culture with modern advancements. Men will wear Western dress and the traditional turban. Markets still sell shrunken animal heads for voodoo rituals. There is still a certain protocol used when meeting the elders of the village.

By the third episode, the show starts to drag slightly. The scenery doesn't change, mostly sand and camels. While seeing the various cultures is fascinating, there is too much time spent walking across the desert. Viewers will have to be patient with this sedate way of life. At least the series is spread over four weeks, so viewers should not be overwhelmed by the desert culture.

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