| Agritourism
Coming
of Age: Agritourism Growing Strong in America
by Karin Leperi
In
this article, Karin Leperi, Talking Travel's agritourism
specialist, gives an overview of this speciality market in the travel
and tourism industry.
Agritourism
is part of and interconnected with Ecotourism. In
September 2005, The International Ecotourism Society and the Bar
Harbor Chamber of Commerce are hosting and organizing the first
national conference on Ecotourism in the U.S. Held in Bar Harbor,
Maine, the conference features tourism leaders representing industry,
media, professional, and nonprofit groups to explore innovative
solutions to ecotourism issues and trends.
For
more information click on this link for a media release.
Arts
and Travel
Prince
Edward Island's Fine Artisans: Celebrating Craft Year 2007, by Sandra
Phinney
In this
“stroll” through Canada's smallest province, and one
of the most popular destinations, Sandra Phinney explores the delightful
world of the Island's artisans.
An
Artful Journey to Malaysia’s Batik Week, by Michelle Newman
Following
her three-month peregrination throughout Southeast Asia, Michelle
explores the world of Batik; in particular modern Malaysian Batik
— “a whole new world of art, and a spectacle to behold.”
The
Virtual and Other Realities of Jeroen Bechtold,
by Bob Fisher
Jeroen
Bechtold is a contemporary potter and ceramist in Amsterdam. In
this report, Bob Fisher explores the legacy of the Dutch connection
with the Far East and this extraordinary contemporary artist.
Indigo
Infatuation, by Michelle Newman
It's
more than a colour; it's a cultural experience, as Michelle Newman
demonstrates after a visit to the workshop of a Japanese master
of the craft.
The
Hands of Juan Quezada, by Bob Fisher
In
this article, Bob Fisher “paints” a portrait of a national
living treasure of Mexico.
Art
Meets Innocence in Madrid, by Bob Fisher
In
this quiet “slice of life” glimpse inside a unique art
gallery in Madrid, Bob examines how travel can reveal universal
issues such as how children learn the essentials of social organization
— from art.
Culinary
Travel
Acadiana:
Washington D.C.'s Hottest New Restaurant 
Talking
Travel's Traveling Chef Tom reports on a new restaurant in Washington
D.C. that specializes in Louisiana cuisine.
Daytona.
Florida Goes Foodie (an audio report)
Talking
Travel's Traveling Chef Tom takes
us to Daytona which has become a major culinary destination in Florida.
Cultural
Insights
Rugged
Northern Ireland, by Kay Harwell Fernandez
During
her visit to Northern Ireland, Kay Harwell Fernandez takes us to
the mythical (but real) Giant's Causeway and the serene North Antrim
region.
Cobh,
Ireland: the Port of Farewells, by Colleen Fliedner
Visiting
the “Irish Riviera,” Colleen also travels back in time
to a heart-wrenching period when many thousands of Irish left Ireland
(during the Potato Famine) for North America. She also revisits
Cobh's historical role in the Titanic and Lusitania disasters. She
also shows us one of the most beautiful places in Ireland to visit.
Chihuahua,
Mexico
The
seeds of Destination Worldview, our defining feature, were
sown during a media trip to Chihuahua Mexico on which Roy Lowey
and Bob Fisher were participants.
Chihuahua
is one of the most culturally and historically rich areas of Mexico.
It is also a destination in which vision is everything. In the deserts,
cities, towns, and great natural areas of Chihuahua — the
stupendous Copper
Canyon is an example — you get to see many things and
great distances. Most of all, you get to see the soul of the Mexican
people.
For
more information on Chihuahua, see the following: The
Hands of Juan Quezada; Mexican
Mennonites: Canadian Connections, Chihuahua
(visitmexico.com); and Chihuahua-MexicoConnect.
To
listen to the Talking Travel audio reports of these stories, click
on the icons below.
Ecotourism and Soft Adventure
The
Secrets of Cortez by John Benus
Baja
California is a dream destination for John and Margaret Benus. John
and Margaret are also significant role models for the 50+ generation,
the most important demographic in the travel industry.
Strathcona
Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre:
Pushing your physical and conceptual limits on Vancouver Island,
by Hans Tammemagi
In this nature-based adventure
story, Hans Tammemagi demonstrates how active outdoor and environmentally
conscious travel is both for the body and the mind.
Exotic
Travel
Antarctica:
The Crystal Desert
by Kitt Walsh
Kitt
lives in Naples, Florida and has sent us this thrilling account
of her trip to Antarctica.
Family
Travel
A
Journey of the Heart,
by Karin Leperi
We
at Talking Travel pride ourselves on our grassroots reach.
Part of grassroots travel and travel experiences takes place in
the mind and in the emotions. In this article, Karin Leperi shares
a personal understanding of the real potential of “family
travel.”
First
Nations Travel
The
Calusa Indians: Shell People of the Estuary, by Stephanie Moreland
In
this article, Stephanie explores an extinct Native-American people
who were perfectly adapted to the environment of Southwest Florida.
Alberta's
Siksika Nation: The Artful Representation of Indigenous Culture,
by Michelle Newman
Michelle
Newman is an adopted member of the Blackfoot Nation in Alberta,
Canada. In this article she describes the time she spent living
with them and the expanded artistic frame of reference that she
developed.
The
Siksika Nation of Alberta: Self-determination, cultural affirmation,
land, and time, by Bob Fisher
This
special multimedia report focusses on First Nations heritage travel
and the Siksika as a role model for this kind of travel experience.
Gay Travel
The
Albertan Brokeback Mountain Connection. Like many
special interest parts of the travel industry, Gay travel has been
a staple of the industry for quite some time. With the success of
this recent Oscar award-winning film — shot primarily in Alberta
— that Canadian province has received renewed attention. In
“Mountains
of Memories,” Aefa Mulholland and Ed Salvato show how
movies can stimulate travel and a new awareness of specific destinations.
Genealogical Travel
An
Unknown Soldier, by Bob Fisher
More
and more people are traveling to find their “roots.”
Sometimes this kind of travel — a growing part of the travel
industry — means just a visit to the “homeland”
from which their ancestors came. Other times it involves actual
genealogical research: in cemeteries, parish records, town halls,
or public archives. And some times these genealogical travels are
relatively close to home — and full of surprises. In this
article, Bob Fisher finds someone he never knew but knows all about.
Great Cities
Sydney,
Australia: Surf, Sun, and Suds, by Hans Tammemagi
Knowing
Sydney from his “student days,” Hans takes us shows
an hedonist side of the city.
Stockholm:
Beauty on the Water, Kay Harwell Fernandez
In
this word portrait, Kay presents a traveler-friendly overview of
the Swedish capital.
My
Russian Troika, by Suzanne Wright
Suzanne
takes us on a unique tri-city trip through Russia.
Great
Cruises
Posh
and Circumstance Aboard the Queen Mary 2, by Suzanne Wright
Suzanne
and friend live like queens in the proverbial lap of luxury on the
high seas.
A
Dream of a Crystal Cruise, by Kay Harwell Fernandez
Kay
makes the dream come true.
Great Train Travel
Panoramic
Views Aboard Switzerland’s Glacier Express and Golden Pass
by Kay Harwell Fernandez
Train
travel is still an exciting and romantic way to travel. However,
in some destinations it is also the most accessible and traveler-friendly
form of transportation — accessible especially to stupendous
natural sights. As Kay Fernandez clearly demonstrates, this is especially
true of train travel in Switzerland.
Falling
in Love Again — With Train Travel, by Sandra Phinney
Sandra
takes the reader on one of Canada's great train trips, from Halifax
to Montréal.
Historical
and Heritage Travel
Trinidad
de Cuba: Sparkling Jewel of the Escambray by Peter Flaherty
In
this article, Peter Flaherty explores a specific destination in
Cuba as well as Cuba's emerging travel industry.
The
Joseph Camp Story: In Search of a Mythical Eden in the American
West, by Paula Humfrey
In
this multimedia presentation, Paula Humfrey explores the American
West through the journal of an 18th-century traveler in what was
seen as the “New Eden.”
Intrepid
Traveling
Innocence,
Consciousness-raising and Cambodia, by Gregory Monteith
Whether
traveling by backpack or some other means that does not afford the
creature comforts many of us enjoy, the simplest and least expensive
form of travel can often be the most rewarding. Gregory Monteith
shows us why.
China's
Great Wall: The Masterpiece of Human Civilization, by Gregory Monteith
In
this very personal and introspective report, Gregory takes us to
the Great Wall of China — and beyond.
Cambodia's
Tonle Sap: A Lesson in Human Resourcefulness, by Gregory Monteith
Gregory's
exotic trip in a longboat to the largest fresh water lake in Southeast
Asia is an example of travel as the most experiential form of learning.
Four
Years of Living Dangerously: Behind the travel books, by Antonio
Graceffo
What
makes someone working in high finance and high living in New York
City give it all up and travel to some of the most extraordinary
and remote destinations in the world? Antonio Graceffo's personal
account of how he became an adventure travel writer is a study in
culture shock and acculturation.
Nature
Travel
Green
Lakes on the Allegheny Plateau, by Mary Notarthomas
Exploring
one of the best kept secrets in New York State, Mary Notarthomas
also creates a true “feel” for nature travel close to
home.
Personal
Travel Experiences
Nova
Scotia: Soothing the Soul, by Elle Andra-Warner
Visiting
one of her favourite destinations again (Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia),
Elle Andra-Warner finds a new sense of the spiritual in travel.
New
York to New Mexico and My New Life in the Land of Enchantment, by
Neala Schwartzberg
A
change of scene, they say, is a good thing. Moving from uber urban
to spacious desert, Neala gives this aphorism new meaning as she
begins her new life in New Mexico.
Day
of the Iguana: Lizards I Have Loved, by Mike Fisher
While
living in Mexico, Mike Fisher (our Albertan Bound travel guy) and
his cat Ed have a terrifying experience.
Got
Luggage? by Suzanne Wright
As
one of the most on-the-go travel journalists we know, Suzanne's
article on how to buy luggage and how to pack is invaluable to any
traveler.
Our
New Greek Friend: A lesson in “home is where the heart is”
by Doug Eads
Doug
is one of our Destination Worldview contributors. In this
personal account, he shows the commonality of the human experience.
Finding
My Own Time and Space in Ancient Jordan, by Karen Hamlin
Karen
takes us on a very personal and fun journey to Jordan where she
demonstrates the importance of initiative and the ability to search
out the alternative and grassroots experience when traveling.
Luggage
Can Be Hazardous to your Health, by Colleen Fliedner
An
experienced traveler and travel journalist, Colleen learned the
hard way nonetheless the perils of the wayward and awkward suitcase.
Colleen is a freelance journalist, member of the North American
Travel Journalists Association, the International Society of Ecotourism,
the National Federation of Press Women, the Authors' Guild of America,
the International Peace Through Tourism organization, and a former
member of the Sierra Club. She can be contacted by email at Cfliedner@aol.com.
Sacred
Assisi, by Stephanie Moreland
During
her first visit to Europe, Stephanie discovers something from her
past and explores the nature of the sacred.
Poetic
Travel
The
Poetic Eye of the Travel Writer, by Gregory Monteith
In
this collection of poems which paint pictures in words of travel
experiences Gregory has had, he demonstrates why such experiences
can be highly internalized.
Special
Interest Traveling
Traveling in search of fossils, with Brian Matthews.
Brian is a career banker from Truro Nova Scotia who has developed
a passion for fossils and travel.
Dinosaurs
and Fossils in Nova Scotia, with Brian Matthews.
And
if you are an amateur paleontologist, Brian also recommends the
following websites: the Nova
Scotia Museum of Natural History and the Fundy
Geological Museum. Brian's favourite book on the subject is
The Last Billion Years by Nimbus Publishing, and a new
map called “Nova Scotia Rocks.”
The
Best in Chocolate Travel, by Kay Harwell Fernandez
Chocolate
lovers will go the ends of the earth for their choco-fix. However,
Kay makes such delectable travel very do-able.
Special
reports from Friends and Colleagues Around the World
Talking
to Our Man Stan... in the UK
In
this series of “travel dialogues” with Stan Abbott,
founder
and Executive Director of Gravity
Consulting
in the United Kingdom, we visit and explore a number of unique destinations
and travel topics.
A
Dialogue with Petr Kulhánek (Secretary General) and Jim Thompson
(Executive Committee) about Travel and Tourism in the Twenty-First
Century
The
Federation of International Journalists and Travel Writers (FIJET)
is the largest and oldest travel journalism association in the world.
It operates in three official languages: English, French, and Spanish;
and has over 900 members from 62 different countries around the
world.
A
Special Report by Lyuboslav Ilev, A Special Young Man from Bulgaria
Lyuboslav
Ilev is a 17-year-old high school student in Sofia, the capital
city of Bulgaria. As a role model of the new generation of Eastern
Europeans, he is highly accomplished in languages (his maternal
language is Bulgarian) and he has a keen sense of history in both
his own nation and throughout Europe itself.
Anyone for a National Drink? A Special Report by Radim Wajshavtl
In
the Czech Republic, the national drink is called Becherovka. Not
only is it part of the culture of the nation, it is also part of
its history.
A
Unique Brand of Airport, by Urs Brütsch, Head
Marketing Communication, Unique (Flughafen Zürich AG)
(This article
opens as a PDF file.)
Increasingly,
the business, operations, and realities of airports are of concern
to all travellers. As an important new hub in Europe, the
Zurich airport in Switzerland is a state-of-the-art airport.
As
a privatized company holding a government concession,the Unique
company operates Switzerland's “nationally and internationally
renowned traffic hub and meeting place: Zurich Airport.” An
innovative and passenger-friendly airport, it is also an integrated
operation in many ways. For example, The “Soul of Chocolate”
exhibition was recently installed at the airport. Passengers were
able to familiarize themselves with the history, origins, processing
and refinement of chocolate, and to sample the immense variety of
tastes in the world of chocolate. In “A Unique Brand of Airport,”
Urs Brütsch explains in detail the role and importance of marketing
an airport in the increasingly competitive airline industry. Talking
Travel wishes to thank him for permission to include this article
in our webmagazine.
Travel
Industry Profiles
Bora
Ozkok: Portrait of a Role Model in the Travel Industry, by Colleen
Fliedner
In
this profile, Colleeen Fliedner introduces us to an individual who
represents the best of cultural travel in Turkey — and everywhere
else.
Unexpected
Travel
For
the Love of Lavender: Lavender as the Latest Fashion Statement for
Rover, by Karin Leperi
Karin
is an award-winning and eclectic writer/photographer. She is the
Agritourism Consultant to The
International Ecotourism Society (TIES), and as a specialist
in agritourism she contributes relevant reports to Talking Travel.
In this piece she introduces us to the Lavender Capital of North
America.
Voluntourism
Alberta:
Dinosaur Country, by Brian Matthews
In
his report, Brian takes us to one of the most important paleontological
sites in the world and a World Heritage Site.
Joyce
Major: Voluntourist
A solo year-long adventure around the world
Joyce's
amazing adventures and personal commitment to a unique way of travelling
are inspiring and highly informative.
The
above stories are first-hand, grassroots accounts; they come
directly from people who have “been there.”
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