Travel People: Living Authentic Lives, Finding Kindred Spirits, Fulfilling Dreams

We continue our tour of unique luxury accommodations in the Marrakesh Medina that provide beauty breaks for the soul. I love Morocco's rich colors, but my serene stay last month at Palais Blanc Riad, a cloud-colored haven, felt like living in a dream. The owner, Mr. Luigi Bleve, is a big fan of Marrakesh. By blending Moroccan authenticity with Italian style, he has created a blank canvas for whatever you need — rest, rejuvenation, or new adventures. We take a look at two nearby attractions: Bahia Palace in the Old City and Jardin Majorelle in Gueliz, Marrakesh's New City.
More photos on Southern Girl Gone Global at

YOUTUBE version of the podcast at https://youtu.be/DpVpkXFip28
Palais Blanc Riad at https://www.palaisblancriad.com
Bahia Palace at https://bahia-palace.com/
Jardin Majorelle at https://www.jardinmajorelle.com/en/

Jazz in Paris, Media Right ProductionsNo.9, Esther’s Waltz by Esther Abrami, YouTube Audio Library
Desert Caravan, Aaron Kenny, YouTube Library
Arabian Nightfall by Doug Maxwell & Media Right Productions, YouTube Audio Library 
Swinging With The Sultan by Doug Maxwell, YouTube Library

Season 3 begins with a return to Morocco, my go-to country for epic adventure, exquisite beauty, and exotic stays. The Marrakesh Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the perfect home base for exploring the Kingdom. Staying in a riad — a guest house once owned by wealthy families — is a signature Moroccan experience. But with over 1K riads within The Red City's walls, how does one choose? Find out why guests love Riad Luciano and meet global traveler and Moroccan-born Laila Krattiger who is living the expat life in Switzerland. Using the alchemy of Moroccan warmth, Swiss perfection, and Italian style, Laila created a haven. It wasn't easy. Just after opening the doors, the pandemic slammed them shut. With optimism, tenacity, a dream staff, and a premium location she has created a luxurious haven in the Old City.

See this podcast on YouTube. here.  See blog with more info here.  
Contact Laila and Riad Luciano at https://riadluciano.com/




*See Season 1 Episode 2, for more travel experiences across Morocco. Also see Southern Girl Gone Global where I've featured my favorite resorts, boutiques, and riads since 2014.
Music:
Jazz in Paris, Media Right Productions
Pink Flamenco, Doug Maxwell
Casablanca Caravan, Chris Haugen
Desert City by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with Angela Correll, author of the May Hollow Trilogy. This episode is for readers, writers, creatives of all kinds. She’ll share her writing journey,  process, and a new project. She’ll also talk about opportunities she can provide for solo writing retreats and creative community.  

Be sure to hear her story in Part 1 and read the blogpost on how she wanted a simpler life and found it in Stanford, KY with her husband, Jess. There they live on a sustainable farm and have revitalized the downtown area of the village dating back to the 1700s that inspired her books. She takes us on a tour through the first historic guest cottage they saved and renovated, restaurant and event spaces, and her soap factory where it all began as a way to save her goats. You’ll see Whitley Cottage, Esther’s Wellhouse, and farm-to-table Bluebird Restaurant where I spent a one-of-a-kind weekend. 

Angela continues to design spaces so readers can experience small town living in the two worlds of her novels–one in Kentucky and soon Tuscany, Italy where she and Jess are remodeling rental properties. 

Welcome to a special edition of Travel People: Living Authentic Lives, Finding Kindred Spirits, Fulfilling Dreams. Today Best-selling author Angela Correll, takes us to 3 little villages with big hearts.  Her story inspires us to see problems as possibilities, to create something that satisfies the soul and benefits others, to embrace who and what matters most, to remember our roots and spread our wings.

I talked with  Angela  in Stanford, Kentucky where she lives on a farm with her husband, Jess. The novels of her May Hollow trilogy –  Grounded, Guarded, and Granted– are based largely on life in the small town. She and Jess are the creators of the Wilderness Road Hospitality Group. You’ll hear how they went from milking goats to saving and renovating historic homes. How they built two restaurants, an Inn, and are building another. Angela will tell you about living in a close community in Ky and their latest project in a village in Italy. See more here: https://southerngirlgoneglobal.com/2022/01/03/best-retreats-2022-wilderness-road-experience-with-author-angela-correll/

If you missed last year’s holiday edition, follow the link to a another small village, this one Greek in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Every Jan 6 this close community hosts the largest  (and probably most unusual) Epiphany celebration in the Northern Hemisphere.

Kentucky Soaps and Such
Wilderness Road Accommodations and More

Liborio Conti -- Mandolin music https://no-copyright-music.com

00:01 Series Intro

00:32 Meet Toni Thompson, traveler to 70 countries including volunteering in five. She served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador, lived 4 years in Venezuela. As an occupational therapist, she teaches cultural competency.  July 5-17 she attended the 2021 (74th) Cannes Film Festival in France and shares stories from the Red Carpet, film screenings, parties, and a Master Class with Matt Damon. Find out how to get there or enjoy your local film festivals. 

1:26 How she got an invitation to the industry event
Gasparilla International Film Fest--Tampa
Sunscreen Film Festival--St. Petersburg, Florida (where she reviewed entries as a programmer)

3:40 How Covid changed the Festival

4:25 Workshops

4:57 Parties
Dave DeBorde, Nashville, hosted The Cannes Pajama Party
Producers' Party
Chilean Cinema https://cinemachile.cl/en/espanol-que-paso-en-cannes-2021-conoce-todo-sobre-la-presencia-chilena/
(Cindy was cast by Alberto Fuguet in the Chilean film based on Nashville, Musica Campesina, which screened at the 2011 Nashville Film Festival, Vanderbilt University, and in 2014 on Cinemax.  https://www.nashvillescene.com/arts_culture/alberto-fuguets-i-musica-campesina-i-the-best-nashville-shot-movie-youve-never-seen-airs/article_cf943712-db2f-55f2-be09-105beacb3dd7.html)

http://www.hispanicnashville.com/2010/03/chilean-authordirector-alberto-fuguet.html

5:51 Red Carpet events, guidelines, surprises

7:20 Getting into the film screenings--She went to 19.

7:39 Stargazing

10:06 Toni's favorite moment (with Matt Damon)

Stillwater is "loosely based" on the story of Amanda Knox, an American college student accused of murdering her roommate in Italy

14:15 The Power of Film for Cultural Connections

Red Sea Film Festival

Cindy was so excited to see a Moroccan film there--Cassablanca Beats--the story of a former rapper who takes a job at a cultural center  inspiring students to fulfill passions and find freedom in hip hop culture.   

Highlights from France 24 News

17:46 Toni's travels

18:24 Classes on Cultural Competency/ Humility

21:00 InterNations and the Gifts of Diversity

*See S2 Episode 1 for more on Oman

24:36 Cannes and the French Riviera
More on Nice, Monaco, surrounding area
https://www.francetraveltips.com/itinerary-12-days-menton-nice/

26:53 Festival Packages

30:07 How to Get Started in Film Festivals--Volunteer locally.

Nashville Film Fest
Belcourt Theater

Film Festival Travel

 Elaine and Scott Harris--Journalists, Sommeliers, and TV Hosts--discuss Switzerland, Ireland, New Orleans, Central Coast of  California, and advice on a happy life.

Cuisineist.com https://cuisineist.com/ 

*YouTube version w/ photos &videos by Scott and Elaine Harris, Canva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5etq3B6gBIE

https://www.arnaudsrestaurant.com
https://www.galatoires.com
http://www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com...
https://antoines.com
https://www.commanderspalace.com
https://www.brennansneworleans.com
https://cuisineist.com/2019/06/the-monterey-peninsula-provides-a-dreamy-destination-any-time-of-year
https://www.staritahills.com/wine-and...

https://southerngirlgoneglobal.com/travel-writing-course
https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/1999787/new-orleans-travel-with-kids

Meet Elaine and Scott Harris, Journalists, Sommeliers, and Hosts of Cuisineist Confidential based in Las Vegas, Nevada. They’ll soon be adding to their vast portfolio of publications and projects (https://muckrack.com/elaine-harris) a new event space--Vino Las Vegas--  and a new series for TheVegasFix.com. They share another side of Vegas from celebrity chefs pivoting during pandemic closures to life off the strip including state parks for the family nearby.  They share favorite destinations and events known for great wine, food, and spirits...Switzerland, New Orleans, Central Coast of  California, and beyond. In Part 1 they’ll tell us the wine they keep on to survive a long, hot summer.

We met at Captiva Island’s South Seas Island Resort: compass-issue-8/#22 Elaine shared why. she traded in teaching for full-time travel writing and how she found her life partner.  In Part 2 they share advice for those wanting to break into travel media, more favorite destinations, festivals and events, and advice for a happy life.

Elaine and Scott 's Contact here:
Cuisineist.com    IGTV Host Cuisineist Confidential
@TheCuisineist Cuisineist Instagram Facebook
[email protected]

*YouTube with photos/videos courtesy of Scott, Elaine, South Seas Island Resort, and Canva :  https://youtu.be/OAQL9oJkRj4
Online travel writing class: https://southerngirlgoneglobal.com/travel-writing-course/

Bon Appetit’s Vegas Uncork’d https://www.venetian.com/entertainment/vegas-uncorkd.html

Chef Justin Picard of Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Paso Robles, California, https://www.allegrettovineyardresort.com

Thunderbird Hotel Vegas  https://www.thunderbirdhotellasvegas.com/

Montreux Jaxx Festival Lake Geneva  https://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/

The Vegas Fix Network 
Trailer: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpjDFVF-_p/
Watch series here: https://www.tvfpremierpass.com/

Camping with mountain sheep: Valley of Fire State Park http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire
Mt. Charleston https://www.gomtcharleston.com/
Red Rock Canyon --wild horses https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

Resorts World  https://www.rwlasvegas.com/
Area 15--art installations https://area15.com/

Michael J. Fox fundraisers https://www.michaeljfox.org/

Amalfi https://www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/amalfi

Where to eat in Vegas:
Sparrow and Wolf
https://sparrowandwolflv.com/

Aromi https://aromilv.com/

Al Solito https://www.alsolito.com/

Boston Fish House https://bostonsfishhouseandbar.com/

Honey Salt https://www.honeysalt.com/

Court of Masters https://www.mastersommeliers.org/-

Dawn’s Dream Rose
https://www.dawnsdreamwinery.com/

     If I could return to only one European area and stay awhile, it would be Italy's Amalfi Coast. I met Rosa Candela on my birthday last March (2021) at her online Airbnb experience: https://www.airbnb.it/experiences/1508893 
     My friend, Sally, who gave me this gift, joined us from Virginia. Rosa shared her family recipe and technique for making limoncello--truly the hit of the summer with my family. In late May she joined me for this episode from her Salerno terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here she takes us on the Path of the Gods and beyond, tells us must-eats and must-sees on the coast and Capri, and invites us to join her for real on one of her walking tours. 
YouTube version with photos and video here: https://youtu.be/-Fsp-J7tHxU

Find Rosa...
On Facebook and Instagram : A TASTE OF AMALFI COAST
WEBSITE: https://rosacandelagae.wixsite.com/atasteofamalficoast
EMAIL: [email protected]

Season 2 Theme Song: "Jazz In Paris" - Media Right Productions https://youtu.be/mNLJMTRvyj8
Photos: Rosa Candela and Canva

Series Intro

:20 Episode Intro  Italian lessons online at https://www.italianforfun.co/

3:57 Meet Rosa Candela on her terrace in Salerno on the Amalfi Coast

 4:31 How we met—Limoncello Airbnb Online Experience

http://www.italia.it/en/useful-info/covid-19-updates-information-for-tourists.html

6:05  Covid conditions in Italy

9:51 Rosa’s dream land and dream job: “We call the time spent here Dolce Vita.”

10:22 Why she prefers walking tours

11:00 Path of the Gods

11:48 Other hikes—Mill’s Valley 

14:00 Why I’m dying to go back to Positano—2 movies filmed in Positano and the https://sirenuse.it/en/

14:48 Rosa’s favorite restaurants in Positano and Amalfi

Praiano — Kasai On TripAdvisor here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g194867-d8115579-Reviews-Kasai-Praiano_Amalfi_Coast_Province_of_Salerno_Campania.html

On her food tours—Fore Porta https://www.agriturismoamalfi.com/

Stella Maris https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187780-d1111680-Reviews-Stella_Maris-Amalfi_Amalfi_Coast_Province_of_Salerno_Campania.html

19:45 Courses of a typical Italian meal

23:30 Lemons in Paradise

24:44 Family ties in Italy

27:10 Rosa’s travels—Brussels, Berlin to Copenhagen, Croatia, Sicily, and Sardinia by bike

30:20 Best time to travel to Amalfi Coast and transportation options

34:03 Sorrento and Capri
Famous Visitors inspired by Capri https://www.capri.net/en/e/famous-visitors 

38:53 Rosa’s personal journey—“I decided to follow my passion.”

41:38 Rosa’s advice to a younger person”Nobody can know what is best for you except you…Follow your passion. 

Outro

Take a walk in the Historic Center of Naples with Raffaele Romano and Riccardo Bilotto, Archeologists and Official Tour Guides at GrandTourExperience.com.  They share discoveries at Pompeii, wine secrets, their must-sees in Campania, Italy and beyond. You'll understand why Goethe said, "See Naples and Die."

YouTube recording with images and videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxroOqSCJI0&t=944s

Sources: Images courtesy of GrandTourExpereince.com, Google Maps, Creative Commons, Canva
Music: Jazz In Paris - Media Right Productions https://youtu.be/mNLJMTRvyj8

Links to topics below in Chapter Markers:

00:01 Series Season 2 Intro.

00:21 Episode Intro.

02:24 Naples Grand Tour Promotional Video
         
03:03. Meet Raffaele and Riccardo, Archeologists and Official Tour Guides based in Naples at www.grandtourexperience.com
Contact: [email protected]
Social Media:
YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/naplesgrandtour
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grand.tour.experience
https://www.facebook.com/naplesgrandtour
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grandtourexperiencecommunity
Instagram: @naplesgrandtour and @grand.tour.experience

04:30  How we met—Airbnb Online Experience
           Making Spiced Wines https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1677563

05:40  Walking Tour at Historic Center of Naples— San  Domenico Maggiore
         
06:17 History and Services of GrandTourExperience.com

09:58 Origin of European Grand Tours

11:02 “See Naples and Die.”
          “In Naples we have the whole world—Greek Origins, Roman, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance.”

11:28  Riccardo on proverb: “When you come to Naples, you cry twice: once when you arrive, and once when you leave.”

11:56  Romantics in Italy—Byron, Percy and Mary Shelley; Dr. Frankenstein was from Naples. Bram Stocker’s Dracula’s tomb found there, too.

12:47  Must-Sees in Naples—Sansevero Chapel and Veiled Christ, Historic Center, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Achealogical Museum of Naples

13:42  Official guides are a must. They show you places you would never see otherwise. *As a solo traveler and educational tour group leader, I recommend you use guides for Naples. 

14:00 Pizza born in Naples. Raffaele recommends Da Michele—where Eat, Pray, Love was filmed. http://www.damichele.net/

14:35 Sicily

15:08 Pompeii —Recent Discoveries

17:10 Wines of Pompeii

22:20 Awards—Significance of archeological discoveries

23:50 Herculaneum

24:56  Grand Tour Experience’s Commitment to Reforestation and Sustainability--Book a tour and they plant a tree.

25:48  Live advice

30:29  Episode links

31:01  Series Outro

Meet International Educator Amy Fairfield, another southern girl gone global, who I met while teaching with her in Morocco. Since then she has taught in Hamburg, Germany and traveled even more of Europe. Now she is in Dubai and pre-pandemic was exploring the Middle East and Asia. In Part 1 we hear how Dubai and Abu Dhabi—part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-- are handling the pandemic and what to do and see in Dubai and the surrounding area including Oman once borders reopen. In Part 2 we hear about her adventures in Bangkok, Bali , Bahrain, Georgia, Cyprus , and Mumbai.

Season 2 Theme Song: Jazz In Paris - Media Right Productions https://youtu.be/mNLJMTRvyj8
Google Maps used
Photos by Amy Fairfield and Cindy McCain