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

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

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’ll hear how Dubai and Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are handling the pandemic and what to do and see in Dubai and Oman once borders reopen. In Part 2 , we’ll hear about her adventures in Bangkok, Bali , Bahrain, Georgia, Cyprus , and Mumbai.

If you like this series, please download and follow here and/or subscribe to my YouTube channel and see the recording with photos and visuals here:  https://youtu.be/rsXmcV8_Zks

*The United Arab Emirates is a country in Western Asia located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the Persian Gulf. Each of the 7 emirates has a royal family ruled by a king, as in Morocco, or a sheik. 

From the US Government Website: https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/united-arab-emirates/

"The United States has had friendly relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 1971, following its formation and independence from the United Kingdom. The two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1972. The UAE plays an influential role in the Middle East, and is a key partner for the United States. The United States and the UAE enjoy strong bilateral cooperation on a full range of issues including defense, non-proliferation, trade, law enforcement, energy policy, and cultural exchange. The two countries work together to promote peace and security, support economic growth, and improve educational opportunities in the region and around the world."

One year after Covid changed our world, I talked with Claudia Baeza, owner of PIneapple Yoga + Cycling Studio in Sarasota, Florida, about the healing, holistic practice of yoga for those with anxiety and depression caused by Covid-fatigue. Since visiting her studio and learning about her non-profit, The Dharma Footprint Project, providing yoga to groups below, I've been a fan. She tells us why and how she made a move from Boston to the beach and has never looked back. We discuss why Sarasota and she gives her Must-Dos while visiting there. See more of these in my 3-part series on Sarasota County (link below).

Yoga Pineapple Yoga + Cycling Studio https://pineappleyogastudio.net/

My Visit There https://southerngirlgoneglobal.com/2021/01/30/sarasota-county-part-2-where-locals-and-tourists-go-in-sarasota-for-health-wellness-and-to-give-back/

The Dharma Footprint Project, a non-profit, that started with classes offered at a local juvenile detention center,  provides the following to those affected by health conditions AND their care-partners : Yoga and Cycling for Parkinson’s, Love Your Brain™ Yoga (LYBY) for those who have experienced a TBI (traumatic brain injury) or concussion, Y12SR yoga with 12-step programs for addiction recovery, Trauma Sensitive Yoga for Anxiety and Depression, Yoga for Veterans, Yoga for Differently Disabled. https://dharmafootprint.org/

Why I love Sarasota: https://southerngirlgoneglobal.com/2021/01/14/sarasota-county-floridas-cultural-coast-offers-best-of-all-worlds-part-1/

Ready for a road trip to better weather? How about an escape to Europe without leaving the US? Looking for an affordable place to retire on a beach? My friend Dr. Vincent Huth, former university professor, Director of Counseling, columnist, coach, and traveler to all 7 continents, planned to retire on either the coast of Spain or Ireland. Then he discovered Tarpon Springs, Florida,  a Greek village on the Gulf Mexico. Tarpon Springs, sponge capital of the world, has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any US city and the largest Epiphany  (Three Kings Day) celebration)  in the northern hemisphere. Join Vince as he walks us through this event, his town, and how to find your dream home. You may want to add Tarpon Springs to your Post-Pandemic Bucket List to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas (December 25-January 5) and Epiphany January 6 in 2021, stop off on your way to other parts of the Sunshine State, or take a road trip there now . See photos and videos in this blogpost and please forgive sound quality/technical difficulties.

If you've enjoyed this episode or others on the  podcast, please leave a review.  If you like the theme song, "Come and Run Away with Me,"  by Carole Edwards, check out more of her soulful music and let her know here.
"We Three Kings" by R. Tists

“Winter is coming,” a truth more ominous than it was on Game of Thrones. Those of us in areas too cold to be outdoors wonder how, where, and when to gather safely with extended family. Schools are going remote (again). Whether you’re a seasoned snowbird or someone who thought road trips to beaches are for summers only… whether you’’re a parent playing teacher who needs a stimulating remote classroom for your kids and/or working from home and need to escape now or forever…

Meet Morgan Henderson, recipient of "Most Popular Florida Rental" on FLARBO (Florida Rental By Owners). 

Last summer she shared her "little piece of paradise" with me which I featured on SouthernGirlGoneGlobal.com. Here she explains Covid-19 safety precautions in her Florida area, how to do school and/or work from the beach, and how/when to get the best deals on Florida rentals and not get scammed. Morgan also gives tips on Florida property management and relocation.  She shares how her boys, their classmates, and she gained from her decision to do remote school at the beach this fall. Fresh air and exercise…a field trip to NASA and a rocket launch… kayaking with dolphins  and shelling provided energy and rest for their return home to Colorado where fires and temperatures broke records. I was in the same area of Colorado days before fires exploded visiting my son. We talk about that too. If you prefer the podcast version, check out Travel People: Living Authentic Lives, Finding Kindred Sprits, Fulfilling Dreams.

Kendra and David Lucas, friends from my salsa dancing community in Nashville, Tennessee, are living Phase One of their dream. In February they left 3 jobs to travel 100 countries in 2 years in search of a new place to settle. From Thailand they tell us  what they'll do when they find that place, why they chose to live abroad, and how they're connecting with a community of travelers, international teachers, and  kindred spirits around the world. They share from their hearts reasons they left the US and encourage travel for all whether in a couple or not. 
Music Credits: Carole Edwards, "Come and Run Away with Me," Chris Haugen, "Casablanca Caravan," Dan Lebowitz, "Mysteries"
To watch the Skype interview with photos go here. Photo Credits: Lucas World Travel

0:01 Series Intro   Music Credits: Carole Edwards, "Come and Run Away with Me," Chris Haugen, "Casablanca Caravan," Dan Lebowitz, "Mysteries" Photo Credits David and Kendra Lucas, Lucas World Travel. https://lucasworldtravel.com/

2:38  What will they do for careers when they find a new home?

5:55 One reason they've chosen to live abroad

6:30. Seeing where their new career plan takes them; Travel Community;  Morocco on the List

7:30. Travel Bloggers Benefit from TBEX; What to see/do when they visit Morocco
https://tbexcon.com/about/
https://www.projectsoar.org/media

12:28. Other reasons they left the US

31:51 Advice for single people who want to travel

37:40 International teachers who travel solo

39:28. What Kendra would tell her 20-something self

41:00 What David would tell his 20-something self

Do you dream of travel again one day? Of starting over somewhere else or just getting lost for awhile? Meet my friends Kendra and David Lucas who left Nashville, TN in February to travel to 100 countries in 2 years. I caught up with them in Thailand where they've been stranded for months. Find out why they went there when borders began closing, where they'd been before, and where they are headed next. See their video explaining how they are doing this extended world tour and why. If you're interested, they'll tell you how you can make travel happen, too. Music Credits: Carole Edwards, "Come and Run Away with Me," Chris Haugen, "Casablanca Caravan," Dan Lebowitz, "Mysteries"

To watch the Skype interview with photos go here. Photo Credits: Lucas World Travel

Have you ever been on a vacation and wanted to stay? Is there a place where your body relaxes and your heart whispers that you are home?  How do we make major moves happen? How in the era of Covid-19 do we accept and navigate unwanted change?  Join a talk with Dr. Kim Roberts, a psychotherapist who moved to Jacksonville, Oregon with her husband, Andy, to live a new dream. Kim's many lives will inspire you. In the year of the Great American Road Trip, she'll convince you there's nowhere like Oregon, so grab a kindred spirit and just drive. And BONUS: If you are a woman who is over 50, single again, and braving the dating world in hopes of sharing life with a partner, hear what her research reveals about how we are making meaningful connections and living rich, full lives in creative ways.
Music Credits: Carole Edwards, "Come and Run Away with Me," Chris Haugen, "Casablanca Caravan," Dan Lebowitz, "Mysteries" To watch the Skype interview with photos go here. 
Photo Credits: Cindy McCain and Kim Roberts

How is the world coping with changes caused by the pandemic? Are you needing an escape? Have you ever dreamed of vacationing in Paris, Provence, the French Riviera? Or have you already fallen in love with France and want to return for some unique, new experiences? Join my conversation with an old friend, Janice Chung, Canadian award-winning writer and blogger at FranceTravelTips. She shares with us her favorite experiences after 34 pilgrimages to the country she calls her "heart's home." Hear secrets on where and how to run races, bike, kayak, eat, play, relax, study at a French Immersion school or  Le Cordon Bleu. Whatever your heart desires, this lady born on Bastille Day can get you there! You'll be inspired by her travels in Bhutan, Kenya and Canada, too. Music Credits: Carole Edwards, "Come and Run Away with Me," Chris Haugen, "Casablanca Caravan," Dan Lebowitz, "Mysteries" To watch the Skype interview with photos go here.
Photo Credits: Cindy McCain and  Janice Chung