MAGICAL MOROCCO-Listeners, I believe, want to know the relationship between the guest and the host.  In this case, I had been searching for a reliable partner in Morocco and found Jamal, owner of Mint Tea Tours.  As our relationship grew I was confident that I had made a wise decision, however it wasn’t until I met him in person and experienced his guides, drivers and work ethic first hand that I was sure there would be no one else. 

Jamal was born in a small Berber village in the Middle Atlas, and grew up interested in all things mathematical and scientific.  He received his degree in Information Technology, but later encouraged by his father to enter into our family's tourism business where his future career was born! Jamal lived in the U.S. for some time where he became fluent in English and gained an in-depth understanding of Western culture, which was instrumental in connecting with travelers who wish to explore Morocco.  Proud of his native country and heritage, Jamal brings his15 years of experience to life, showcasing not only the popular sites, but also those off the beaten path places that intrigues and inspires. In Jamal’s words, “I know the roads of Morocco as well as I know the back of my hand!  When I am not working, I love . . . to travel! I also love learning new things, the "how" and "why" behind them.”

Learning about Jamal, his background and how he came into the travel business

Story Notes:

• Jamal describes his country of Morocco
• What makes Morocco so very different from other travel destinations
• Walk/talk through my most recent itinerary with highlights
• Five features of every medina
• Some of the lesser known or visited places in Morocco
• Safety and COVID concerns
• The artisans of Morocco

Links:

Mint Tea Tours: https://www.mintteatours.com/

Annie Collins is a true Travel Architect--passionate about custom-designing unique and seamless travel experiences.  If you would like to have a conversation with Annie about planning your next trip, head on over to freedomtravelllc.com to arrange a convenient time.

If you enjoyed the show, why not go ahead and leave a review right here and go to "Listen on Apple Podcasts". It is much appreciated.

THE MANY FACES OF ITALY– Marie Leiter, started out as a travel companion on a trip to Italy that her sister arranged with me. Later she would call me herself to set up the next trip—most of them to Italy, and much later she and I would travel together to South Africa. Many good working relationships lead into long term bonds. Such is the case with Marie and me.

Always and forever, granddaughter of Italian immigrants, consummate style fashionista and foodie, I find beauty in a simple meal, a destination, architecture, fashion and spaces –just to name a few. Perhaps my grandparents passed on the travel “gene” to me during their voyage to America in the 1930’s. Contemporaneously, I find that my travels have given me a front seat to the simple beauty found in the countryside of Tuscany, the arrondissements of Paris, Gaudi’s cathedral in Barcelona, and the list goes on and on. Travel is education. I believe it reveals an intellectual curiosity, that begs for more. As a curious soul, destinations, people, culture, architecture, markets, and ethnic foods speak to me. The more I explore, the more I yearn to do so. As a Director of Human Capital for many years, I am now taking the knowledge, wisdom and lessons learned (aka transferrable skills) to my next journey, travel liaison. Always having a destination on my calendar, excites my soul. Travel nourishes the mind, body and soul. Join me-no age limit!

“Travel isn’t always pretty, it is not always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts. But that ‘s okay. The journey changes you. It should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain

Story Notes:

• Meeting Marie
• The diversity of Italy
• Specific destinations and why those were chosen
• Highlights and discoveries of each place
• Conquering the language
• Any undiscovered places you want to visit
• What’s next
• Why we long to travel

Annie Collins is a true Travel Architect--passionate about custom-designing unique and seamless travel experiences.  If you would like to have a conversation with Annie about planning your next trip, head on over to freedomtravelllc.com to arrange a convenient time.

If you enjoyed the show, why not go ahead and leave a review right here and go to "Listen on Apple Podcasts". It is much appreciated.

A LOVE OF LANGUAGE – Over the past year we have explored the many facets of travel and why people venture abroad.  People travel for vacation that is, to escape routine, for healing to find peace and to reflect, with their children to educate and show them another world, people travel for work, retreats, and to explore.  Today we look closely at another reason—language.  Meet Gina Arnold.

Gina, Freedom Travel's marketing coordinator, is an adamant lover of travel, adventure, and languages. Over the past six years, she's spent her "free time" teaching, learning, and adventuring in Haiti, Guatemala, the United Kingdom, and several European countries. She's enjoyed dabbling in the Latin, French, and Spanish languages and was recently accepted into her next big adventure—graduate studies in Applied Linguistics at the Universität de Barcelona. 

Story Notes:

• Her time spent some time in Guatemala
• The purpose of her visit and how language played a roll
• Guatemala highlights
• A quick decision to move to Barcelona?
• A specialized course in language and what the dream job would be.
• Preparation for this trip? 
•  What advice would you give someone making a similar move.
• Meeting very interesting people from around the world -- each with a great story and sharing those stories on our Freedom Travel podcast.

Links:
Spanish Language School in Panajachel, Guatemala - www.jabeltinamit.com


Annie Collins is a true Travel Architect--passionate about custom-designing unique and seamless travel experiences.  If you would like to have a conversation with Annie about planning your next trip, head on over to freedomtravelllc.com to arrange a convenient time.

If you enjoyed the show, why not go ahead and leave a review right here and go to "Listen on Apple Podcasts". It is much appreciated.