World Footprints

Toronto-based travel journalist Helen Hatzis offers thoughts about Travel’s future

If you want to hear about what the future face of travel might look like post-coronavirus ask someone who travels for a living. That's what we did when we sat down with fellow travel journalist Helen Hatzis of Trip Jaunt.
In addition to being a travel journalist Helen is known for many other things. She she was recognized as one of Canada’s Nicest Person's by Roots Canada celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Helen also received a Governor General Award for her extensive community work over the last two decades.
Hear what the future may hold for travelers and experience a taste of Toronto on World footprints with Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick.

Satisfying Wanderlust during COVID-19

This mandatory pause that’s been imposed on us because of COVID-19 is very challenging; especially for those of us who travel frequently. But a fellow travel journalist, Terri Marshall of Tripping with Terri says that technology has offered us ways to feed our wanderlust at home.
Terri writes a lot about multi generational travel and, in fact, she told World Footprints that the first post-corona trip she takes will be to treat her grandchildren to a theme park trip to a theme park. So, as a multi-gen traveler she had some great suggestions for families who are eager to travel post Covid-19.

Considerations for LGBTQ+ travelers and Life as a Digital Nomad

Join World Footprints as we interview a friend and Knight Wallace Journalism Fellow about the challenges facing LGBTQ+ travelers and hear from a digital nomad about her life on the road.
First, travel journalist, Michael Luongo, has researched and written about the role travel journalism plays in tourism development in conflict zones and urban areas under stress. Michael also has his pulse on travel issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community including the considerations that go into travelling around the world for Gay travelers.
Then, if you’ve ever dreamed of a life full of travel but have never taken the plunge, you can vicariously experience the digital nomadic life through our interview with Kellie Paxian. Kellie joined us from South Africa where she’d been for the previous three months. At the time of our call she was planning to explore more of South Africa before moving on Bali. Hear how she does this.
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It is important to note that we spoke to both Michael and Kellie before the coronavirus pandemic gripped the world. Michael is based in New York City, the U.S. epicenter of COVID-19. The movement of coronavirus through the African nations prompted Kellie to return to her home in Vancouver, Canada where she will remain until the pandemic is lifted.

Brooklyn’s Hasidic neighborhood and Ecuador’s Huaorani people

You have probably seen the men with black coats, black panama-style hats and long curly sideburns (payots) and wondered who they are. These men (and women) in black are members of the Hasidic Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in 18th century Eastern Europe. The Hasidic Judaism community has grown exponentially beyond Eastern Europe and if you visit Brooklyn, New York you’ll find a thriving Hasidic community that has preserved it’s old world traditions in the modern world.
We spoke to tour guide, Frieda Vizel, who knows Brooklyn, New York’s Hasidic community in an intimate way. Through her “Tours by Frieda” she helps people understand the Hasidic religion as well as the food, culture and architecture that defines the neighborhoods of Brooklyn that provide an enclave to the insular and often misunderstood people.
An inquiry about cultures in jeopardy of dying led us to Marcel Perkins of Latin Trails. Marcel, who is based in Ecuador, introduced us to the Huaorani people who live deep inside the Ecuadorian Amazon.
If you’ve never heard of the Huaorani it’s because the primitive community has chosen to remain “NON CONTACTED” and isolated for the most part.
Marcel tells us that there was a short period of time the Huaorani offered primitive lodging for tourists. They’ve since moved away from tourism and now count on petroleum revenue for the survival of their small community of a few hundred. This move from tourism was an intentional effort to minimize their contact with the outside world in order to perserve their traditional way of life.
Join World Footprints as we learn about the cultural heritages of Brooklyn’s Hasidic community and Ecuador’s Huaorani people.

Perspectives on American History and Culture

Imagine a bi-partisan dinner with U.S. Senators and Representatives at the Library of Congress with leading contemporary historians and a billionaire patrotic philanthropist. Then image an evening of enlightened discussions about American history without the presence of media or political jockeying.
This is the setting of the Congressional Dialogues that philanthropist and Carlyle Group co-founder, David Rubenstein, has been holding since 2013. Today, many of these dialogues have become the foundation of David’s new book—The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians. David spent time with World Footprints to talk about The American Story, the lessons and insights that his book offers and the importance that our history provides as well as the places that bring American history to life.
Then, when you hear the words: Patriotism or National Pride, what comes to your mind?
Travel journalist Jen Tousey of This Family Blog says that those words no longer reflect a deep love for America. Instead, those words have become politicized to such a degree that they may be putting the survival of American culture at risk. But Jen says that traveling can foster a greater appreciation and love for our country and our collective history. Thereby reviving the American experiment for future generations.
Join us as we walk in the footsteps of America’s rich history and discover some places that bring history alive.

Exploring the Green Book trail and Rochester’s African-American Heritage

In an era of segregation, the Green Book directed African-American travelers to safe havens as they traveled through inhospitable and outright dangerous places. Indeed, being a Black family in the time of segregation having to travel by car across America through Sundown Towns and knowing that there was no one to protect you is a frightening and daunting proposition. We’ll explore the legacy of the Green Book with author Candacy Taylor in her new book “Overground Railroad”.
Rochester, New York has had a significant role in the development of America. Famed corporations such as Kodak and Xerox made Rochester the city of millionaires. But the city’s African American history—from the life and times of Frederick Douglass to the Summer of '64 have defined Rochester as much as the opening of the Erie Canal. Our next guest, journalism professor, film maker and Rochester historian, Carvin Eison, puts it all into context and makes a convincing case to visit Rochester to understand it all.

Kansas City’s African-American Heritage

Explore the richness and depth of Kansas City’s black history from sports and jazz to food and social advancement on World Footprints with Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick.
First, we’ll talk to Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Bob says that the Negro Leagues is more than a story about baseball. It is the story of the beginning of the civil rights movement. It is the story about all of the players who broke the color barrier and signed with major league teams during the Jim Crow era. Bob also tells us that the leadership that emerged as a result of the Leagues and the backstory of the Negro League players deserve more than a footnote to the story of baseball and our country. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum hold a number of special events each year and you’ll hear about these events and a very special event coming up soon.
Then, we’ll explore the history and lives of people of African descent in the central United States at the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City’s cultural district.. As the Archives Executive Director, Dr. Carmaletta Williams tells us, (who prefers to be called Dr. Carma), the Black Archives is the linchpin for nearly every experience that happened to people of African descent in the area. The Archives hold a treasure trove of resources in its extensive collection of artifacts from the past and, of equal value, the museum continues to share the stories of today.

Traveling to Puerto Rico and Cuba

The island of Puerto Rico was still recovering from the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria when a Magnitude 6.4 earthquake shook the island. As of this taping, Puerto Rico was hit by a 5.3 quake. Yet, despite these natural disasters Sarah Ratliff, owner of Purple Coqui tours and a resident of Puerto Rico, along with freelance writer Cassandra Brooklyn, who just returned from Puerto Rico, say that the island is not as devastated as has been portrayed and it is open for tourism business.
For many years, Cuba has been the forbidden fruit that many Americans have sought to taste by traveling to the island using “unconventional” means. For years, Americans believed that they could save money (and red tape) by entering Cuba through other gateways.
Freelance writer and owner of Escaping New York Cassandra Brooklyn, joins us again to share how solo and group travelers can travel to Cuba legally and within a modest budget.
Hear from a resident of Puerto Rico and a frequent traveler to Puerto Rico and Cuba about traveling to and life on the islands. Today, on World Footprints with Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick.

Two Surprising 2020 Travel Trends: Nakations and Space Tourism

For 2020, nude travel and space tourism are two of the top travel trends that we'll see emerge. Surprised? Don't be.
Nakations, otherwise known as nude recreation and nude travel represents a $550 million global industry. Jeff Baldasarre with the American Association for Nude Recreation, an organization that represents 52 million individuals and 180 resorts and campgrounds worldwide, says that nude recreation is safe and wholsesome and that it enriches a person’s physical, spiritual, and mental health and is unlike anything the media portrays.
Valerie Stimac, space tourism expert and author of a Lonely Planet book about astrotourism called Dark Skies says that this is going to be the year that space tourism launches. But astrotourism, she says, will be the trendsetter because it offers wonderful opportunities to explore space from the ground.
Learn more about two of this year’s top travel trends: Nakations or nude recreation and space tourism...on World Footprints with Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick.

Preparing to Live and/or Study Abroad

Being well traveled doesn’t prepare you to live in another country. In addition to learning a new language there is subtle cultural differences that require some adjustment.
Susan Haskins and Dan Pressure, International Living writers and authors of the new book, Live Richer, Spend Less, moved from Omaha, Nebraska nearly 2 decades ago and have lived in several different countries since then. So we had to ask them what inspired them to move from Nebraska to their first destination, Quito, Ecuador
Jeremy Bassetti works in international education with exchange students. He says that traveling abroad for the first time is one of the most transformative experiences one can have; especially for an international exchange student. But the experience can be richer and less intimidating with appropriate planning and some introspection.
Before you plan to live or study aboard hear from these experts first about considerations, dos and don’ts prior to embarking on life as an expat or exchange student…on World Footprints with Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick.