Category: Specialty and Emerging Travel

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Adventure and Outdoor Travel Conservation Environment and Nature Culture and Heritage Footprints News Health and Safety International Travel Responsible and Sustainable Travel Specialty and Emerging Travel Uncategorized

Re-entering the world with new footprints: Navigating the current landscape

adventure-navigating during COVID-19

Hello, fellow travel lovers! This seems like a good time for a check-in.

How are you all doing? How are your travel bugs holding up? Are they chomping at the bit, eager to get out and explore the world again? Are they laying low and cautiously awaiting the go-ahead from authorities? Have they developed comfort zone new boundaries, shaped by safety and sanitation? 

The future is uncertain, but a few things are for sure. We still love to experience the adventures, landscapes, and cultures that our planet has to offer. None of us wish to go through another pandemic. And travel, as we know it, may never be the same.

Now, we don’t know about you, but we certainly aren’t giving up hope and neither are our travel bugs.

Here at World Footprints, we are committed to sharing meaningful stories that inspire, empower, and bridge the gaps towards a more welcoming and connected world. Our goal is to foster a sustainable consciousness for the natural resources and heritage treasures that surround us. Through these stories, we aim to inspire a mindset that descends across cultures, borders, and differences, to find a common ground for experiencing and appreciating our planet and its inhabitants.

Peru overlooking Machu Picchu in appreciation of our planet

As we are experiencing an unprecedented stage in which travel is stripped away from us, we are looking forward to a time when we can once again explore our planet. However, we do anticipate that the circumstances will be quite different.

Hygiene and social distancing precautions will govern our travels, and it’s unclear if we will be able to roam the globe at our leisure like we once did. We may face new restrictions in where we can and cannot visit. Our levels of comfort may be adjusted in either direction. Through all of this, we hope and believe we will develop a stronger appreciation for people, cultures, our planet, and all the values that we stand behind.

As we move forward in this uncharted territory for travellers, here the types of stories you can expect to find here on World Footprints in addition to our standard compelling content .

Personal narratives

We know COVID-19 has impacted everyone in different ways. Many are suffering from irreparable damage, and others are finding light in quarantine as they hone passions, projects, and connections that may not have manifested if it weren’t for all this downtime. As travel lovers, many of us have had to cancel our trip plans, postponing them to an undetermined date.

Many of our beautiful writers and future writers (possibly you!) are finding unique ways to make the most of the situation and not give up on travel. They have stories that display strength and inspiration to get through these strange times, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share them with you.

Writing a personal narrative

The future of travel

The questions on all of our minds: When will we be able to travel again? When we can, what will it look like? Where can we go? How will we need to adapt?

We are diving deep into global trends and informed predictions to paint a picture of what the future of travel will look like, equipping wanderlusters with as much information as possible to help shape plans.

The mindset of travellers will also likely shift once the doors to the world open again. We’ve been deprived of exploring for so long that it is seemingly impossible to not develop a deeper appreciation for that freedom we once had. The ability to travel the world is a privilege, not a right, and it is certainly not held by everyone around the globe. We’re all coping with this pandemic in different ways, but some of us are doing it under much more forgiving circumstances that others.

When the world invites us back, we’ll need to tread lightly, travel wisely, and explore with an appreciation that allows us to make the absolute most of whatever privileges we have.

Maze

Secondary cities

Restrictions aside, it’s unlikely that any of us are going to be eager to rush back into crowded places anytime soon. So we’ll be sharing inspiration for lesser-travelled destinations, places outside the bustling metropolises that tourists know and love, and shining a light on those off-the-beaten-path destinations where social distancing isn’t so hard to come by.

These are the spots with an authentic feel, where you’ll see how the locals truly live and discover hidden gems that you haven’t seen plastered across every travel guidebook. You’ll be able to explore undiscovered territory that will open your eyes to new cultures, landscapes, and ways of living, and you may just end up with a new favourite travel destination.

Open spaces

We’re excited at the idea of exploring secondary cities, exposing ourselves to new societies and cultures, and getting a glimpse at the urban centres that haven’t been infiltrated by tourism.

But many of us have taken social distancing as an opportunity to connect with Mother Nature on a deeper level. We cherish our time outdoors, taking every opportunity to escape the craziness and crowds to get some fresh air. And she has much more in store for us where that came from.

The planet is still blessed with incredible, vast, untouched open landscapes and these spaces are where our souls can flourish the most. We’ll be sharing stories that encourage people to get away from the crowds in any way possible, explore their backyards or those of our neighbours. Let’s keep that social distancing going and go where no other humans are in sight.

Road trips

Many countries are looking towards easing restrictions, but it’s unlikely that borders will be opening up for non-essential travel in the near future. Cruise ship and airborne travel have a long way to go before resuming back to normal. Luckily, each and every country is stacked with incredible gems that are just a car ride away.

Let’s share stories about packing the vehicle, stocking up on snacks, and driving to that destination you’ve only seen in photos — or just driving until something sparks your interest. World Footprints will take you across landscapes to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, allowing us to connect with our natural surroundings without having to hop in a crowded vessel.

So who is ready to follow in our footsteps on this new, exciting journey of exploring the world? Get ready, travel buddies, because the adventure is far from over!

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Do you have a story you would like to share on World Footprints? We’d love to hear from you. Please view our editorial submission guidelines and get in touch at editor [at] worldfootprints [dot] com 

Categories
Africa Inspiration International Travel Peace and Diplomacy Uncategorized

Peace in Burundi

Burundi
Burundi

“Look, there’s a bullet hole here.” My husband points out a circular indentation in the wall of his childhood home at the Kigobe Mission Station in Bujumbura, Burundi. I run my hand over the warm stone wall of the house, then let my eyes wander around the peaceful yard. Sunlight filters through the leaves of a mango tree and flecks the lawn with bright spots. It’s hard to imagine this place as the middle of a war zone. Yet the traumatic decade of tribal warfare still sits heavily in the minds of locals who were affected. 

In the 1990s, Burundi was a frightening place to be. Along with neighboring Rwanda and Congo, the small East African country was embroiled in a bitter racial conflict that had plagued the people for decades. Militants from the majority Hutu tribe, tired of centuries of subjugation from the minority Tutsi tribe, instigated violence against the Tutsis after Tutsi guerrillas were suspected to have assassinated the democratically-elected Hutu president. Thousands of people from both tribes fled their homes, searching for safety. Ten thousand of the internally displaced persons sought shelter at Kigobe. 

Map of Burundi created by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported.
Map of Burundi created by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported.

The ethnic conflict ended in Burundi in 2005, but the effects of the violence are still evident. Hundreds of thousands of people died during the war, and many of those who lived are heavily maimed. The scars on their bodies and faces are a constant reminder of what happens when hatred is allowed to overcome a nation. These marks represent the scars borne inwardly by those who lived through those terrible days. Even after so many years, families who lost homes still struggle to maintain stability, and many never returned home at all. The infrastructure of the country as a whole was also stunted. This has taken a toll on the economy of the nation and affects the financial state of its citizens. For twelve years, the country was unable to develop. Today, Burundi is still working to make up for the years it could not progress, even as it fights issues unrelated to the civil conflict, including the instability that plagues the political landscape of East Africa. 

I leave the bullet-riddled stone house and walk the dusty path through the missions compound toward Ephphatha School for the Deaf, where I’m filling in for a teacher on maternity leave for two weeks. A toddler sitting in a front yard calls out, “Amahoro, Umuzungu!” Hello, white person! I return the Kirundi greeting and the child opens his eyes wide in surprise, then shrieks with laughter. I arrive at the school, where I enter the classroom and greet the class in sign language, smiling at the small children seated at wooden desks. There are both Hutu and Tutsi faces in the classroom, and the children share benches, smiles, and signed communication indiscriminately. This is a generation that has never known the hatred that once existed between the two tribes, a generation that will grow up in a Burundi where both tribes enjoy opportunity and goodwill. 

I hear the sound of rhythmic drumming from the other side of the compound and glance outside. Two or three children with minimal hearing loss run to the window to locate the source of the sound. Curiosity draws the rest of the students. Soon everyone in the classroom is soaking up the quintessentially Burundian drum performance, featuring energetic drummers in traditional garb as they pound out the rhythmic heartbeat of the country. This represents Burundi. Burundi is defined by joy, color, and echoes of the ancient. It is not defined by the ghosts of its past mistakes. Burundi is in the smiles of these dancing drummers. It’s also in the rolling sapphire hills of its interior, the clasped hands of friends, the rich flavor of its coffee. 

If you visit Bujumbura (Burundi’s most populous city) today, you will see Hutus and Tutsis living side by side. Burundians don’t pretend that their tribal differences are nonexistent. They don’t ignore the history of hatred. But they do exemplify a lesson learned in the dark days of war. No matter how we look, what we believe, or what our social status is, we all share at least one thing in common: our humanity. When the value of human life is affirmed and each person treated with respect, there is no room for violence. If only this concept could be carried to ends of the earth, perhaps the world could enjoy peace, as well. 

The school day ends, and I return to the stone house, now bathed in afternoon light. School children kick up dust as they run past the house on their way home. Beyond the wall of the compound, the streets echo with the noise of foot traffic, bikes, and taxis. In the distance, the hills rise above the horizon line, concealing rural villages and rolling fields. Bullet holes may remain as reminders of the past, but Burundi accepts today with gusto and looks forward to tomorrow. For this beautiful little country, there is peace and hope. 

Categories
Agritourism Culinary Travel Europe Uncategorized

Discovering Bulgaria’s wines in Melnik

Wine cellar

Bulgaria’s smallest town is a wine lover’s dream!

Melnik in southwestern Bulgaria, is home to just four hundred people who exist in a historically riveting location that is a huge hit with wine tourism enthusiasts. Many visitors swarm the town annually, interested in historic landmarks like the Pashov House which houses the Historical Museum of Melnik, the Pasha’s House, built by one of the richest beys in the region during Ottoman rule—Ibrahim Bey, the Byzantine House which was originally constructed in the 12th century as a fortress, and the remarkable sand pyramids.

That’s all well and good but what about the wine right? You’re in for a real treat when you discover and taste Melnik wine. The red grapes used to make the wine are indigenous to Melnik and according to server Rozhlas.cz, cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Greece border is close-by which allows the grapes to grow under the Mediterranean sun. This results in a legendary wine renowned the world over, with a unique taste that will entice your palate.

Bulgarian wine cellar in Melnik
Photo:  Poom!

Wine tourism in Melnik has not been affected by the fact that both the town’s wine production and its population has decreased significantly over the years. Visitors can’t get enough of the local strong red wine—Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broadleaf Melnik)—that was allegedly one of Winston Churchill’s favorites, and has been in production since the 14th century.

Many of the wine cellars are hundreds of years old, and are best explored when it rains.  If you’d rather not hotfoot it around without knowing which wineries you should try, and those that are even operational or not, try using one of the guided bus tours to get you on your libation journey. The Wines of Melnik and Struma Valley Tours is a great one to start with, as it allows you to experience the true taste of Melnik wine, while imparting interesting historical information and stories related to the wine throughout. The tour takes visitors on a journey to five specially selected wine cellars, “one of which is a 100% organic and bio-certified winery,” according to bulgariawinetours.com.

What are you waiting for? Take a trip to Melnik, where history, culture, and wonderful architecture are punctuated by good wine. Let wine that has graced the lips of European royals since the 17th century pass yours, and be the envy of every other wine enthusiast!

Categories
Agritourism Specialty and Emerging Travel Uncategorized

Vinotherapy: Pampering from a vine

grapes-.jpg

What if you could turn back the hands of time, or slow down the aging process to retain your youthful appearance?

Skin care productsWhen Mathilde Thomas and her husband Dr. Joseph Vercauteren met at their family’s vineyard in 1993, it was a meeting that would change the course of their lives forever. Dr. Vercauteren was an eminent professor at Bordeaux University, in the Faculty of Pharmaceutics, and he’d made an interesting discovery: Grape seeds discarded at the end of the harvest contain powerful anti-aging properties—an antioxidant called polyphenol.

The couple saw the potential for his discovery to be a real success and in 1995, went on to launch the Caudalie skincare line. They didn’t stop there, however, and got even busier four years later 1999, when they trademarked the name Caudalie Vinothérapie, and opened Les Sources de Caudalie, the world’s first vinotherapy hotel, on their French estate.

Since then similar spas have opened in Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Australia, United Kingdom, and South Africa, though Les Sources continues to be the most famous.

Offering the Pulp Friction massage, treatments using Olavie’s Le Vin range of oils made from Chardonnay grape seed, grape extract facials, and wine-infused baths, are just some of the reasons Les Sources has managed to stay on top in this growing market. Other treatments utilize oils and creams from Chardonnay, Pinot, and Chianti grapes.

MassageFor those who want to try out a wine spa in the other countries mentioned, you can check out Spain’s Marqués de Riscal Hotel, which opened in 2006 in the heart of Spain’s Rioja wine country. Patrons have said that it’s an overwhelming experience, so be sure to brace yourselves. In South Africa, Santé Winelands Hotel & Wellness Centre offers Vinotherapy, while in the USA, the 30-room, Mediterranean-style villa that is Kenwood Inn and Spa offers their own specialty— Sauvignon Massage. This location is surrounded by vineyards, so not only is it an intriguing experience, but there are gorgeous views of the Sonoma Valley.

Despite the growing popularity of Vinotherapy, Mathilde Thomas warns against these newer establishments’ practices. She claims that “Bathing in wine is definitely not good for you,” and that drinking wine is not a part of the treatment. Some travelers will probably ignore her on that.

Categories
Disaster Relief Uncategorized Volunteer Travel

Dive into Volunteer Travel

Volunteers repairing a trail in Mt. Ranier National Park.

As you tick off your bucket list of travel destinations, do you ever feel like there’s still something missing?

Sure staying at a fancy resort, or bungee jumping off some break-neck cliff can be awesome, but what about using your travel experiences to lend a hand? Giving of yourself can feel amazing and with so many opportunities to give back, travelers can take their pick.

Unfortunately, in the last decade natural disasters have rocked countries to their cores, and as citizens pick up the pieces, travelers can take time out of their vacation schedules to aid those affected.

Volunteer travel allows you to do just that, and finding an option that best suits you is as easy as turning to Google for a list or . . . many. When you’ve decided on a volunteer-related or charitable cause you want to work with, reaching out to organizers is often pretty simple and they welcome the help.

Haitian children.

Since the catastrophe that was the Haitian earthquake (2010), volunteers from across the world continue to flock to the island’s shores in order to provide aid in various ways. There has been rebuilding, medical care, and more provided for this disaster-stricken nation and with this help, the country has begun to show some signs of revitalization.

Also in 2010, when the American Gulf coastline experienced the major oil spill, volunteer services were provided to help deal with this manmade disaster. You see, while natural disasters are an obvious reason to reach out to the global community, manmade disasters, poverty, and civil unrest, result in situations that leave individuals homeless, without food or clean water, and destitute.

So what can you expect as a volunteer? Often you’ll have free lodging for a while, not a glamorous set-up as this isn’t your usual “bask in the sun” vacation, but a place to relax after a long day. Next you’ll be assigned a particular area and job, and sent where your help is most needed. You can try many jobs while on your volunteer vacation, and if you find one you’re best at, focus your efforts there. Jobs can include: rebuilding and/or restoring structures, distributing food, water and other necessary items, and rehabilitating animals.

Be prepared to get your hands dirty, roll up those sleeves and dive into volunteer travel!

Categories
Agritourism Culinary Travel Uncategorized

Agritourism Events Offering Authentic Experiences

Farm to Fork dinner.Andrew Malone.jpg

With the increased awareness of sustainability, health and the desire to become educated on where food comes from, agritourism is a growing travel trend.  More and more farmers are opening their doors to increased number of travelers who are seeking authentic culinary experiences that speak to our food origins. Better yet, finding cheap tickets to transport you to any of these farms is surprisingly simple.

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