SUPERB EXPEDITION LEADERS
Earthbound Expeditions guides offer a unique perspective on the places you’ll visit. These group leaders are not just great historians, naturalists and linguists, but as our happy alumni can testify, they are also great travel companions! Scroll down below to meet a few of our expert expedition leaders!
|
|
|
|
 Danna Brumley (pictured here in a market in Paris) has a degree in French language and civilization, with a minor in Italian language. She lived and worked in France for four years and has travelled extensively throughout Eastern and Western Europe and Central America. She speaks French, Italian and Spanish, which, combined with her love and knowledge of history, cooking, art and literature, intertwine nicely with our itineraries. |
|
|
 Francesco Selvaggio, our Sicilian guide, is a professional architect by trade. In his spare time he leads walking tours of the Amalfi Coast, Dolomites and Sicilia. A walk through one of Sicily’s stunning hill towns with Francesco is truly a mind-opening experience. His passion for medieval architecture and life as it was in the Middle Ages creates the stage for understanding how Sicilian society evolved. He resides in Palermo. |
|
|
 Gabriel Fawcett spent two years working for BBC Radio News before leaving London to live and work in Berlin, Germany, where he put his history degree and obsession for the subject to good use by specialising as a guide around the city’s unique sights. He is engrossed in Central Europe’s sometimes tragic, sometimes inspiring past as well as its promising future. He loves nothing better than travelling in this part of the world and gleaning new material for his historical sense of humor. We suspect that he also enjoys guiding Earthbound tours to escape from his own cooking. |
|
|
 Holger Zimmer (pictured here with fellow Vienna guide Hebe Jeffrey) is a native of Germany, though he spent his early years traveling throughout Europe and the U.S. He also studied English literature and drama in Berlin, Germany and Dublin, Ireland. He divides his time between working as a tour guide and a broadcast journalist for various international media such as BBC, ARD German Radio, ORF Austrian Radio and RTE Irish Radio. He enjoys music of all kinds – ask him about his band! |
|
|
 Kara Pantenburg has worked in the travel industry for over 15 years. Her passion for travel took her to Denver, CO, where she started her travel career working in a call center for a large corporate travel company. After a few years in Denver Kara found her way back to the Pacific Northwest and began working with a local travel agency, booking a variety of travel and handling all the office accounting. Always searching for new challenges, the next step in her journey brought her to work with an Expedition Cruise company as the Field Staff Coordinator. Life eventually brought Kara full circle back to her roots and she found herself with an opportunity to work with Earthbound Expeditions. Kara lives in historic Port Gamble with her two children, son Eli and daughter Kailee. |
|
|
 Monsieur Thibault Martin (pictured here at the Pont du Gard in Provence) specializes in French culture, history, food and wine and has guided tours in the South of France for over 10 years. His indepth knowledge of everything French and his sense of humor makes Tibo an ideal travel guide and companion.Tibo and his wife Marie also run a charming B&B in Aix-en-Provence that is housed in a historic 17th century mansion. If you are traveling to Provence, Earthbounders should consider staying at Les Jardin de Marie. Click here to learn more. |
|
|
 Neville St. Clair has been guiding in Cape Town since 1995. He is proud to say that his mother was the first registered black guide in South Africa. He has worked with well over 50 groups, and that is only in the last 1 ½ years! Along with four South African languages Neville speaks Germand and is learning to speak Italian. He is married and the father of four children. In his “spare” time Neville designs clothing. Earthbound guests traveling to South Africa rave about Neville! |
|
|
 Val Thomson was born and has lived all her life in Cape Town. Her passion for the local flora started 25 years ago after buying a home. Val joined the local Botanical Society to learn about what indigenous plants to put in her new garden. The love blossomed…soon Val was leading walks on the mountain for amateur botanists with young families. This led to volunteer work at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. At Kirstenbosch, Val became a guide and then environmental educational officer for school groups visiting South Africa’s most prominent botanical garden. Val loves showing her country to visitors and looks forward to meeting you in Cape Town. |
|
|
 Vaclav Storek is one of the finest guides in Eastern Euorpe. His organizational skills and knowledge of history combine to make Vaclav the perfect travel companion. When not touring Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Austria, Vaclav may be found guiding groups in his hometown of Prague. Vaclav has been guiding tours for over a decade and is fluent in Czech, English and German. |
|
|
 Effie Perperi holds a degree from the National School of Guides & Tourism in Athens, Greece. In her 11-year career as a licensed guide she has led numerous groups through every part of Greece and its islands. She guides and lectures for a variety of organizations with varying cultural and religious interests, sharing her extensive knowledge of Greek history, architecture and mythology with lots of smiles and a great sense of humor. |
|
|
 Hava Reshef is a 59-year-old Israeli mother of five with a deep interest in the history of her native country. Licensed as an official tour guide since 1987, Hava has worked with groups from all of the world. For several years she employed her skills with the Society for Protection of Nature. Since 1992 Hava has worked with many Christian groups. Her specialty is early Christianity and the second temple era . Hava enjoys introducing travelers to the long, varied and exciting history of what she calls “this little scrap of land.” She is proficient in English (GCE in University of London), Hebrew, Polish and Czech and continues to study history and archeology through university courses. |
|
|
 Joann Lantz is a native New Yorker and graduate of New York University, School of Education, where she also studied Italian language and art. After travelling many years to Italy to pursue her interest in Italian food and wine, she met her husband at a Chianti grape harvest in 1988. She began her career as a tour guide ten years ago sharing her love for her adopted country. Her specialisation in walking tours has given her in-depth knowledge of the countryside and small villages from the North to the South of Italy. When she is not travelling, she resides in the Tuscan countryside of Lucca with her husband and 7-year-old daughter and works on their small farm. |
|
|
 Karmen Poljak is one of Earthbound’s savvy Croatian guides. She was born and schooled on the island of Hvar in Dalmatia. Soon after graduating from the University of Zagreb, Karmen set out for South America where she acted as an expeditions leader. Her unique experiences, charming character and in-depth knowledge allows her guests to gain a deep appreciation for Croatian culture. |
|
|
 Marko Kassenaar (pictured left) is a musician and guide. He has travelled and worked all over the world, including the U.S. and most countries. He now works as a guide and education programmer in the major art centers of Amsterdam: The Rijksmuseum, The Van Gogh Museum and the Concertgebouw. Earning his money from his various dayjobs, he devotes the rest of his time to composing. His works, including choral works, chamber music and a grand scale Broadway-style operetta, have been succesfully performed in Amsterdam and throughout the country. Apart from his music making, he has a wide range of interests in the artistic and historic field. Once you get him started, you will have to stop him talking about it…. |
|
|
 Martin Klimenta hails from the beautiful city of Prague. Martin is one of those rare, talented guides who can go anywhere and somehow (even in the most remote corners of the planet) pull off the perfect tour. His travels frequently take him to China, Mongolia, Russia, the Balkans, Uzbekistan and Georgia. When not guiding expeditions, Martin lives in Prague with his wife and two kids. |
|
|
 Simona Taddei was born in the historic hill town of Orvieto, Italy. She has a degree in both foreign language and literature and has always had a passion for travel. In 2004 Simona won the scholarship for the Erasmus project, moved to the U.K. and lived in Manchester, London, Chester and Liverpool. “It was a great experience for me, so exciting and inspiring.” After setting off to explore the planet Simona returned home to her native land and has this to say about it: ”My region is one of the most beautiful and spectacular in Italy and I think that anyone who loves Italy will fall in love with Orvieto.” Simona loves creating extraordinary experience which will follow you home and warm your heart. |
|
|
 Maria Cannavo: Traveling has always been a part of Maria’s life. She is a classic Sagittarian. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and education from Pennsylvania State University, has taught in a private school in Denver, Colorado, and completed a lengthy 18-year career in the financial industry in Seattle, Washington. An amorous feeling for all things Italian led her to study Italian language, art, history and literature. Italy, actually Sicily, is her new home. She, like most Italians, has an innate, gregarious passion for diverse cultures. Maria states quite passionately, “I have the love for Italy in my heart and some of its history in my blood.” |
|
|
 Muguet Becharat (pictured left) holds degrees in English and Art History from the University of Tours, France and obtained her national guide license from the University of Nanterre, Paris. She has worked extensively with Elderhostel, alumni groups from Yale, Cambridge and Texas universities, as well as the Smithsonian and San Diego Art Museum. She has also lectured on barge trips throughout France and worked as an interpreter at the Cordon Bleu cooking school. Her love of art and architecture, medieval history and gastronomy is infectious, and she has charmed all who have been lucky enough to visit Paris with her! |
|
|
 Minor Alfaro was born and raised in Grecia, Costa Rica, where he became a local celebrity at a young age, singing with “mariachis” and guitar trios around the country and on T.V. After participating in a four month exchange program in Canada, he decided that he wanted to study tourism. He graduated from the Castro Carazo College and has been guiding tours throughout Costa Rica for 12 years, a career that provides him with the perfect opportunity to merge his gift for entertaining with his love for his country. His enthusiasm is truly contagious, and he says the best part of his job is the people he meets and the friendships that emerge on his journeys throughout Costa Rica. Minor still lives in Grecia and enjoys a quiet life (when he’s home!) with his wife, Amy, and their two children, Christopher and Jessica. |
|
|
 Hannes Schönauer hails from Salzburg, Austria. He fell in love with his Chilian wife (and Chile) while hiking the Inca Trail in Peru some years back and now permanently resides in Concepcion, Chile, with his architect wife and two children. Hannes brings passion and a special quality to each and every trip he guides and loves to share his knowledge for food, wine and culture with fellow travelers. Earthbound Expeditions is proud to have Hannes Schönauer as its travel partner. |
|
|
 Captain Neil Kirk (pictured here in France). Although originally from England, Neil’s passion is France. Neil lives in Burgundy where he has worked both as a balloon operator and barge captain. Neil’s knowledge of French food, wine, culture and landscapes impresses all those who have the good fortune to travel with him. |
|
|
 Rok Lustrik (pictured here in Slovenia with his parents) has been guiding tours in Slovenia for over 6 years. Besides being fluent in 5 languages, Rok is also a professional mountain guide. His knowledge and enthusiasm for the history and cultures of Slovenia, Croatia and the Balkans makes him ideally suited for our Adriatic expeditions |
|
|
 Tania Masi is a travel author and has published several articles and a city guidebook on Berlin and Tuscany. She has a degree in social geography from the University of Florence, but with an American mother, an Italian father and residing in Berlin, after having lived in New York City and Sao Paolo, likes to call the world her “home” and traveling her “bread”. She claims that sharing it with people is what makes it all worth it. |
|
|
 Jan Chiarello graduated with a BFA in film production and has put her many years of experience as a coordinator to work in the travel industry for Earthbound. Her favorite parts of her job include interfacing with our wonderful clients and helping with program management. The icing on the cake is when she actually goes on an Earthbound journey (except when seized by Krampus in Salzburg! Verrry scary!). |
|
|
 Vicky Papadimitriou (pictured left) holds degrees from the National University of Athens and the National School of Guides & Tourism in Athens, Greece. She has worked full time as a guide since 1989, lecturing and guiding for such organizations as the Conference of EU Ministers of Education, the School of Archeology in Athens, Cornell University of New York and the Smithsonian Institute of Technology, just to name a few. Her extensive knowledge of architecture, Greek and European history and language is overwhelming, but she lets you rest during the delicious Greek meals. Let her order for you, by the way—she knows all the best Greek specialties. Vicky’s enthusiasm and sense of humor are infectious, and we feel honored to travel with her. |
|
|
|
|
Matthew Brumley is the founder of Earthbound Expeditions and has been leading and creating adventures worldwide for 20 plus years. He has utilized his talents as an expedition leader with The World Wild Life Fund, Special Expeditions and Smithsonian Institute in North and Latin America, Asia, Europe and Russia. In addition, for two seasons he was the expedition leader on the Trans-Siberian Orient Express and spent several summers in Europe training Rick Steves’ guides. After completing his undergraduate studies at the universities of Copenhagen and Moscow, he went on to attend the graduate program at the London School of Economics. He has lived in Copenhagen, Paris, London, Tel Aviv, to San Jose and Costa Rica. Matthew has led well over one hundred overseas adventures and lives on “la Isla Bonita” (A.K.A. Bainbridge Island, Washington) with his Francophile wife Danna, son Liam, and daughter Aiyana.
Bryson Tivatyi: If you are traveling to Botswana or Victoria Falls with Earthbound Expeditions, chances are you will be meeting up with Bryson, one of Africa’s finest guides. Bryson’s in-depth knowledge, superb organizational skills and fun easy-going spirit are always a big hit with Earthbound guests.
Julianne Lowe is a proud Kiwi and 100% pure New Zealander. And like so many Kiwis, Julianne is a phenomenal story teller and loves to show off the rich beauty of her native land. 