SUPERB EXPEDITION LEADERS
Our experienced 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!

 

Matthew Brumley is the founder of Earthbound Expeditions and has been leading and creating tours worldwide for over 20 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 Steve’s 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 and San Jose, 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. Read Seattle University magazine article about Matthew > here.  
   
Alessandra Gardino was born in Genoa, Italy not far from the home of Christopher Columbus. Her passion for travel ignited during long drives all over Europe and on family sailing trips across the Mediterranean. Wandering through the ancient ports of Ajaccio, Dubrovnik, Corfu and Piraeus Alessandra developed a passion for foreign languages and culture.Since studying foreign languages at university in Genoa, she has become a fluent speaker of Italian, French, Spanish and English.  Alessandra guides Earthbound Expeditions in Italy, while her husband Rick now offers trips with Earthbound to China.  
   
Danna Brumley 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. Oh, and she's married to Matthew.  
   
Claudia and Davide are two of Earthbound's most sought after guides. Working often as a team, Claudia and Davide share with their guests the many fascinating aspects of Italian life today. Their passion is wine, food and art. They live in Cuneo, Piedmont and have been leading tours world wide for over 12 years.

Costanza Riccardi is a naturalist who lives in Siena, Tuscany. In college Costanza specialized in animal behavior. Nowadays, her passion is showing off her native land to visitors who prefer to see the world one step at a time. We are proud to have Constanza has Earthbound's naturalist and country walking guide in Tuscany.
  
   
Craig Holt is a native of the Pacific Northwest who graduated from the University of Washington after four caffeine-fueled years. Following college he worked as an Expedition Leader, guiding educational adventure trips to more than seventy countries and five continents. During his travels, Craig found himself in many of the world's coffee growing regions, learning about how his favorite agricultural product was produced. Inspired by this new knowledge, Craig began working in the coffee industry where he is now responsible for coffee research, selection and marketing at Atlas Coffee. His love of coffee, travel and travel writing makes him the perfect guide for destinations such as Latin America and East Africa.  
   
Sicilian guide, Fransesco Selvaggio 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 this 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 humour. We suspect that he also enjoys guiding Earthbound tours to escape from his own cooking.  
   
Holger Zimmer is a native of Germany, though spent his early years traveling throughout Europe and the US. 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!  
   
 Hava Reshef is a 59 year old Israeli mother of five with a deep interest in the history 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 & archeology through university courses.  
   
Jana Kovarikova was born in the famous Bohemian spa town of Karlovy Vary (the Czech Republic), and currently lives and works in Prague. She has also lived and worked in Switzerland, Ireland, Austria and the United States. In addition, she was a guide for several years in Salzburg where she led historic walking tours for small groups. Jana's language skills amaze all. She is fluent in Czech, Slovak, Polish, English and German. Naturally, these skills come in handy while in Eastern Europe.  
   
Joann Lantz is a native New Yorker, 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 special 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, working on the 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.  
   
Kathryn Rogers Merlino is an architect and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Architecture where she teaches architectural design and history. She runs a small residential design practice and focuses her research on architecture of the 'everyday' in both the Puget Sound region and Europe. Since studying architecture in Rome during college, Kathryn has returned to Europe nearly every year either leading tours on art, architecture and culture or leading university study abroad programs in France and Italy. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children, who also all love to travel.  
   
Marko Kassenaar is a musician and guide. He has travelled and worked all over the world, including the US and most countries of Europe. He now works as a guide and education programmer in the major art centres 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 getting him started, you will have to stop him talking about it....  
   
Maria Cannavo. . . Traveling has always been a part of Mary’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 studies in the Italian language, art, history, and Italian literature. Italy, actually Sicily, is her new home. She, like most Italians, has an innate, gregarious passion for diverse cultures. Mary states quite passionatly, “I have the love for Italy in my heart and some of its history in my blood.”  
   
Muguet Becharat 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!  
   
Mark Cioc is Professor of European History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and author of numerous books and articles on modern German politics. He has spent the past eight summers lecturing on Special Expeditions and Europe Through the Back Door tours. He has studied and traveled extensively in Europe, most recently as a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.  
   
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 TV . 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. 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.  
   
Neil Kirk (pictured here with Earthbound Italian guide, Claudia Manassero) Although originally from England, Neil's passion is France. Neil lives in Burgundy where he has worked both as a balloon 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.  
   
According to Rick Montgomery, Earthbound Expedition’s senior guide in China, “You don't know the modern world until you see what is happening in China.” Also a magazine writer (his stories have been published in such publications as Travel and Leisure and Outside) Rick speaks Mandarin and co-owns an expedition company with his Italian wife Alessandra. Leading his guests off-the-beaten path in China for the past 15 years, Rick believes that there is no better time than the present to visit the Middle Kingdom. “China is like the wild American west with cell phones,” he says. “The contrast between old and new is spectacular.”  
   
Roberto Aviles Earthbound's director of operations in Central and South America has been active for over fifteen years in the international conservation movement, participating in scientific expeditions to the Galapagos Islands, Belize and Costa Rica for the Smithsonian Institute and University of Costa Rica. He has served in the Ministry of the Environment as Director of the Marine Parks and Coordinator of the Marine Coastal Program of the National Park Service.  
   
Rok Lustrik (pictured here in Piran, Slovenia) 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.  
   
Stephen Merlino is a teacher and writer who lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife and two children. He studied English Literature at the University of Washington, where he fell in love with all things British; however, the closest he got to Britain was the Unicorn Pub on University Avenue, which was run by a Scotsman named Angus. He spent many evenings in that pub, sampling the mysterious dark ales (that was when “micro-brew” meant “six-ounce Bud”), and such culinary delights as haggis, and steak and kidney pies (with real offal!). Finally, in 1989, he hopped a plane for that scept’red isle—that other Eden, demi-paradise—and trip inspired him to study Shakespeare at the University of Reading, England. There he attained a master's degree, and made many pilgrimages to Stratford and London and various Scottish pubs. Since that time he’s made a career of it, teaching Shakespeare and Writing to teenagers, and leading tours in the summers.  
   
Stuart Mayer lives in Cambridge, England with his wife and four children. A native of Wales, Stuart has been guiding tours in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland for nearly 20 years. Stuart is Earthbound Expeditions resident garden expert and has organized boutique garden tours for well known master gardeners Ciscoe Morris and Marty Wingate.  
   
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, Germany, after having lived in New York City and Sao Paolo, Brazil, 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.		  
   
Ursula Koller was born in Austria and has been a tour guide since 1989. Since she was a child Ursula has had a close relationship to classical Music. Her grandfather was member of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and her father played at the Vienna Volksope and was also a teacher of Viola da Gamba in Salzburg´s Mozarteum. She has a passion for music, languages and culture. Ursula has traveled extensively to Africa, Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Norway, Great Britain, Netherlands and the USA.  
   
Vicky Papadimitriou 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, Greece, 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.  
   

Rick Richter took an early retirement several years ago after running his own sales/engineering company for 30+ years. He started college as a history major but after two years he switched to an engineering program as a more reliable income source. His first trip to Europe was in 1975 and since then travel has become a passion.  History has been a driving force in most of his travels but a love of food and the local wine is a close second. Rick has traveled extensively in Europe but has also been in Mexico, Canada and every state in the USA. When not toting his suitcase around, Rick divides his time between Oregon wine country and the Seattle area.

  
   
Meet Connie BeRoth, our culinary consultant.  Connie says she was born with a suitcase in her hand.  She has traveled extensively her entire life and has lived all over the USA.  Connie can get by in German, French and Italian but will tell you she can eat fluently in any language.  Her passion for food and wine has made her the perfect person for ferreting out the great little spots Earthbound travelers have come to enjoy.  You’ll find Connie planning her next trip to find the perfect bite from her fabulous kitchen over looking Puget Sound in Edmonds, WA.  
   
Viktor Krasnoshtanov was born in Moscow and completed high school the year President Eltsin deployed troops against the Russian Parliament. He received his Masters of Art and History degree from Moscow State University and then utilized his talents and expertise as a Kremlin museum guide. In addition, Viktor has also employed his considerable skills at the State Historical Museum as a scientific researcher. He has lived in the United Kingdom, New York, Seattle, Hawaii and New Zealand. Currently, he resides in Moscow where he studies interior design, literature and Jazz.