Plenty of people (including myself) made huge life decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic – why? I interviewed Bruce Feiler, author of New York Times' bestseller Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age and Derek J. Koehler, a professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo. Read the story over at CBC Life.
CBC: Thinking About RVing? Here’s What You Need to Know to Hit the Road
My first story for CBC Life is about RVing in Canada.
Thrillist: Retro Motels Are Having Their Moment
With road trips making a serious comeback due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, retro motels are also roaring back. Read the story over at Thrillist
Horizon Guides: Inside Armenia’s Shipping Container Cities
Thousands still living in makeshift shipping container homes over 30 years after Armenia's devastating Spitak earthquake. Read my feature at Horizon Guides (photos by Stephanie Foden): https://horizonguides.com/journal/inside-armenias-shipping-container-cities
Thrillist: Toronto Is Making A Play To Become North America’s Cannabis Capital
The Canadian city is positioned to become the Denver of the Great White North. Thrillist: https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/cannabis-culture-toronto
Horizon Guides: Hiking in the Caucasus
I co-wrote a guidebook that helps inspire travellers to go hiking in the beautiful Caucasus region (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). Find it at Horizon Guides: https://horizonguides.com/guides/hiking-in-the-caucasus
Canadian Geographic: Preserving Acadian culture in Cajun country
Descendants of French-speaking Acadians in Louisiana saw their culture and language slip away in the 20th century. Now, a new generation of proud Francophones is leading a resurgence. Check out my feature in Canadian Geographic.
American Way: Sailing the Northwest Passage
Photographer Stephanie Foden and I travelled with Adventure Canada from western Nunavut to Greenland across the Northwest Passage, a route that's only recently become accessible due to climate change. Read the feature in the March 2020 edition of American Way (American Airlines in-flight)
National Geographic Travel: Oaxaca welcomes spirits home with “bread of the dead”
While walking through 20 de Noviembre market in Oaxaca City, I felt the eerie feeling of being watched. It wasn't by somebody, but by some faces embedded in loaves of pan de muerto (bread of the dead). My quest to discover the significance of this bread within Día de Muertos led me to four towns, … Continue reading National Geographic Travel: Oaxaca welcomes spirits home with “bread of the dead”
Guardian: Black cowboys – Creole trail rides showcase unique culture
What do you think of when you think of a cowboy? A gun-slinging John Wayne type? As my first story for The Guardian shows, there's a whole other group of cowboys that this mainstream narrative leaves out. Photos by Stephanie Foden.
Joel Balsam 