Take A Vacation...Change Your Vocation?

Italy walking tours from Classic Journeys inspire life-altering changes

La Jolla, CA (April 2010) – It may sound like the set-up for a joke: Did you hear the one about the attorney who took a culinary tour to Amalfi and decided to become an Italian chef? But in the case of an enthusiastic Classic Journeys guest, it's true. 

“I recently received two e-mails that really drove home how much travel impacts our guests,” explains Edward Piegza, company president and co-founder. “In both cases, we were thrilled to hear that guests related to our signature style of cultural walking with such gusto.”

The first note was from Carl, an attorney and world traveler who lives in New York City.  Three years ago, he and his wife joined Classic Journeys’ Amalfi, Al Buon Gusto! culinary tour.  In Carl’s own words:

"I have been a lawyer for 25 years. Since I took [your Amalfi culinary tour] I have become very interested in Italian cooking. During the past three months I have retired from the law and I am now a student at the Italian Culinary Academy in NYC. In June I will go back to Italy for five months of cooking classes at ALMA and then have an internship in a Michelin-rated restaurant in Italy. I can honestly say that the Classic Journeys’ Amalfi, Al Buon Gusto! tour was the catalyst for this career change. It was a life-altering experience in a very good way!"

Ehrin, a guest from Boston who traveled with Classic Journeys several years ago to Tuscany & The Cinque Terre, expressed similar sentiments.  Upon returning from her trip, she was so inspired by the way Classic Journeys connected her to the region and its people that she resigned from her job to work with a travel company based on the East Coast.  Recently, after several enjoyable years in their marketing department, she left to continue her travels in Italy.

While stories like Carl's and Ehrin's are a welcome surprise, the company’s primary goal is to provide guests with a memorable week-long break from their busy lives and careers.  With 68 trips in 31 countries on five continents, Classic Journeys offers an exceptional variety of ways to escape from the ordinary...even if guests happily return to it without making major changes in their lives!

For more examples of cultural connections that strike a chord with Classic Journeys guests, as well as detailed itineraries, departure dates, and pricing, contact a Guest Services Coordinator at (800) 200-3887, or click on www.classicjourneys.com.

About Classic Journeys:

Classic Journeys offers cultural walking adventures, culinary tours and family journeys in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific. Guests enjoy luxury accommodations and gourmet meals that reflect the best of each region, coupled with soft adventure activities, daily interactions with locals, and native guides who make countries and cultures come alive. Tours are six to 12 days long with two to four hours of easy-going walking per day. Land-only tour prices range from $2495 to $7995 per person (with discounts for small groups and children traveling with parents). Average tour size is 10, limited to a maximum of 18 guests per departure. Full details and links to itineraries are available at www.ClassicJourneys.com.

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