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Overview
Bob Krist is an award-winning photographer whose regular assignments for magazines such as National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian, and Islands have taken him to all seven continents. Mr. Krist's work has won awards in the Pictures of the Year International, Communication Arts, and World Press Photo competitions. He was named Photographer of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers in 1994, 2007, and 2008.
Mr. Krist's books include the New York Times best seller, In Tuscany, a collaboration with author Frances Mayes that features 270 pages of his photographs. He is also the author of Spirit of Place: The Art of the Traveling Photographer, and he provided photography for the books Caribbean; Portrait of the Caribbean; Lowcountry: From Charleston to Savannah; A Photo Tour of New York; and Impressions of Bucks County.
Mr. Krist is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and an avid filmmaker who shoots and produces short travel films for a variety of clients, including National Geographic. His movie about Iceland, A Thousand Autumns, won awards at the Johns Hopkins Film Festival, the Reykjavik International Film Festival, and the Trento Film Festival.
Daniel Cabral of Greenzone Azores helps Bob get reacquainted with the island of São Miguel, taking him to a spectacular overlook on the west side of the island, in the area of Sete Cidades. From there, you will view and learn about the big caldera and all its lakes. You’ll also become acquainted with some of the native species and plants, as well as get an overview of some of the most gorgeous sites the island has to offer.
There are only two tea plantations in the entirety of Europe, and they're both in São Miguel. You’ll pay a visit to the older, larger plantation, Gorreana, as they make green tea while you hear the fascinating history of the plantation and the trade.
Unlike those in the United States, most of the lighthouses in the Azores—and indeed throughout all of Portugal—are still manned by naval personnel. Hear from the lighthouse keeper at Farol do Arnel in the northeast part of São Miguel to learn about the lighthouse life, history, and traditions.
Enter the lair of a master winemaker and enjoy a tasting of Generosa wine. Then, to learn about Posada wine, travel to Pico, the epicenter of the winemaking industry and home to the second UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Azores.
Hop on a ferry to learn about Horta, the most sheltered harbor in all the Azores. Explore the art and history of the area and visit the Scrimshaw Museum, which has more than 1,000 pieces on display.
Pay a visit to Terceira, an island of rolling hills, patchwork green fields, and long-dormant volcanic cones. Bull runs have a long tradition on Terceira—the first one on record was held in 1622. Gain insights into the historic event known as Tourada à corda and then travel to a cheesemaking factory and get some suggestions for unforgettable meals.
Founded in 1478, Angra do Heroísmo is a city of churches, monasteries, manor houses, and palaces. Take a tour of this designated UNESCO World Heritage site and see one of the “can’t-miss” attractions: Captain General's Palace. End with a walk through the Duke of Terceira Garden, which is considered the best way to appreciate the beauty of the city.
Visit the eastern part of São Miguel Island—an area full of lush gardens, bubbling hot springs, spectacular viewpoints, and charming villages. Take a tour of the beautiful scenes, as you make your way to the centerpiece of the Ribeira dos Caldeirões park—a towering waterfall. You’ll also learn about the Terra Nostra Garden and the Ilhéu de Vila Franca.
Mexican American actress, Fabiola Stevenson provides narration as Bob takes you to San Miguel de Allende, located in the Bahia region of Mexico. Celebrate the beginning of the spring planting season with the Concheros, the area's pre-Columbian dance troupe as you learn about the history of this energetic and passionate festival that lasts from sunrise until late in the night. Don’t forget your ear plugs!
The Mexican cowboy, called a Charro, is an iconic figure in the history of this country. Join Bob to explore the world of Mexican rodeo, called Charrería, then take a ride along with thousands of cowboys and cowgirls across the dusty Bahia Desert to a high, mountain top shrine in a pilgrimage called the Cabalgata of Cristo Rey.
The Christian holy week is one of the most widely celebrated and important religious observances in Mexico. From Palm Sunday to Easter, the cities and towns across the country are transformed to host a variety of occasions. Bob will take you to visit several cities across Central Mexico to see their Holy Week traditions, which range from the profoundly spiritual to the downright explosive.
Discover one of nature's greatest migration stories, as Bob takes you to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve—a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing most of the overwintering sites of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly. Millions of butterflies arrive in the reserve annually.
The small mining village of San Juan de la Vega celebrates Carnival—or Mardi Gras—in an unusual way. Bob introduces you to the Festival of the Exploding Hammers, where young men of the village tie explosives to the ends of hammers and pound them into the ground. You’ll be able to enjoy this vibrant spectacle without needing safety equipment.
Join Bob to visit the Michoacán state in Central Mexico, which is the home to the Indigenous Purépecha people, whose ancestors formed one of the great civilizations of Mesoamerica. This area is known for its renowned artwork, as well as its natural beauty. Travel to villages around Lake Patzcuaro to learn why this area became an epicenter of crafts in Mexico.
Travel up into the mountains to Xilitla, to a garden like no other—created by a rich eccentric Englishman to be a surrealistic fantasy in the jungle. The surrealistic sculpture park Las Pozas, or The Pools, is a group of whimsical, concrete structures, covering over 80 acres of subtropical rainforest. And it just might be the strangest mystery tour in Mexico.
Coastal Maine is home to lobsters, lighthouses, and some of the prettiest villages in the United States. Bob adds his 30 years of knowledge and exploration around Maine to these iconic destinations to showcase some of the lesser-known locales and provide an insider’s view of the best places to visit. He joins photographer Ben Williamson to reveal the best spots for gorgeous scenery, plus places to get know the people and daily life of Maine and some of the best-kept local secrets of the state.
There are about 4,000 islands in the Gulf of Maine. That's more than the rest of the entire East Coast of the United States. Ferry captain Gene Willard joins Bob to explore some of these islands—15 of which have full-time residential populations and rely on the ferry to connect them to the mainland. Captain Willard provides a local’s perspective on the sites, people, and wildlife of the islands of Maine.
For many, the best parts of a road trip are the unique and often wacky roadside attractions. Join Bob to travel up Rt. 1 and visit engaging and eccentric roadside marvels. Scott Dyer joins Bob to tour the first stop on this adventure: Eartha—the world's largest rotating globe. It’s four stories tall and it takes a lot of work to keep it going. You’ll learn the history and mechanics of this special stop.
Next stop along Rt. 1 is just plain fun. Retired art professor John Fawcett founded a unique museum and joins Bob to showcase all the exceptional and unusual mementos in his collection of 20th-century American toys and Disney memorabilia. Learn about some of his rarest items, as well as where he finds his souvenirs and what inspired him to create this fun museum.
The last roadside attraction stop on the Rt. 1 road trip is quite a treat. Wild Blueberry Land pays tribute to Maine’s wild blueberry culture. Farmers Dell and Marie Emerson founded this fun farm in 1953. They both join Bob to walk you through the history of farming fruits in Maine, and the surprises and goodies found in this giant blueberry emporium.
The trains of Maine were unusual compared to the trains of most of America. Bob takes you back in time to learn how the train industry changed Maine, how Maine changed the train industry, and to meet folks who are restoring history track by track.
Join the crew aboard an oyster dragger and learn how those that harvest oysters have to be as tough as the frigid Maine weather.
Explore Monhegan Island and learn more about the plantation that comprises its namesake island and the uninhabited neighboring island of Manana.
As they say in Venice, "A carnevale ogni scherzo vale" or "During carnival, anything goes." It's a saying that perfectly sums up the energy and excitement in the city at this time of year. Join Bob as he takes you behind the scenes of carnival in Venice.
A true Venetian mask is made of paper-mache. And the entire process, from molding the mask to applying the finishing touches, is done by hand, usually by a master craftsman. You’ll get to meet one of these master craftsmen as you learn about the history and art of the iconic Carnivale masks.
Meet Cindy Peterson, a 28-year veteran of Carnivale. She has put as much as 200 hours into creating new costumes for Carnivale each year—usually starting on the costumes for next year the weekend she gets back from the current Carnivale. Get to know other Carnivale legends as you learn the fun history behind how the costume came to be and as you walk through the Carnivale experience.
Bob goes back to his roots, taking you through the best ways to capture the magic and mystery of Carnivale on film. You’ll meet two world-class photographers who are widely known by costumers for delivering stunning pictures. They’ll shed some light on how light and setting can make all the difference.
Although Venice and her Carnivale have been here over 1,000 years, past performance is no guarantee of future results. The twin juggernauts of sea level rise and mass tourism have had the city in a two-way chokehold for a couple of decades now. See what steps the people of Venice are taking to ensure they will be here in another 1,000 years.
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