I landed in Athens this weekend, and yesterday, I started mapping out the places we'll write in this November.
The spots we'll visit range from an olive-tree-laden ancient hill of the Muses with a prime view of the Acropolis to a specialty coffee shop carrying local designer ware, a vinyl-playing bar, and an independent bookstore filled with cozy nooks.
I can't wait.
I'm also using this time to recuperate.
In the last two weeks alone, I:
- ate at the oldest restaurant in France right next to the square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake
- stood at the very pond where Claude Monet painted his water lilies
- Entered the castle where William the Conqueror was born
- Wandered on one of the D-Day beaches in Normandy
- Ate my way through a premier food hall in Lyon, France's gastronomic capital
- Reported on the story of the canuts, the French silk weavers who were monumental to the workers' movement
- Slept at a former convent turned into a 5-star villa
- Fell in love with Venice's golden hour
- Went on an impromptu date with a Venetian man at midnight
- Saw over 500 artworks at the Homo Faber Biennale
- Skinny-dipped into the Adriatic Sea at sunset
- Ate the freshest catch of the day in the tiny Croatian town of Poreč
😳
I could experience all this because of my career in travel media: working with tourism boards and publications to report, pitch, and produce stories their audiences would be excited about.
What I love about my work falls into three buckets:
- Observing the smallest details
- Having access to and talking with interesting, passionate humans
- Fermenting, amalgamating, and creating something new out of the experiences, the textures, and the conversations I'm able to have
During my 3-day writing intensive in Athens this November, we'll play and practice with all three of these.
We'll watch turtles slowly climb Filopappou Hill, learn about the psychogeography of Athens from an art curator, and write with an eye for travel-feature structures while tapping into an ancient creative force that, I believe, belongs to every human: storytelling.
Just a few of the spots we'll write and learn in this November. © Yulia Denisyuk
We'll also dedicate a session to pitching and working with publications and tourism boards, and have a live masterclass with a seasoned travel editor, who will share her commissioning insights with our attendees.
I can't wait to engage with the vibrant creative spirit of Athens this November.
This Friday is the last day for you to book your spot with a deposit.
See you in Athens soon,
xx Yulia
You can use it however you'd like: to review your portfolio, get feedback on your work, receive advice on a particular project, or even compare notes on our creative endeavors. This private one-hour call will be scheduled at a time of your choosing.
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🏠 Inside Going Places
Chile deep dive
September's intense schedule has caught up with me, and, in case you didn't notice, we missed Part 5 of our Chile series last week. 🇨🇱
Fueled by the Athenian sun, it comes out this Wednesday!
Yulia Denisyuk
🚀 Paid Members Corner
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🌍 In The World
Join Sibu and Hira in Korea this November
Our friends (and former podcast guests) Sibu Szymanowska and Hira Aftab are running a Hybrid Tour to South Korea this November.
On this trip, you'll learn firsthand about the rise of K-Pop and understand South Korea's incredible transformation and modernization over the last few decades.
But here is what makes it a Hybrid tour. Hira and Sibu will also:
- Cover North Korea's origins through experiences like visiting a village built by North Korean refugees [not a refugee camp]
- Share how the U.S. intervention helped create North Korea, a topic many travel companies from the Global North avoid
Use code GOINGPLACES when you book.
Guess This Place
Let's play a game 🗺️
Your task is to name this place.
Today's place is:
Know this place? You can check your answer on our site here.
Last week's answer was Cairo, Egypt.
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RISE is a nonprofit with a mission to create a more just and equitable world through travel education.
➡️ This November, RISE is running the Experiential Journey to the Indian Himalayas. Their RISE Traveler Pathway is a new self-paced program for travelers, digital nomads, content creators, and tourism practitioners centered on justice and systems thinking. Use code GoingPlacesCommunity for 10% off!
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Radostina Boseva is a film wedding photographer with an editorial flair based between SF and Europe.
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