66 Our team are situated across the globe and are a melting pot of different cultures, representing nearly 20 nationalities. We all share one passion: travel! This is what has brought us all together. We asked a few Enchanters: What does being a kindred spirit mean to you? Would you agree? KINDRED SPIRITS SOUTH AMERICA “Kindred spirits are connected in a way that goes beyond sharing interests and beliefs, it represents a connection on a deeper emotional and spiritual level which is not easy to describe in words! Travel does not mean that you move on from your existing community; for me it enriches and extends it to one that includes people and cultures from across the globe, a community that has no limits. When I experience a new culture I most enjoy the heart-warming realization that people are people everywhere. Humanity, friendliness, and generosity overwhelmingly shine through and this reminds me that at our core, we are all the same. One of my fondest memories is at a small local salsa club in Colombia, where a group of locals beckoned us over to their table and invited us to join them and sample the local drink - aguardiente (firewater). I made some lifelong friends! I am in a very privileged position to have the opportunity to travel, but I realize I have the responsibility to do this in a way that protects and preserves each place for future generations – for locals and visitors alike.” LISA FOX Senior Travel Consultant lisa.fox@enchantingtravels.com “For me, to travel is always a personal journey. We do not only want to see places and meet people but to see what it does to us, how it changes us and what we learn about ourselves. It’s a connection that we’re seeking. I’m always looking for the pulse of the place and what it feels like to live there. It's a rewarding feeling. For example, the mate culture in Buenos Aires is important in everyday life but it’s not about a beverage, it’s about sharing! When you travel there is strangeness: air and light are different, smells are specific, and the distance between people may seem close or far depending on the country. Out of habit, I rarely pay attention to the detail, but when I travel everything becomes wonderfully new and enchanted again. It's like falling back into childhood.” BAPTISTE BIANCARDINI Trip Coordinator baptiste@enchantingtravels.com 66