Richard Harris  - A California native, Richard has lived and traveled in Spain for over 20 years and has family roots in Italy and Ireland. This gregarious grandfather, lawyer and entrepreneur took an "early retirement" from his legal career to focus on cultural travel, his historic novel and his bilingual grandkids. He will spend a month in Lisbon and Oporto this year to better explore the fascinating country of Portugal.Richard may pop up on any of our tours or events, especially if fine food and wines are involved. His friends in Spain range from artist, winemakers and chefs to musicians. He often host visits by groups of old friends including customers and may offer future travel in Asia for discerning English speakers. Writing a historic mystery novel set in 16th century Spain and Florida is his new hobby! Thanks to his wife's Carmen's yoga classes & walks, he is back in shape to stay!

Daniel  O'Beirne -  His American family roots in New Orleans trace back to Ireland, France and Spain, which led him back to Europe after a year of world travel adventures. DanO is a major foodie and enjoys medieval castles, ancient trails, olive oil, history, known & unknown places & wines of Spain and Portugal. This friendly bilingual Spain expert has lived in Iberia since 1998 and was first listed by Rick Steves the host of a PBS TV travel show in his Spain travel books over 5 years ago. DanO has been featured on the TRAVEL CHANNEL and MTV on location in Spain. He loves to help people learn about and discover the real culture, history and best food of Iberia beyond the tourist trap facades. DanO is a suffering fan of the New Orleans Saints (please send defence:-), Euro soccer and Jamon Iberico, possibly the world's best ham. A great host, some say this personable "walking encylopedia" of history & food, is one of Europe's best guides/teachers. Goals for 2009 include a week of kite surfing in Tarifa or the Canary Islands, hiking in Mallorca with his mother, adding to his a YouTube project, an article in the NY Times + a trip to Asia and the USA. His dream is to develop a historic castle hotel with vineyard, olive groves, organic gardens and confernece center.

=>  Click here to see Dan on YouTube   <=  

  Montse Torres - Japan, India, Ireland, France, Morroco and Turkey are a few of the places this athletic yet elegant Barcelona native and former English teacher has visited. Montse who enjoys design, theater, cooking Catalan dishes, nature hikes, flora, reading and her grandmother exquisite seafood paella. She spent a year in Dublin and another in California and speaks Spanish, Catalan, English and a spalttering of Japanese. Montse assist with reservations, special projects and events. Scuba diving, mountain biking and wind surfering are ports she enjoys along with cinema. Montse has enjoyed films of the Cohen brothers, Woody Allen, Almodovar and Vim Venders as well as the music of Tom Waitz, Diana Krall, Diego Cigala, Marlango, Miles Davis, B.B. King and El Barrio among others. She also loves the new Spanish fashion collection of Loewe.

  Carlos - Probably one of Europe's top guides, tour mangers, and planners we are happy to work with Carlos. He has studied and worked as a food consultant in the U.S., France and England for eight years. Congenial Carlos was born and raised in Spain, and now lives in Madrid with his American wife. Carlos is also a big fan of tennis in the country with the highest number of top players per capita including current world #1 Rafa Nadal. An enthusiastic promoter of Spanish culture, cuisine and wine, Carlos understands North Americans in a way Spaniards who have not lived abroad may not. Olé Carlos!

  Nuria - After living and working in Ireland to develop her English, she began to assist us with event planning and special projects. She enjoys traditional festivals, Real Madrid football club games, dancing sevillanas and la jota, wine and cheese tastings and country walks to name a few things. This vivacious and stylish Española grew up between the Roman capital of western Hispania and a Templar knights castle in the Extremadura region.

Nuria loves loves helping our guest experience the best of Spanish culture, cuisine and people and enjoys putting her special modern yet classical touches on everything. She also make's one of the best Tortilla Española around and is a big fan of the 100+ cheeses of Spain including the Torta de Casar and Torta de la Serrena from Extremadura.

 Stephen - with 20 years as a history professor and writer in Madrid, this  BBC consultant has spent more time in Spain than Hemingway himself. He is chairman of a historic foundation and has been cited by the London Times. Stephen delights in sharing his wit and vast knowledge of history of old Madrid and central Spain... Don't miss his unforgettable private day trips from Madrid. Stephen also has a long list of savvy amigos in and around Spain and is major expert on the Peninsular Battlefields and the bloody Spanish Civil War that involved a number of American in the Lincoln International Brigades.

Honorary Opera Figures.... Carmen?

With a sense of humor we can only imagine the colorful, passionate score pulsating with Gypsy rhythms, as opera’s ultimate femme fatale arrives. Carmen would be a unique fantasy additon to our team. This striking Andalusian female archtype is a unique historic figure in Seville and Spain. We imagine she'd be great for tours of old Seville and maybe even do a bit of Andalusia Flamenco dance! Carmen would perhaps be now taking intensive English classes in Dublin and to be bilingual for the 2009 season..... if she escaped Hollywood! Who knows maybe Don Jose, Micaela and Escamillo may not be far behind. Of course Don Juan and the Barber of Seville would also be invited!     :-)

Happiness is not doing what you love,  it's loving what you do..."  

Tolstoy