Freedom Trail: Reviving the Past

An avid traveler, history lover and culture enthusiast, I am one of the lucky few who managed to transform their hobbies into a meaningful career. My tourists come from various walks of life. Young and mature, families and individuals, seasoned globe-trotters and first-timers - they all have one thing in common: a passion for travel and learning. To make my guests' travel truly unforgettable, I develop customized tours to suit their interests, tastes, and preferences while encouraging them to experience authentic culture through interacting with locals and participating in local events. Drawing on my knowledge of the city, I provide insider recommendations on local cuisine, popular markets and restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and other aspects of cultural and social life. About Me: A native of Moscow, I came to the US with my family in 1989. Our destination was New York, and I made my first steps as a tour guide in this fascinating city. A few years later, work brought me to Boston where I pursued my tour-guiding career, leading tours of many destinations in New England and collaborating with tour operators, big hotels, and museums. 2006 was a year of important changes in my personal and professional life: I moved to France and have been living and working on both sides of the Atlantic ever since. I spend my summers in the U. S. , leading private tours of Boston, Cape Cod, Plymouth, and Newport. The rest of the year I live in Toulouse, France, specializing in custom-tailored cultural, historical, and gastronomic/wine tours of Languedoc (the region of Occitania in the south-west of France). People often ask me what it feels like to be living between two countries. For me, this unique experience has been immensely rewarding although not without challenges. It helped me to grow both personally and professionally, shaped me into who I am today, disspelled many cultural stereotypes, and ultimately changed my view of the world and people. Paradoxically, living in France changed my perspective on America and revived my interest in American history, particularly in history of Boston. During my historical tours of the city, I usually talk about centuries-long connections between America and France and the pivotal role France and the French played in the American Revolution. I enjoy telling anecdotes about the prominent French who made Boston their home in the 18th and 19th centuries, highlighting the enduring French influence which can still be seen today in the city's landscapes, architecture, street names, and culinary traditions. About Boston: To a traveler, Boston offers many exciting opportunities. It's a city where the past and the present coexist in perfect harmony; a city of tradition and innovation; a place of lush parks and world-famous universities, elegant art galleries and museums, quaint cobblestone streets and red-brick mansions, spacious boulevards and modern architecture. Boston has a reputation of being one of the most walkable cities in America due to its compact size and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and the best way to explore the city center is on foot. Strolling around Back Bay, Beacon Hill, North End, Downtown, or Boston Seaport district is a fun experience that enables a curious traveler to steep into the city's history, to admire its beauty, and to sample local cuisine. Bostonians are very proud of their city and affectionately call it "the Hub", or "the hub of the universe". Other nicknames, such as "The City on the Hill", "Cradle of Liberty", "The Athens of America", "Beantown", and "America's walking city" attest to the character of Bostonians and reflect various aspects of the city's long history. As a local tour guide, my goal is to spark my guests' curiosity about Boston's rich history and traditions, captivate them with its vibrant and charming personality, introduce them to local customs, and leave them eager to return time and again. 20+ years of professional experience in the US and France, including 15 years as a private tour guide Professional Tour Guide license holder Master's degree in Medieval studies from the University of Toulouse, France In-depth training for tour guides sponsored by the Ministry of Culture (France) Specialized courses in Art, History of Art, and Architecture Fluency in English, French, and Russian Excellent driving skills I can only drive a 6-passenger vehicle.