Before you tell me about your travel plans, I think it’s important for you to know who I am and where I come from.
A passion for history since childhood
I was born in Avignon in the late 1970s. I grew up in the shadow of the Palais des Papes. Every Sunday, we would go to the Rocher des Doms near the palace, and my curiosity about this gigantic monument only grew. You can’t grow up next to the largest Gothic palace in the world without developing an interest in history.
When I started sixth grade, I was amazed to discover that history was different in other parts of the world. I immersed myself in these ancient mythologies, so far removed from the austerity of the Christian tradition that had shaped my childhood.
Books: a source of inspiration and travel
Given my enthusiasm for Egyptian and Greek mythology, my mother had the good idea of giving me books. So, at the age of 11, I discovered that I could explore topics that interested me on my own with a book. I began to devour books. In my sophomore year of high school, I read the complete works of Shakespeare. At 15, I became fascinated with Tibetan culture. When I discovered Taiwan, I bought every book I could find about the country. I learned many things from books.
My theoretical background
Before arriving at Travel Baba, I had a long and educational journey.
Academic training
Even though I have been passionate about history since I was very young, the academic system had placed me in the science category. So I took a science baccalaureate. I then moved on to marketing to obtain a BTS without any passion. It took me 10 years to realize that marketing and sales were not for me. During that time, I got a taste of the sector that would allow me to flourish. I worked in car rental for seven years. Although it is not pure tourism, there are still some tourism components, especially in the summer.
After my first trip to Taiwan, I wanted to completely reorient myself towards tourism. So I went back to school to get a professional degree in tourism and solidarity economy.
A taste for travel that developed over the years
Even though I studied tourism academically quite late in life, I developed my skills long before that. From my first trip to Barcelona in 2005, I developed a taste for travel and discovering other cultures. This taste led me to move to the city a year later. I had never left my home region before, and here I was in a foreign country without speaking the language.
Sustainable tourism as a core value
Sustainable development has long been a subject of great interest to me. When I took my BTS commercial action exam, my oral presentations were on sustainable development and marketing for associations.
That’s why, when I decided to resume my studies, I wanted a program focused on sustainable development. I was lucky enough to find the right program in my hometown. At the University of Avignon, I began my bachelor’s degree in tourism and solidarity economy.
There, I learned the basics of sustainable tourism and the various mechanisms for implementing it. Mechanisms that I put into practice when I created my various tour agencies.
The official tour guide diploma
I have decided to obtain the tour guide diploma in 2023 in order to expand my activities. This diploma recognizes my work since 2017 as a guide in various regions of the world.
My professional background
I have had many different jobs in my life, from car rental to call center operator to assisting people with disabilities. I will focus solely on my experience in tourism.
My beginnings as a guide
During my studies, I did an internship at a diving center. I took the opportunity to become a dive master. That’s where I started guiding. Underwater, the job of a dive master is to guide, but also to enforce safety rules and make sure everything goes smoothly. It’s a demanding but exciting job.
Tour guide: an exciting job
After finishing my studies, I went back to Barcelona. And, somewhat by chance, I became a tour guide. It was by responding to an ad. I became a guide in this city that I love. For me, tour guiding is the perfect job. It combines my passion for history with tourism. In addition, a tour guide must listen to their audience. Each tour is unique. I can’t imagine being like a robot, giving exactly the same tour to each customer. If a client is more interested in architecture than history, or photography than culture, you have to adapt. So it’s a job that requires a lot of knowledge. Above all, it’s a demanding job. A tour guide must always be curious about everything. We’re not specialists in one subject, but generalists in many fields.
Guide in India and France
I have always followed my heart. It was my heart that told me to move to Barcelona. And it was out of love for the Aurangabad region that I created a tour agency in Maharashtra, India.
In 2015, I discovered this region when Akash invited me there. After two six-month trips to the region, I decided to start a tour agency to help people discover the region’s hidden treasures. I couldn’t start this agency without following the rules of sustainable tourism. So Akash and I made a strong commitment to the harmonious development of the entire region.
In 2018, for administrative reasons, I was forced to stay in France for 14 months. From there, I rediscovered my hometown, its history, culture, and architecture. So I decided to create a rather unique tour agency. Avignon is a magnificent city, and at night it is even more beautiful. Les Noctambules d’Avignon was created to help people discover this city at night, especially its lesser-known corners. My commitment to quality service has earned me the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award every year since 2021.
The birth of Travel Baba Voyage
An exceptional situation
Since December 2019, the world has been experiencing a health crisis unprecedented since World War II. This crisis has forced us to rethink the way we live and do things. Tourism is one of the sectors that has suffered the most since the beginning of 2020. Between lockdowns, travel restrictions, and border closures, traveling is becoming increasingly complicated.
New traveler behavior and a new approach to travel
Faced with uncertainty, more and more people are seeking advice from other travelers, unsure of how and where they want to travel. First-time travelers are asking if travel agency tours are still viable. People who would like to travel differently but can’t find the information they need.
The travel landscape has changed a lot, and it has changed very quickly. Faced with this distress and these questions, I realized that there was a missing link in the chain. That of the person who has nothing to sell and whose goal is to help you have a successful trip, whatever it may be.
So I decided to put my 15 years of travel experience and 6 years of experience as a guide at your service to help you plan and prepare for your trip.
Discover my services and set off on new adventures with peace of mind.
