Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope

Alaska’s Inside Passage to the land and the people of America’s Last Frontier through Canadian waters to Prince Rupert, BC and on through Alaska’s inside passage to Juneau, Skagway and Sitka. Along the way the ship stops in Tracy Arm Fjord to catch nature’s show headlined by Bald Eagles and Gray, Orca and Humpback whales.

Joseph and his crew navigate under the craggy cliffs and dramatic escarpments of Southwest France by boat on the Lot River through ancient locks and the region’s magical villages. Among the many treasures the episode features are Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, classified as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, the Château de Mercuès, the region’s capital, Cahors.

Join Joseph for the many pleasures of the longest barrier island on the South Texas Coast. From fishing to bird watching and horseback riding, from building sand castles to kayaking the lagoon and hitting the surf, and the only Sea Turtle rescue set in the United States, South Padre Island Sea Turtle, Inc.

Joseph’s South African journey begins in Capetown. At the Cape of Good Hope Joseph encounters ostriches and a colony of three thousand African Penguins. The climax of the episode is Joseph’s safari at Shamwari Game Reserve, a 61,000 acre preserve where he learns that sustainable tourism, attracted by the game reserve, has given the people new hope.

Why Taiwan? With close to 1,000 miles of coastline to stroll, 286 mountain peaks over 9,000 feet to climb, 10 islands to explore, countless festivals to celebrate and 14 aboriginal groups to meet, Taiwan is a wondrous land with an abundance of surprising things to do, see and experience.

From Slemish Mountain where Patrick served as a slave to Strangford Lough where he returned to Ireland to convert the populace to Christianity, we find that St. Patrick’s Day in Downpatrick is filled to the brim with the saint’s observance. In typical Irish fashion it’s also a time for mighty craic – a great time!

Joseph follows in the footsteps of St. Patrick, Ireland’s Patron Saint, when he wanders by foot and travels by car along the Way and Trail of St. Patrick in Northern Ireland with its fifth century Celts at Navin Centre & Fort and other sacred and mythical sites, washing his face in St. Patrick’s Well and sitting in the saint’s Chair.

Joseph celebrates Halloween in Ireland’s Ancient East, an area rich in history, myths and legends, and views this beautiful part of the island through the prism of two festivals. The Puca Festival is an ancient observance reborn and the Wexford Festival Opera illustrates Irish’s devotion to community. Sample a taste of the island in castles, country homes, markets, pubs and restaurants.