Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers on useful resources, favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Professor Steve Solosky
Occupation: Retired Mathematics Professor, now “The Traveling Professor” author of “The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris”. I also run tours to Paris, Italy, Peru/Machu Picchu, and Spain. I am a regular speaker at travel shows and other similar events.
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Residence: Great Barrington, Massachusetts and New York City
Website: www.travelingprofessor.com
Twitter: @travelingprof
Facebook: Steve Solosky
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/travelingprof
YouTube: pixfield
Short Bio: I was a mathematics professor for 30 years. After many travels to Paris, I wrote, “The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris”. Soon after, people asked me to take them to Paris. I now also organize and run small group tours to Italy, Peru/Machu Picchu, and Spain.
How often do you fly: At least twice a month and about 75,000 air miles annually
How many countries have you been to: At least 35 in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa
How many continents have you been to: 4
Favorite American city: New York City and Chicago
Favorite international city: Paris, France
Least favorite country: There is something to like in every country, although I have not been to North Korea
Favorite World Heritage Site: Machu Picchu, Peru
Favorite airline: American Airlines and the One World Alliance
Favorite aircraft type: 767
Aisle or window: Aisle in the exit row
Favorite airport lounge: Admiral’s Club, Heathrow Airport, London
Favorite U.S. airport: Is there a difference?
Favorite international airport: None
Favorite hotel: Gringo Bill’s in Aguas Calientes, Peru
Favorite cruise line: My canoe on Lake Buel, Massachusetts
Favorite island: Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca, Peru
Favorite fancy restaurant: 1728 – Paris, France and Astrid & Gaston – Lima, Peru
Favorite hole in the wall: Fiaschetteria Nuvoli, Florence Italy
Favorite fruit: Not a big fan of fruit.
Favorite food: Chifa (that’s what they call Chinese food) in Peru and a fallafel from L’As du Fallafel in the Marais in Paris
Least favorite food: Tripe
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Negroni (on the ground) and Diet Coke (in the air)
Favorite travel movie(s): Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn
Favorite travel show(s): I enjoy complaining about every one
Favorite travel book(s): Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
Right now I am reading: Guide des Autobus Parisiens
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: www.itasoftware.com, www.travelingprofessor.com,
Five things you bring on a plane: 1. My laptop, 2. Travel Scrabble, 3. Backpack, 4. Head rest, 5. A book to read
What do you always seem to forget: A book to read
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store? Toblerone candy
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): I am getting my iPhone next week
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: I was dining in a restaurant in Paris with my French friends. In my broken French I was trying to ask the waiter about the cut of beef on the menu and I evidently asked him if he was an amputee
What’s your dream destination: To walk the Way of St. James (El Camino de Santiago) from St. Jean Pied de Port, France to the Cathedral Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It is about 789 km (490 miles) and takes about 5 weeks to complete.
Favorite travel charity: I am on the Board of Directors of Quaker Bolivia Link (www.qbl.org). We travel to Bolivia and truly make a difference in the lives of people in Bolivia.
Best travel tip: Be adventurous and always try to do something outside of your comfort zone.
Steve is just like Johnny described in the post! We met “The Professor” when we went with him on a tour last year to Peru and Machu Picchu. He took us to places NO ONE else goes to and he likes to drink those Pisco sours at the end of the day. Lots of fun.