Follow The Camino - The Team

FABIEN

Fabien is French. He was born in Briançon (1,326m) in the Alps, the highest town in Europe. While he was living there, he acquired first-class ski and mountaineering skills. Well, let’s just say that he knows the Alps inside out! And, of course, he thinks that his native town is the most beautiful one. Let’s hear what he has to say…

“Apart from the fact that I love Briançon, I’ve been amazed by Ireland’s walks. I’m having a good time walking in Ireland, and now I want to take Irish people abroad, and share this passion with them. The “Follow The Camino” range of walks and destinations are a testimony to the natural beauty of the world. Enough said, start packing!” Fabien, 2006

Fabien was a ski instructor for two years before walking across Europe, taking in the Alps, of course; Mont Blanc, Ecrins, Mercantour, Queyras, Ubaye and Vanoise. Fabien completed some long term treks in the Alps and continued his travels in Corsica, Provence, Italy (Mont Viso, Mont Rose, Argentera), Spain and the Tatras in Poland. Walking, skiing and kayaking are his three outdoor hobbies.

In Ireland, he has climbed many summits in Kerry (Carrantuohill, Brandon, etc), in the Mourne Mountains and in the Wicklow Mountains, where he likes to wander in his free time. It was on one of these hills that he first thought of taking people to his own mountains and to elsewhere in Europe, with the help of the team's specific knowledge and experience. Outside Europe, Fabien has crossed the High Atlas in Morocco, climbed Kilimanjaro (5,985m), Chachani (6,088m) and Ausangate in Peru. Fabien is passionate — once he begins speaking about a trip in his French accent, it's like you're already there.

UMBERTO

Unlike his fellow Follow The Camino members, Umberto is not only about the adventure and the passion. He’s also about crafting the trips. For this reason, he likes when a trip is well designed, ideally located and when it specifically caters to travellers.

“I like what Follow The Camino does, in terms of products and objectives. The package is well thought through. Selling a trip sounds like a job. Selling a Follow The Camino adventure feels like an adventure.” Umberto, 2006

Umberto worked for two years as an event manager organising major sporting events around the world. He has also worked in the travel business, in a major airline. He’s a keen sports man and an enthusiastic rugby player himself. His walking experience, though smaller than his fellow team members, is growing at an increasing pace. He’s walked in Ireland extensively and in Asia (Thailand, Japan) and Spain. Umberto is the grounding force in Follow The Camino, paying attention to all the details, and making sure that each trip is a success from beginning to end.

THE TEAM IN THE OFFICE

SUSAN

Irish. After studying languages (Spanish and German) and intercultural studies, Susan started working in travel and tourism in 2006. She took a year out for travel in South America, New Zealand and Australia, which included walking the Inca Trail and some trekking in Brazil. Susan also lived in Barcelona for a year during her studies so working with so many Spanish people is a real plus. She is dedicated to providing the highest standards in customer relations but will always take any opportunity to travel, whether it’s for work or leisure!

Testimonial :

" Thank you, Susan, for a wonderful experience. Your patience and kindness had a great deal to do with the success of my trip."

Jerri, July 2011

JOSE

Our only Spanish guy! Just call Josè and he will give you the best advices for your trip! Obiouvsly, he knows very well his country!

CRISTINA

Spanish. One of the first member arrived in the team, she is very precious to the company because of her experience. She knows personaly each hôtel in Navarra! With her smile and energy she books all your hôtels!

ANNE

Irish. She spent time in Spain and Italy before settling in France for 13 years. speaks fluent French.Using previous experience in tour-guiding, teaching, legal secretarial and tour operator operations department current position, products and marketing assistant dealing with website projects and design, new products, newsletters, translation etc passion for European languages, culture and food – loves working in multi-lingual environment.

SABINE

French. She is still studying in a business school in France. She worked for the customer service in a famous hôtel in Paris. So, she is used to advice clients and will be happy to do it!

LUCIE

French. She studies Translation and Internation Relations. Thanks to her you also have a French website!

LEA

French. She studies in a business school in Paris . She travelled a lot..Russia, Portugal, Spain, Tchek Republic etc. She is working for the marketing service of the company.

MARIA

Spanish. She travelled to the U.S , Argentina, Europe..Worked for a consultory and auditory company and worked for the accountancy department in another one. That's why her experience is very important for us!

SARA

Spanish. She studied business and worked in the Marketing service for a famous european food brand ; in a bank too. Here she will be happy to answer to your emails!

THE TEAM ON THE GROUND : OUR GUIDES

Elaine Jones

Elaine left her native Britain twenty years ago to travel the world and is still going! She has lived in a number of very different countries, including Japan, Indonesia, Cuba and Portugal, but eventually decided to make her home in the mountains of Spain. As well as walking the Camino many times, she has worked in forty different countries as a tour leader for a leading adventure travel company during the last ten years. Walking is still her passion, combined with a love of history, the outdoors and Spanish culture: an unbeatable combination on the Camino!

Testimonial ;

" I just wanted to drop a note and let you know what a great experience I had using your company's services for the Camino de Santiago....The hotels along the route were lovely; the food was great and best of all was our guide, Elaine Jones. She was such a joy to be with. She was so knowledgeable, charming, and knew how to give us our independence on the Camino, while also checking in with us throughout our daily walks. ..... She is a great asset to your company." Ellen, July 2011

Jenny Hicks

She has been working as a Tour Leader/ Guide for 11 years and has been fortunate enough to visit many fascinating and beautiful places. Over the years, her work has taken her throughout Asia, Eastern Africa and various countries within Europe.

She now bases her work in Spain and enjoy the opportunity to spend much of her time leading walks in the sierras of Andalucia and the routes to Santiago de Compostela. She considers herself extremely privileged to be able to spend her working life in such beautiful surroundings!

Laura Mezey

She is of Hungarian heritage. She gave up a career in neuroscience to live an outdoor life! She has worked as a guide/tour leader for 7 years. She has worked primarily in Latin America and Asia. From the glaciers and mountains of Patagonia to the jungles of Costa Rica; from the rice paddies of Bangladesh to the Himalayan peaks of Bhutan! She is passionate about food and finding great local restaurants. Food is an integral part of enjoying and understanding the local culture. A poor meal is a squandered opportunity!

She’s walked the Cycladic islands of Greece, done via ferrata in the Dolomites, walked in Retezat NP in Romania, climbed many a munro during 4 years in Scotland, done the Inca trail many times, trekked on the Island of the Sun in Lake Titicaca Bolivia, climbed Mount Kenya (4985m), been to Annapurna Basecamp in Nepal, up Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, trekked in Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Patagonia, in Torres del Paine NP in Chile, in Los Glaciares NP in Argentina......as well as of course enjoying places closer to home - the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, the South Downs and the Cotswolds.

Mireille Finnegan

She was born in the center of France, in La Creuse,in La Souterraine, which is on the French way to Santiago de Compostella. A lot of people say la Creuse is a bit like Ireland, green, a lot of hedges, a lot of cows and few people. She needs to escape in the countryside. She met her husband 30 years ago and loves his Country, Ireland.

She have been visiting Ireland for the last 30 years and 5 years ago we brought the whole family to Ireland. She has been touring for the last 3 years all around Ireland showing what has become her country to French tourists. Prior to Ireland, I spent 12 years in Provence, she designed and guided tours around Provence and the Mont Ventoux, even doing canyoning and speleology which implied long walks to reach the entrance of the caves.
She always enjoys what she is doing and she is there to make you share our passion and enjoy it fully.

Noel Curtin

He started working as a tour guide in 1994. He does walking tours in the Clare/Limerick/Tipperary/North Cork area in Ireland. He has walked all of the Camino Frances from St Jean a Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela and then on to Finisterre.

Testimonial :

" We have just returned from the Camino and I must say that both my wife and myself enjoyed the Camino very much.
The organisation was excellent, and the group of people who were with us were a very nice and good company.
We also liked the accomadation,and were quite impressed with the choice of the hotels, especially where cleanliness is concerned.
We also thouroughly enjoyed the walk.
I must mention how excellent our guide,Noel ,was. What a lovely man ,always ready to help out. He led the party very efficiently, always with a smile and nothing was a problem for him. He is a great guide.
We will certainly recommend your Company to our friends,and maybe we will do the walk again next year.
Thanks for everything and best regards
Winston "

Pierre Balsam

Pierre is the founder and leading guide of Wildlifers Spain Tours, and since 2007 he has specialized in the western Iberian Peninsula as a dedicated birding and wildlife tour operator. Pierre developed a passion for outdoor pursuits in his youth, with rock climbing and birding being two of his abiding interests. Pierre has studied for his BA(Econ) in Ireland, has travelled extensively across the wilder places of Europe, and seen a lot of South America, especially Chile. Pierre is multilingual, multicultural, and worked for several global companies before focusing his energy on outdoor education activities and promotion of less known areas in the Iberian Peninsula. He has hiked many times entire portions of the Silver Road up to Santiago. For the last four years, Pierre has been organizing his own group tours in Spain, as well as leading tours for other companies.

French Way		Via de la Plata
Northern Way		English Way
Original Way		Finisterre Way
Portuguese Way		Aragonese Way
Le Puy Route

Follow The Camino - The Team

The Team on the Ground

The Team in the Office

The Heads of the Company

FABIEN

UMBERTO