Interview with Jamie Blair Gould

Jamie Blair Gould
Jamie enjoyed Tuscan cuisine so much he decided to move to Italy!

Jamie Blair Gould has been guiding for Europe Through the Back Door for six years, and uses his extensive food and wine expertise to bring our Italy tours just the knowledge every tour member is craving.

How did you get involved in guiding?

I've guided all my life. I have my own company as well called Papillon tours. After university I traveled around the world for seven years. After I got back there was nothing else I could do, so I went into tourism. We bought a hotel barge and lead tours that way. I've known Steve Smith (co-author of Rick Steves' guidebook to France and manager of tour operations) for a very long time. Steve suggested that I come on board and help lead Rick's tours. So now every year I guide 12 weeks for Rick and 12 weeks for my own company.

What do you enjoy about leading Rick Steves' tours?

I like the people very much. I'm surprised how nice everyone is. I'm always expecting to have a bad group, but it never turns that way. I enjoy the flexibility Rick offers. He does allow us to tailor the tour somewhat. We have the ability to show it off based on our own strengths. I appreciate the ease and the looseness of the tour. It's very relaxed.

What is your favorite country, besides Italy?

France. I love the Mediterranean countries. I enjoy the regional diversity and the history. And of course, food and wine is a large part of why I love the country.

Where do you live?

I live in Italy, in a town called Lucca in Tuscany. Lucca has about 100,000 residents, and I live about ten minutes outside of town. I moved 16 months ago with my family from Bath, England. We decided it was a time for a change from where we'd lived all of our lives. I have two daughters, and one of them is 10 and she would have to be changing schools soon, so we thought this was the best time. Now we spend days outside instead of living in rainy old England.

Is there a change in American tourists' behavior since 9/11? The war in Iraq?

Not in behavior, really, but there's a change in mentality. I think beforehand people thought they wouldn't be received well, especially in France. But that relaxed as soon as they got here.