Interview with a guide to the Caucasus, Andrei
Hello, Andrei. Thank you for agreeing to give an interview for my thesis of the MMU Faculty of Journalism. This will help me a lot in my research of the travel essay genre. The fact that I study travel essays, your speech guide, full of historical facts, I was pleasantly impressed on the tour. Questions will concern what you talk about on excursions, how you address the audience and other narrowly professional moments.
It is no secret that guides are extremely talented and creative people: they speak beautifully, have oratory to perfection, because most of their lives are spent with a loop and microphone.
How important is the personality of the guide, manner, presentation?
Good afternoon. In the tour, since it is the guide who is responsible for the quality of the tour material and its correct, interesting presentation, as well as for conducting direct interaction with the group, trying to interest and captivate it, it seems to me that the personality of the guide, his manner of presentation of material and character, of course, are of no small importance. After all, it is from interaction with the guide that a person receives certain emotions from the trip.
Are you more about monotonous facts or impressions?
First of all, vacationers are important positive emotions from the trip, the essence of the excursion material is very important - how much it captures and interests a person. Therefore, I and many of my colleagues try to tell as much interesting information as possible, keeping people impressed.
Do you use historical facts in your guide story, tell about the history of the area?
Oh, yeah, I love history. But in any case, to lead a tour and not to touch in the story the memory of the discussed places or objects is practically not real.
Are you more of a historian or a geographer?
The guide is all together and little by little: he is a historian, and a geographer, and a biologist, and a culturologist and manager, and an organizer. Of course, each of the guides has its own circle of interests and the theme of the program and from them he can choose the greatest accent of the story. Some are a biologist and some are a geographer. It depends on the tour, and sometimes on the interests of the guide.
The guide has always been an authority for the tourist. His authority is based on knowledge, skills. In the vast majority of cases, it is the guide who knows the topic of the tour most deeply: like none of its participants!
How do you prepare for the tour?
First of all, a large layer of information is studied: everything that may be interesting to tourists about certain places where the tour will be held is noted, remembered, recorded. This is the basis of the excursion preparation.
Do you make many recommendations to your tourists?
Tourists often ask me about interesting places and tours, and there are a lot of places and trips. So, yes, I give recommendations to tourists by the sea, especially often I recommend visiting the alpine meadows of the Lago Naki plateau in the summer, these places are simply unforgettable.
What do you think is the most difficult part of a guide? How do you overcome that?
My work is easy, so it is difficult to single out the most difficult moment, I think it is individual for everyone. For me, for example, early rises are relatively difficult.
Remember your first route?
Yes, the first working way out was a hike to the Stone Sea Ridge on the Lagonac Highlands. Blooming "alpika", snow underfoot, views of mountain ranges, gorges and peaks, a panorama of Mount Oshten - this is impossible to forget.
What's your favorite route? Tell me about him.
A trip to the Stone Sea: 18 kilometers of joy, mountains, flowers and snow, I mentioned it.
What do you like about the tour guide?
First of all, communication with tourists and nature.
Do your clients and their preferences differ from the initial period of your work?
People are always very different, each tourist has his own interests, but with me there are many regular customers, so yes and no.
What interesting questions do tourists ask? Well, this question is removed, I probably asked the most interesting questions that tourists ask you.
You have a lot of experience. Have you ever thought about writing your own book?
No, I'm only working for the third year, there are not many places visited, and the experience is just accumulating. Maybe someday, but it's too early.
How do you feel about modern travel stories and travel journalism in general?
Very positive, I enjoy watching and reading.
Thank you for your answers, I will be glad to see you again on the tour!
Copyright photos.
Text: Madeleine Barr
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