Meet Ryan Blazan, a researcher in the field of cognitive/neuropsychology from Adelaide, who likes to stoke pint glasses to keep the condensation at bay, he travelled to Europe because… “I actually wanted to see Europe – not just sleep during the day, nor be led around like a lost puppy. I loved the independence the tour provided me with, as I got to see what I wanted to see, when I wanted to see it. Moreover, the group of people were all skilled workers, and like-minded people, not just school-leavers, yet we all knew how to party and have a good time!”

When he first met his group in Paris he thought... Wow, what a diverse group – we had physics lecturers, dentists, doctors, radiologist, hairdressers, pharmacists, accountants and computer scientists, even a cognitive scientist and a baker, yet we all got along so well!

His favourite moment on tour was… Very hard question, but ONE of them would surely have to be when I officially started going out with my girlfriend along the beachfront in Nice. We enjoyed the scenic route back to the hotel along that beachfront, soaking in the wonderful culture around us, and simultaneously using it as a backdrop for one of the most romantic nights in my entire life! Trés bien!

Here is his story!
I first spotted Tess amongst other “Kumukaites” in Paris, at the Gare de Nord station. It was the first day of the tour, and we’d just arrived from London on the Eurostar, and as we were all waiting for Kevin our bus driver to pick us up, I overheard Tess talking about the Temple Bar in Dublin. Having just come from there the day before, I was provided with the perfect excuse to introduce myself to her! Even in this initial encounter, I could tell we had much in common, in spite of learning that she was a New Zealander (no mistaking that accent!), and I myself am from Adelaide, Australia. However, our first encounter was to be cut short by the arrival of the dear ol’ Kumuka bus, and it was not until that evening, on a romantic Seine river cruise, that I got another chance to chat to this curious Kiwi. The more we spoke, the more I felt a certain chemistry between us. I didn’t know what was going on; I came on this tour to discover continental Europe, not to discover a relationship, or so I thought at the time!

Shortly thereafter, we were in Interlaken, Switzerland. Whether it was because of the inspiring beauty of the countryside, the effects of high altitude upon the world’s highest cog railway to the peak of the Jungfrau, or even the “glacier water” at crazy Bebbi’s restaurant, I worked up the courage to ask Tess if she was seeing somebody else back in New Zealand. With an inquisitive smile, she politely informed me that she was indeed single, much to my relief! A couple of well placed *winks* later, I knew the feelings were reciprocal.

In a matter of days, the tour led us back into France, venturing into the quaint little town of Annecy and the more than nice Nice, where I let the romantic traditions of this wonderful country work their stuff. It was in our last night in Nice that I ‘coincidently’ lost the rest of the group en route to the hotel after an outlandish party at a local pub; ‘coincidence’ that I took a wrong turn which led the two of us down to picturesque beach front instead of the hotel; ‘coincidence’ that it just happened to be a cool evening, and we had to walk rather close together; yet it was most certainly no coincidence that we ‘officially’ got together that night!

Whatever hope we had of keeping the newly formed relationship low profile soon failed, as Susan, our tour leader with a sixth sense, was rather quick to notice something between us! I am sure it had nothing to do with the fact that she met Kevin (her husband!) under similar circumstances on tour!

Over the next few weeks, we had the time of our lives in some of the most romantic places on the planet. You do not have to try very hard to feel l’amour when you are in cities such as Florence (that artwork can melt the hardest heart), Rome (those side-street cafes are to die for), Venice (nothing can top a gondola ride!), Munich (you love everyone at Oktoberfest) Vienna (birthplace of Mozart), Budapest (with its gorgeous tree-lined streets and exquisite bathhouses), and Prague (the spectacular medieval city). Indeed, it seems Tess and I experienced things a little differently from most others couples, for we more certainly got the ‘honeymoon’ first!

As was inevitable, the tour had to end at some time, and Tess went back to New Zealand, and I (after a slight ‘detour’ to Malta) came back to Australia. However, like any fairy-tale story, this one has a happy ending; Tess has recently secured a job in Adelaide, my hometown, and so the relationship continues! Nevertheless, neither of us will ever forget the time we spent together in Europe, and all the wonderful people we met on tour, and most especially, how grateful we are that Kumuka brought us together! So the moral of the story? You never know just who you will meet on a Kumuka tour!

We at Kumuka wish Ryan and Tess all the best.

Visit Europe with Kumuka Worldwide

About the tour

Q. What tour did you travel on and when?
A. I completed the 28 day Central Europe tour from Sept 8th – 5th October

Q. What inspired you to travel in general?
A. I love experiencing new things, and in particular finding out about other cultures that are so different from my own.

Q. What inspired you to travel to Europe?
A. Having studied European history to some depth, both ancient and modern, I have always been fascinated with the place, yet had never been there. A relatively small area, yet so much diversity, and it has had, and continues to have, such an important impact on the rest of the world. Amazing! Was also a chance to visit the lands of my ancestors.

Q. Why did you choose Kumuka Worldwide?
A. I actually wanted to see Europe – not just sleep during the day, nor be led around like a lost puppy. I loved the independence the tour provided me with, as I got to see what I wanted to see, when I wanted to see it. Moreover, the group of people were all skilled workers, and like-minded people, not just school-leavers, yet we all knew how to party and have a good time!

Q. What did you like about travelling on a group tour?
A. Certainly the people you meet on the tour – you become attached and rather close as a group. Furthermore, you don’t need to worry about finding accommodation or wasting time working out how to get into different countries.

Q. Have you made any plans to catch up with some of the group members in the future
A. I have already caught up with many of my fellow travellers from the tour, and plan to continue to do so for many years to come!

Q. Can you summarise briefly your favourite moment on tour?
A. Very hard question, but ONE of them would surely have to be when I officially started going out with my girlfriend along the beachfront in Nice. We enjoyed the scenic route back to the hotel along that beachfront, soaking in the wonderful culture around us, and simultaneously using it as a backdrop for one of the most romantic nights in my entire life! Trés bien!

Q. What was your favourite meal and where did you eat it?
A. Another tough question! Probably the traditional Hungarian goulash and roast duck we had in Budapest, at a fantastic little place called Café Vian in a surreal surrounding down Liset Ferene ter.

Q. If there was one thing you can think of that you wished you had taken with you what is it? (eg my hair dryer, A. best friend, video camera etc).
Some of our fantastic South Australian cabernet sauvignon; while the European’s may have invented it, we Australian’s have perfected it!

Q. What did you think the first day you met the group?
A. Wow, what a diverse group – we had physics lecturers, dentists, doctors, radiologist, hairdressers, pharmacists, accountants, computer scientists, even a cognitive scientist and a baker, yet we all got along so well!

Q. What did you think the day you had to say goodbye?
A. How long it would be before I saw them again – it was a matter of when, not if!

Q. What do you now miss the most from being on tour?
A. The spontaneity and diversity that greeted us everyday – one day we could be marvelling at the wonders in the Louvre, the next, climbing one of the tallest mountains in Europe!

About you

Q. Do you have a nick name that you care to share with us? How did you get it?
A. Cowboy – I am one of a trio of ‘Western heroes’, along with Deputy and Sheriff. The three of us used to attend so many parties together, someone one night dubbed us accordingly, and for some reason, the names have remained.

Q. D o you have any quirky habits?
A. Wiping condensation from pint glasses by continually stroking the glass up and down; smoothing out chocolate wrapping foil; skimming stones across St Mark’s Canal in Paris; dipping my hand into large sacks of wheat grain; playing with blue-tac; smelling freshly ground coffee beans.

Q. Where do you live?
A. Adelaide, Australia

Q. What do you do for a profession?
A. I’m a researcher in the field of cognitive/neuropsychology, and am about to undertake a PhD in the area.

Q. What kind of music do you like to listen to?
A. I listen to the broad genre of world music (including fusion beats as well as more traditional pieces); jazz (traditional and acid); rock (particularly funk and reggae styles).

Q. On the weekend you can be found doing...?
A. Out partying with mates, listening to live bands, sleeping in, watching pointless TV shows, or recovering from the night before.

Q. If you could board an aeroplane tomorrow to anywhere in the world and travel on another Kumuka tour, where would it be and why?
A. China! I have enjoyed Chinese history, culture, food, and music for almost as long as I have with Europe, and thus have always wanted to travel there. Mongolia would be cool too!

Q. If you could meet someone of celebrity status who would it be and why? What would you say?
A. I would love to establish a meeting through the Force and meet Master Yoda! I'm sure he could guide me in the ways of the Force to enable me to become a PhD compliant master!

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