Coastal Gems of Croatia and Slovenia aboard Sea Cloud II
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Cultural Specialist
David Brotherson
Growing up near Sydney, Australia, as a student David was long captivated by science, astronomy, and aviation. His passion for the world’s cultural diversity - and it’s elaborate, often entangled history - developed later, and was rooted in a fascination with the civilisations, history, and mythology of the ancient Mediterranean. These interests took shape at the University of Sydney as an archaeology major. As his undergraduate studies neared completion, David started travelling the world, and he would make a transformative trip to Southeast Asia. His weeks abroad were a fairly balanced mix of sandy beaches and medieval ruins but would culminate in a life changing experience standing amidst the enigmatic temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The opportunity then arose to work with the university’s Greater Angkor Project, a multi-disciplinary archaeological research program, and a PhD scholarship further cemented this collaboration. David’s dissertation on Angkor’s decline - founded in his expertise in settlement archaeology and GIS - integrated analysis of ceramics, the engineered landscape, environmental proxies, and international trade networks to analyse its urban trajectory, demise, and transformation. David is a long-term resident of Siem Reap, Cambodia, where he has lectured and led tour groups for over a decade. His role with Lindblad-National Geographic began in 2015 with the Mekong River voyage and has since broadened to various Mediterranean programs as expedition historian. David received his PhD from the University of Sydney in 2020. His archaeological research in Cambodia is ongoing, as is his passion for world history, educational tourism, playing guitar and tennis.
Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Myriam Casper
Myriam was born as an international person. Born in France, grew up in Brazil, formed between Portugal and England and find her professional path in Vancouver B.C. where she has lived for the last twenty years. Each country inspired Myriam in different areas. From years spent amid the vibrancy and drama of Brazil her approach to photograph people and to become part of their own lives come very naturally, making lifestyle and humanity her strongest topics for storytelling. Influenced by the vibrant culture of Lisbon and all its myriad aspect, Myriam creates a series of documentaries from the passion of Fado - a musical lament for lost love to the tasty wine from Alentejo, the South of Portugal and various Portuguese luminaries from the Art World later to be broadcasted in Canada at the Multicultural TV Channel M. While in England Myriam developed an incredible passion for B&W photography and hand printing in the darkroom, success brought her work at most prestigious galleries in Stamford and the North Side of London. And finally, Oh Canada! British Columbia’s nature and wildlife became a great fascination inspiring Myriam to explore and photograph more of the natural world. When not traveling, Myriam divides her time teaching Photography and Film Editing at the Vancouver Film School and working on independent documentary projects focusing on the marine mammals rescue in British Columbia, First Nation communities living remotely in the land of their ancestors, and about the wildlife management program in the airports of Canada. Myriam has been traveling the seven continents and fluently speaks Portuguese, Spanish and English.
Expedition Leader
Paula Tagle
Paula grew up in Guayaquil where she obtained an undergraduate degree in geology from the Polytechnic University of Guayaquil. She enjoyed many field trips all around Ecuador and during her vacations traveled in Central and South America in the hope of learning more about her people and culture. The last year of her studies she worked at a mine looking for a more ecologically responsible way of recovering gold. Interested more in volcanoes than in raw materials, she came to Galápagos, a mecca for geologists, in 1992. She was bewitched by the other wonders of the islands and became a naturalist guide for the Galápagos National Park. In 1994, Paula went to Belgium for her master’s degree in quaternary geology at the Free University of Brussels. As soon as she was back in Ecuador she returned to her longed-for islands. Since then, she has been an interpreter for the Galápagos National Park, and for other nature destinations such as Baja California and Central America, where she also leads trips for Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, with whom she has worked since 1997. In 2000 she obtained a U.S. sailing certification, and is qualified to skipper centerboard and keel boats up to 40 feet. In 2004, Paula published her book Galápagos Bedtime Stories intended for kids and kids at heart. She also writes a column about the Galápagos for one of the most prestigious Ecuadorian newspapers El Universo .
Cultural Specialist
Eza King
Since starting with Lindlbad Expeditions in 2006, Eza has had the very good fortune of working in numerous roles and regions of the globe. The descendant of a Cape Cod clipper ship Captain, seafaring life is in her blood. She grew up captivated by tales of his voyages around Cape Horn to San Francisco and Calcutta and back. Born in the Pacific Northwest, she was raised near Washington D.C., earning degrees in Environmental Science and Economics from University of Virginia. A life-long learner, she later pursued graduate studies in Sustainable Development at Chiang Mai University in northern Thailand, where she met and lives with her Italian-born husband. For a few years, Eza also lived in sub-Sahara West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The people of central Senegal fundamentally altered her perceptions of hospitality, sharing, sustainability, spaciousness, and time. This experience continues to influence the way she approaches exploring unfamiliar places. In addition to English, she understands Wolof, French, and Italian and she loves nature, maps, graphs, slowness, and public art. Eza’s sense of awe for our planet and its creatures and her spirit of adventure are contagious. Her kindhearted nature and years of expedition experience will ensure that you have an enjoyable and unforgettable expedition.
National Geographic Photography Expert
Massimo Bassano
Photojournalist Massimo Bassano has worked for National Geographic since 1990, as well as in numerous worldwide publications. He has been traveling extensively for over 87 countries, going through a wide variety of assignments, including social and human culture, famine of Africa, wildlife, but even sports, fashion, and advertising. His acclaimed unique photography book, The Colors of Silence, details the 12 weeks he spent in a world-known Italian monastery. First time photographed in its 900 years of history. His images also appeared in "Places of a Lifetime" from Nat Geo books. For almost two decades, Massimo has travelled with National Geographic Expeditions teaching photography around the world. From Italy to the Greek Isles and the whole Mediterranean, Morocco, Tanzania and its fantastic National Parks, Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar and the whole West Coast of Africa. Antarctica and the Arctic, Galapagos and Baja, Easter Island, Cuba, India and the Far East till Australia and the Pacific. This last one he also sailed alone in a sailboat exploring the unique culture of the far islands. He regularly leads photography and multimedia workshops and enjoys teaching and sharing his passion for traveling. Since he went for the first time to Antarctica with for National Geographic, Massimo fell in love with the Polar Regions. Every year he dedicates time specifically for projects about the Poles. Massimo brings with him all the warmth, curiosity, culture, and history that you find in Southern Italy, more specifically from Calabria, where he was born. A true "Calabrese" with huge influence from the Greeks, when they went west colonizing, and enriching, the entire south of Italy. Massimo has many stories to share including his crossing of the Atlantic, followed by all the other oceans, alone on a sailboat as the adventure of a lifetime.