Darley Newman moved again to New York in Dec. 2018 and when the pandemic hit and she or he couldn’t journey, she used the time to discover town. “Throughout the pandemic, all I might actually do was stroll or bike round Manhattan and Brooklyn,” she stated. “I’m studying the historic placards and Googling.”
As soon as the worldwide borders opened, the Higher West Sider was in a position to movie the tenth season of her collection “Travels with Darley,” which took her to locations like Türkiye, Quebec, Santa Fe, Bordeaux and Wilmington, Delaware. Highlights embrace an interview with George R.R. Martin, the creator of “Sport of Thrones,” who helped buy the historic Santa Fe Southern Railroad, turning it into Sky Railway, which presents themed journey experiences to riders.
Rising up in Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina, the adventure-seeking TV host first caught the journey bug in highschool when a good friend’s household invited her to hitch them on a European cruise. “After that journey,” she stated, “I used to be like, ‘I have to see the world.’” The 43-year-old has actually achieved that. She’s on the street per week or two a month and has been to 38 international locations in her over a decade and a half of journey.
Her new season of “Travels with Darley” premieres in January and moreover studying about areas they’ve perhaps by no means been, Newman stated she hopes viewers might be impressed from the “on a regular basis, exceptional” folks she spoke to on her travels. Their widespread message was at all times, “make the most of the time you’ve got,” and classes corresponding to that, Newman stated, are “why I feel it may be so enlightening to journey.”
How did “Travels with Darley” come about?
I’ve been doing exhibits at PBS for over a decade as a result of I began this different present, “Equitrekking,” the place I went horseback driving world wide. I did that for plenty of years and actually bought to go to so many alternative locations. I’ve ridden horses in Georgia and went to Botswana, Africa. I went to South America and rode with gauchos in Uruguay. That present was form of comparable in that in each location I used to be assembly locals and going out with them, which is what I feel is the perfect factor you may do in life usually. I had achieved 35 episodes of that collection and I used to be like, “I feel I’m gonna attempt to department out,” as a result of I used to be beginning with that collection to do much more common journey as effectively. I did browsing in Donegal, Eire and snowmobiling on a glacier in Iceland, all these adventurous issues.
So I considered “Travels with Darley” for an thought for a present. And the great thing about this collection is I’ve been in a position to, through the years, not solely go to locations like Wyoming and actually get off the overwhelmed path into nature, but additionally go to cities and do L.A. and get an city vibe in West Hollywood. It’s so various, however I feel that folks wish to have totally different experiences, in order that’s what I attempt to spotlight by the collection.
Your first present on PBS, “Equitrekking,” which was the world’s first journey present on horseback, went on to earn three Daytime Emmy Awards. How did you begin that?
I began an internet site and my very own weblog again within the day the place I used to be writing about horseback driving in other places. I began driving once I was a child at summer time camps and it’s one in every of my passions. And I used to be like, “I actually wish to journey. How can I make this right into a occupation?” I used to be making an attempt to consider a journey present that I might do. I knew, on the time, nobody would actually rent me to host something. It’s so laborious to get into. So I used to be like, “What sort of journey might I do this nobody else is doing?” Folks thought it was a loopy thought. They have been like, “Who’s gonna wanna watch that?” And I used to be like, “You don’t perceive. There are horses everywhere in the world,” as a result of folks would ask me, “How do you fly together with your horse?”
The place is someplace that you simply nonetheless wish to go?
That’s an excellent query, really. I haven’t been to Thailand but. I did Cambodia, however I haven’t gone to Thailand and that’s positively on my listing. For some motive, I actually wish to go to Nepal. I feel it might be fascinating. I’ve been to Hong Kong and Macau, however I haven’t been to Shanghai or gone actually into China and I feel it might be enlightening for folks.
What was the perfect meal you’ve had in your travels? I learn you had stated it was in Belgium. Is that also the case?
I feel so. It’s most likely nonetheless Belgium, L’air du temps. Sang-Hoon Degeimbre is his identify. He’s Korean, born and raised in Belgium and his restaurant is superb. And it’s fascinating as a result of I don’t assume issues need to be a murals, nevertheless it’s very good after they look lovely too. His meals is so artistic and ingenious, but additionally actually tasty. We went out to his backyard and he was choosing stuff up. I’m an enormous meat eater and I really like meat and cheese, however he did a variety of vegetarian stuff and issues that have been simply with recent greens.
You additionally jumped off the world’s highest business bungee.
It’s on the Macau Tower. Yeah, I don’t know why I did that, however that was really after I’d first moved to New York, so perhaps I used to be simply feeling adventurous usually. It’s positively one thing it’s important to mentally put together for. I used to be on the fence about doing it and I didn’t resolve till I bought there. As a result of I heard so many individuals inform me issues that might occur to me and so they weren’t all true. The adrenaline that was pumping by me after that was insane. I’ve by no means felt something like that and I’ve achieved a variety of adventurous stuff, however that was intense.
What are among the most breathtaking components of nature you’ve gotten to see in your journeys?
I really like the American West. I feel now we have among the most lovely locations on this planet right here in the united statesA. In Utah, Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park is absolutely beautiful and totally different. I used to be in a position to go in springtime and trip horses. Antelope Island’s very cool, exterior of Salt Lake Metropolis. Wyoming as a state is certainly a spot that’s underrated. I went right down to the Snowy Vary Scenic Byway, which is certainly a bit off the overwhelmed path. It’s lovely surroundings and the Jackson Gap space is beautiful with the Tetons. However I simply went to Cappadocia [in Türkiye] for a second time. And that’s a extremely cool space. It appeared to me a bit bit just like the American West. It has totally different rock formations as effectively, however simply actually superb historical past there too with caves that have been constructed throughout Byzantine instances and a variety of neat archeology. I like locations which have lovely surroundings however some depth and a narrative behind it.
What can viewers anticipate from this season and what have been among the highlights throughout filming?
I’m actually enthusiastic about this season as a result of for those who wish to journey or for those who don’t, you possibly can garner loads from it. As a result of the folks I used to be in a position to meet, and this isn’t uncommon as a result of there’s so many fascinating folks on the market, however the individuals are actually inspiring. This cowboy who grew up with Georgia O’Keeffe at Ghost Ranch. We’re on the market in these expansive landscapes the place they filmed a variety of totally different films. And I requested him what he’d realized from rising up on this space and dwelling there and figuring out O’Keeffe. He talked about how brief life is and that issues go by instantly. And as I meet an increasing number of folks that’s what I preserve getting from folks.
