FESTIVE FOOTSTEPS

Step into a world where snow-dusted Alpine villages meet the soaring peaks of the Andes, and where festivals illuminate the heart of every community. In Festive Footsteps: Exploring Holiday Trails from Alps to Andes, travel writer and adventurer Mary Adepoju takes you on a mesmerizing journey across continents, blending first-person narrative with rich cultural insight.
From the bell-clad streets of Stoos and Engelberg in Switzerland, where centuries-old winter rituals echo in the mountains, to the vibrant, rhythm-filled festivals of Puno and Cusco in Peru, this book immerses you in celebrations both ancient and living. Feel the pulse of the Andes during the Fiesta de la Candelaria, dance alongside masked figures in Tschäggättä, and witness the sun rise over Machu Picchu in an unforgettable New Year's ritual.
More than a travelogue, this book is a meditation on the human need for light, joy, and connection. Through immersive storytelling, readers discover how cultures across the globe use festivals to honor nature, ancestors, and life itself - even in the harshest of climates. Practical appendices provide festival calendars, packing guides, cultural tips, and reflective exercises, making this both an inspiring read and a functional guide for your own festive adventures.
Whether you are a traveler, a festival enthusiast, or a reader seeking stories that illuminate the heart and soul of human celebration, Festive Footsteps invites you to follow footsteps across continents, from Alpine bells to Andean drums, and experience the magic of global holiday traditions firsthand.