Some UnTours stories read like postcards. Others feel like cherished family lore. And then there are a few, like the one shared by longtime UnTourists Judy and George W., that remind us what made UnTours’ founder, Hal Taussig, so special.
Because for all the wisdom Hal poured into creating a new way to travel, he never stopped learning from the people who traveled with him.
A Visit from Hal in Provence
Judy begins simply: “My husband, George, and I took several Untours/Home at First tours many years ago. It was during our stay in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in Provence that Hal visited.”
Hal, true to form, arrived carrying little more than his warmth, his notebook, and his curiosity. He casually referred to his apartment as his “digs,” a detail Judy remembers vividly, because that was just Hal: modest, unassuming, and endlessly delighted by the small pleasures of travel.
But what Judy didn’t expect was that she and George would end up showing him something entirely new.
A Day Hal Never Saw Coming
It happened over a simple conversation. Judy and George learned that Hal, lover of culture, student of the world, had never been to a French bullfight. He didn’t even know they existed.
So when he expressed interest, Judy and George did what UnTourists do best: they extended an invitation. “Since we had a car, we drove Hal to Saintes Maries de la Mer, right on the shores of the Mediterranean. There is a bull fight arena right on the beach there.”
In France, these events are known as course camarguaise—a humane, centuries-old tradition where the bull is never harmed, a point Judy tenderly notes: “French bullfights never harm the bull, as they do in Spanish bullfights.”
Seeing the World Through Hal’s Eyes
What happened that afternoon is the heart of this story, as Judy explains. “Hal was in total disbelief for the entire day. George and I were just as excited as he was to see him experiencing something so unusual and new to him.”
There’s something remarkable in that image: the founder of UnTours—who had spent decades encouraging travelers to embrace slow travel, cultural immersion, and serendipity—being guided into that exact experience by two UnTourists. And the joy wasn’t one-sided.
Judy writes: “That day, we truly saw firsthand the significance of traveling to new locations. We were so thrilled to have shown him something he never even knew existed.”
This is the essence of UnTours: we don’t just send people out into the world. We create the conditions for connection—real, reciprocal, human. Sometimes it’s the traveler learning from a local. Sometimes it’s an UnGuide learning from a guest. And occasionally, beautifully, it’s Hal learning from the very community he built.
A Memory That Lasts Forever
Judy closes her story with a line that feels like a benediction: “That memory will stay with us forever. Bless Hal and all his good works!!!”
It is a reminder that Hal didn’t simply design trips. He created relationships, thousands of tiny exchanges of wonder, curiosity, kindness, and shared discovery. He changed the way we travel.
And even as the founder (and former teacher), he never stopped being a student of the world, open to whatever unexpected adventure his UnTourists invited him into.
Why This Story Matters
As we celebrate UnTours’ 50 years of traveling differently, stories like Judy’s bring us back to our roots—back to the heart of what Hal built: travel that unfolds slowly and generously, travel shaped by human connection and travel that changes not just the traveler, but everyone who touches the journey. Sometimes even the founder.
Thank you, Judy and George, for giving Hal a day he never forgot—and for reminding us why UnTours still matters so deeply.
Do You Have a Story to Share?
If you have a story about Hal or your journey with UnTours, we’d love to hear it! Simply email info@untours.com.