What are “root travels” from the perspective of both sides of the ocean? Personally, I began to understand it when root travelers came to me asking for help. In those moments, I quickly realized I wasn’t dealing with typical tourists, there was something different about them.

Root travelers don’t seek entertainment or crowded tourist spots; instead, their destinations are small, obscure villages tucked away in inland areas and not easily accessible. Among their precious goals are certificates, perhaps kept in small churches, ancient family tombs where they can say a prayer and leave a flower, or even old addresses that are often hard to find because street names have changed over time.