About Marybeth, National Geographic Author, Writer

Curious Explorer. Award-winning author.

Gutsy Traveler: A woman, like travel expert Marybeth Bond, stands among purple flowers, raising her arms and smiling in front of a wooden building in bright sunlight.
Polar bear tracking and snorkeling with beluga whales in the northern Canadian Arctic.

Marybeth knows travel. She has hiked, biked, dived, danced and trekked across all seven continents – from the depths of the Flores Sea near Komodo Island to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

More recently, she tracked polar bears and snorkeled with beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic, then kayaked among icebergs in Antarctica.

Somewhere in between, four years of studying in Paris earned her two degrees – and a taste for good wine and strong cheeses.

Twelve books (three with National Geographic), countless travel articles, and numerous TV and radio appearances have built her devoted fanbase. She won the esteemed Lowell Thomas, Gold Award for the Best Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

Woman on cliff in front of a monastery in Bhutan
Yesterday’s Video below. A decade or more later. Is Marybeth still GUTSY? Here in Bhutan.
Marybeth in Antarctica with penguins, snowy mountains, and water—just the kind of moment travel expert Marybeth Bond would capture in a travel video.
Kayaking and camping near penguins in Antarctica.

Yesterday….

When I was a student in Paris, a classmate invited me to her home in the Loire Valley for the weekend. We took the train from Paris and visited the cathedral in Chartres and several castles.

February is a cold and damp time in France. I remember the pleasure of entering the kitchen in her country home and being greeted by Mama in her apron, a blazing  fire and mouth-watering aromas of fresh bread and hearty soups.

Here’s my favorite recipe from that beautiful weekend in the countryside.

Potato Leek Soup

“Potage Parmentier” or Leek and Potato Soup

This soup is thick and rich and makes a perfect meal with bread, cheese and white wine.

  • 8-10 leeks, rinsed well
  • 3 Tablespoon salted butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 4 medium sized potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 6 cups chicken broth (preferably homemade)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Slice the leeks, including part of the green tops. Clean by chopping and allowing to sit in water so the sediment sinks to the bottom.

how to clean leeks

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks and cook until soft. Add the potatoes, chicken broth and parsley. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until potaoes are tender.

 Potato Leek Soup

Purée the soup in a blender, one-third at a time. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. 

Serve hot with crispy crusty French bread and hard cheeses.

Makes 6 servings.

Marybeth Bond