Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
October 29, 2019
Jazz vocalist Diana Panton says that when people ask her for travel tips, she recommends visiting Portugal. “I was impressed with the affordability (there),” says the Canadian musician. “It’s a great place to go on a budget. There’s lots of interesting architecture, history, tasty food and natural landscapes at a fraction of the price of most other European countries.” A resident of Hamilton, Ontario, where she was born and raised, Panton’s latest CD is the family oriented “A Cheerful Little Earful.” Fans may follow her on Facebook and get tour dates at dianapanton.com.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. I have a soft spot for Paris. My parents enrolled me in French immersion at school when I was little, and I later went on to do a master’s degree in French literature. During university, I had the opportunity to teach in Paris for a year and a half and now I get the tug of nostalgia beckoning me back to Paris every couple of years. I always feel a sense of artistic freedom there. I love the attention to detail and all the specialty shops. Some of my favorite things to do in Paris include wandering on foot, taking photos and stopping for a chocolate chaud in a local café. To cap it off, a stroll along the Seine never disappoints. And don’t forget the simple and affordable pleasure of a great croissant!
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. The first trip I recall was to Hawaii. Though my parents found it quite touristy, I loved the fact that everyone would give you heavenly smelling flowers to wear around your neck. At six years old, Hawaii seemed like paradise to me!
Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A. Travel underscores the diverse approaches to life. There is no one way to live, and when you travel it opens up a world of possibilities. Whenever I return to Canada, I try to bring home a little bit of the spirit of the place I was visiting, and this enriches my everyday experience.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. I have a favorite cottage on Lake Ontario only a short drive from where I live. It is a great place to decompress and refuel my batteries.
Q. If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
A. I was in Taipei for December one year. There was no snow, but there were cute Christmas trees and lots of festive spirit.
Q. Do you speak any foreign languages?
A. I speak French and English. I find I pick up accents quickly when in other countries. Wherever I’m visiting, I also try to learn a few words in that country’s language.
Q. What are your favorite cities?
A. Paris, Taipei, Tokyo.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. When I was looking for an apartment during my first extended stay in Paris, the Rue Mouffetard in Paris reminded me of Westdale Village near where I live in Hamilton, because of the array of small shops and mix of families and students attending nearby universities.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. Denmark. Beyond my Scottish ancestry, I have roots there that I would like to explore further.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. I definitely need my iPod with my favorite songs and usually a good book. I also require my computer to stay connected with friends, family and business. Beyond that, not too much.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. I would love to spend a whole month or two in a very remote but not austere natural landscape. A quiet cottage overlooking a lake would suit me just fine.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A. I love to try new food. Sometimes I wish the trip were longer so that I could explore more restaurants.
Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A. I have a really lovely memory of traveling with my sister to Villefranche-de-Conflent in the south of France. I also have great memories of Taipei, Tokyo, Vladivostok and many spots in British Columbia and Ontario. The worst vacation was a camping trip when I was little. I was very attached to my stuffed animals and felt they should all come along for fear of them feeling left behind. Anyway, upon returning from that trip and making multiple trips to the house while unloading the car, somehow the garbage collectors assumed my box of toys was for pickup and I lost all my stuffed animals in one fell swoop. It was devastating and it was several years before I would accept another stuffed animal from anyone. In my mind those I had lost were irreplaceable. This just goes to show how strong emotional attachments can be when we’re little.
© 2019 JAE-HA KIM
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