He had a similar experience in England, where he was shown around Windsor Castle by none other than Prince William. “If you are touring Windsor Castle, there’s no better person to take you through it than somebody who actually lives there,” he smiles. “It was a once in a lifetime experience. It was pretty incredible. He was an extremely gracious host and had a good sense of humor, and we had the greatest time together. He was gracious enough to offer up insights into what his life is.”
Windsor Castle is just one of the seriously impressive locations this series shoots in. The hotels Eugene visits are equally as breathtaking. “The train on the bridge, the Kruger Shalati, at Kruger National Park in South Africa has to be a highlight,” Eugene tells me. “It was really quite amazing. There was something about it that I absolutely loved and felt quite comfortable with. It’s a hotel built in an old railway car, and it’s over the Sabi River, so every morning you wake up and there’s a floor to ceiling picture window. You’re looking right down over the Sabi River and you’re seeing the most incredible wildlife.”
“To be honest, I could not believe my reaction to it at the time—I mean, I’m looking down and you see a 14-foot croc going through the river, and then I look up and see hippos and water buffalo and it was really, really crazy, but I just absolutely loved it. I think South Africa was quite amazing as a location that surprised me. It’s one location I thought I would absolutely hate because it’s everything I’m not. It’s just all outdoors and discovering the wild. But I actually had a great affinity for it. Just being out there and seeing these animals in the wild, there was something almost down-homey about it. It was a comforting, beautiful experience to wake up to that every day.”
