From Summer in Beverly Hills to New England in the Fall
Lake Eastman
Liebster Award Nomination
This is my first year as a travel blogger and had never heard of the Liebster Award until I was nominated by fellow travel blogger Agnes from BackyardDestinations. Basically, if you get nominated, you answer the nominator's set of 11 questions via a blog post and in turn nominate other bloggers you know and love. It works somewhat like a chain letter, with the point being that people get a chance to get to know new bloggers out there. So, thank you for the nomination and here are my answers:
1. What inspired you to start blogging?
My husband. I've always been a super detailed planner of trips and was often helping friends and family make their own travel plans, but just for my own amusement and mostly because it's how I'm naturally wired. Colin (my husband) has encouraged me for many years to share those skills for planning and organization with the world and 4 years later I finally did by starting Type A Trips. Here's a quick life excerpt and a possible reason why he thought I'd be good at it - for our honeymoon in 2010 we went to Greece and Italy for a month and he loves to tell the story about how he woke up on the first day of our honeymoon and I wasn't there - instead, laying on the pillow was a 26 page itinerary telling him when to eat, sleep and shower. It's a bit of an exaggeration, but it really was 26 pages.
2. Hotel or hostel?
Most definitely hotel. I've never actually stayed in a hostel, but I struggle with having to share things in life so thinking about sharing a room or a bathroom kind of freaks me out.
3. What’s one place every traveler should visit and why?
Tough one. Honestly - every traveler should spend time visiting their home country. I'm always amazed at how many people have traveled the world, but know little about where they come from - myself included. I'm just starting to really explore the US one city at a time and I'm continually in awe of the incredible food, culture, people, history and scenery I've got in my own back yard.
4. How do you handle situations when travel itineraries don’t go as planned?
I cry. Remember how I told you about our honeymoon? Well, about a week in we were in Florence and had plans to take a train to Lucca (my favorite Italian city); however, I read the arriving times instead of the departing times and we missed not one, but two trains! And yes, I cried. Luckily for me, I have a husband who is the complete opposite of me and in times like this his easy-going travel personality kicks into high gear, calms me down and helps me to see the big picture... specifically reminding me, "Lady - you're in Florence, it's ok!"
5. What is the most breathtaking sight you’ve seen internationally?
I lived in Florence in 2006 when Italy won the World Cup. On the night of the final game, everyone (and I mean everyone) flooded the streets in celebration. It's a surreal and breathtaking feeling to be part of a party where the entire country is invited - hundreds of thousands of people cheering, crying and hugging for a single cause. It's something that as Americans we don't get a chance to experience because we all have our individual teams and allegiances, but it's a memory I'll never forget.
6. What’s the best food you’ve had abroad?
There's a tapas bar in Barcelona called Cerveceria Ciudad Condal that I dream about. The wait is usually at least an hour and people literally line out the door well past midnight to come here. Every single dish that comes out is bursting with flavor and leaves your mouth watering and wanting more.
7. What invaluable experience(s) have you taken away from traveling?
Try to find some way to connect with people who actually live there. We will often book a Vayable tour, which allows us to have intimate, cultural experiences with locals when we're in a new place. We've done everything from market tours in London, cooking and eating an authentic Italian meal with an Italian family at their home, to a midnight street food tour of Queens. These are some of the memories we cherish the most.
8. Do you prefer air or ground transportation to get around?
Air. I try to pack in as much into every minute of a trip and usually find that I can gain more time back into my trip by flying. Saying that, I love train experiences when the scenery is epic and you get to see a side of the country you usually wouldn't get otherwise.
9. What is one thing you must always have with you while on the go?
Hand sanitizer. Yes, this is a lame answer, but if you've ever gotten sick while traveling abroad, you know why I can't go anywhere without it.
10. Describe an interesting person you met while traveling.
Taro Kobayashi is the owner and head chef of Mame - a tiny sushi restaurant in the very unlikely city of Eugene, Oregon. We met Chef Taro during a west coast road trip we took in 2012 and we randomly made reservations during our 2 night stay in town. The restaurant only has 4 tables and about 6 seats at the bar where you can sit and interact with the chef as he makes the food. Instead of ordering from a menu, most people just do the "chef's choice" where you just tell the chef how much you want to spend and he creates a personalized sushi sampling. Not only did his food blow my mind, his personal story of transformation, which led him to becoming a chef was inspiring.
11. What is one place you could visit again and again?
If you haven't figured it out by now by reading this post, I'm being way too subtle... I could visit Italy again and again and again. Specifically Tuscany, but I love all of Italy. I've been fortunate enough to go every few years and hope to be back again in 2015 (Colin - this is my not so subtle way of telling you what I want for my birthday).
Now it's my turn to nominate some of my favorite bloggers and ask them questions:
What is the best bite of food you've ever had?
If you could describe your blogging style in 3 words, what would they be and why?
What is one thing that makes you smile, no matter what mood you're in?
If I handed you $100, how would you spend it?
Name one thing always in your carry-on luggage.
Who encourages you most in your life?
What is one place you've never been to, but are dying to visit?
How do you find time to be a blogger?
What was your favorite childhood television show?
How do you define your version of the perfect trip?
Name one food you just couldn't live without.
How A Travel Blogger Successfully Offended Most of Her Readers...
As I've matured in my venture as a travel blogger (technically I'm still a cyber infant at 6 months old), I've come to learn that my point of view isn't going to appeal to everyone... and honestly it's been a relief to realize that I don't have to try. We all have unique personalities and we follow people and read blogs that we connect with. So, I've written out a long, detailed list of who I think Type A Trips connects with most. I hope this provides readers with a clearer picture of what you can expect from me and I really hope, more than anything, that some of me resonates with you and that we're in this together for the long haul.
If you're anything like me, YOU PROBABLY...
- Are a working professional who works hard to travel hard and isn't planning on selling all of your belongings to see the world... because traveling on the cheap just doesn't sound appealing.
- Are single or married, but don't have any young kids (that will have to be another blog one day - Type A w/ Toddlers?)
- Plan out and organize each detail of your trip to get the most out of every minute.
- Like higher end experiences and probably won't be staying in any hostels or cheap motels.
Would rather pay more for comfort, luxury and safety, but aren't opposed to searching for a deal to make it more affordable.
- Shop at boutiques, high-end brands and love a good sample sale.
- Consciously try to break the stereotype of the annoying US tourist by being respectful of local customs, learning the language through important key phrases and are considerate of people around you who live normal lives and work hard in the places you visit.
- Make reservations and review the menu before you show up.
- Believe in food creativity as an art and are willing to try new things with the expectation that taste and good service are of highest importance.
- Sometimes compromise to do everything you want - free museum days, show up early to places to avoid long lines, look for monthly specials or travel during off season.
Visit a spa almost every chance you get.
Want to backpack through Southeast Asia as long as you get to bring a rolling suitcase, can get a massage in every city and don't have to share a bathroom along the way.
- Ok, you're probably a little bit of a germaphobe too.
- Enjoy high tea and tasting menus, but also like to try unique experiences like late night street food tours, farmers markets and the occasional food truck.
- Hate the bus and avoid it at all costs, but don't mind the subway or a long stroll, even in the winter.
- Buy specific articles of clothing depending on your destination so you are always prepared for anything.
Think a 10 course tasting menu is considered just as entertaining and worth the money as a Broadway show.
- Would never buy a magnet or seashell necklace as a souvenir, instead you would bring home a vintage purse or set of wine glasses in remembrance.
- Avoid long hikes or water sports because "adventure" is not your strong suit, but will put on your unused Nike's if your travel partner insists. My husband usually does.
- Are looked at by your friends and coworkers as a little nuts, even though they secretly all wish they traveled just as much as you do.
Remember the experiences where you made a new friend or had lunch with a local more than anything else and hope to return the favor one day.
- Love anywhere in Europe, but would also enjoy laying on a beach at an all-inclusive resort one week out of the year in order to completely let go for a while.
- Read hundreds of reviews and research every detail of a new city so you can make lists of places you'd like to go, even though you probably won't have time to visit them all.
- Think last minute plans and decisions are disappointments waiting to happen.
Visit every Anthropologie in town because you know each one just might carry something a little different (and if you're asking yourself why anyone would go to various places dedicated to Anthropology as a science, you should just stop reading now. I mean it.).
- Settle for something a little less in order to travel with friends or meet the demands of your husband who would ALWAYS prefer to pay less than you would.
- Realize the world isn't centered around you and are grateful for what you have.
- Will go out of your way to help anyone in need and take time to support and serve in areas you visit that need it most.
Expense and luxury are NEVER an excuse to be rude, demanding or mean.
- Prefer not to share rides, bathrooms, tours or toothbrushes. Did I already mention I'm a germaphobe?
- Believe that expensive purchases are considered investment pieces... your husband or wife does not.
- Avoid sketchy neighborhoods at all costs unless there is an epic experience guaranteed to be had. Tijuana and The Tenderloin are just not worth the stress or fear.
- Intend to pack light, but it never happens.
Are willing to sacrifice your husband's comfort to drag a set of china across Italy because it's going to look great in your dining room.
- Have your favorite places that you just have to go back to - no matter how much of the world you still have to see - hence annual trips to New York City and a marital guarantee that my toes will touch the streets of Florence every fifth year.
- Anticipate that a nice dinner for two is rarely under $100.
- Also anticipate that a hotel is rarely ever less than $150 a night, but you will book an Airbnb as long as you have the whole place to yourself and it's in a cool/safe spot.
Read through this long list of gibberish and weren't offended - and those who were probably wrote me off as a crazy person at bullet 3 (yeah, I'm specifically thinking of you, brother-in-law).
- Are a traveler and love it, as long as it's done your way!