Category: 10 Questions For:

Interviews with travel bloggers and travel industry gurus

10 Questions For (15): Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View

Happy to introduce Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View to you!


Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View at a Bloggers Meet up

1) Who Are you?

I’m a (currently) Seattle based freelance writer. I make 90% of my living as a technical writer. This means I explain complicated technical stuff (primarily software, but sometimes hardware) in terms that make sense to the people that need to use that complicated technical stuff. I do some consulting with websites that want to reach travelers – I was on the advisory board for a photo sharing site and I’ve just signed on to the advisory board for a travel related web service. Typically, this means a company asks for my opinion about their site, how it works, what would entice travelers (or photographers) to use it, that sort of thing – and I give it to them. It’s fun and I like to flatter myself that I’m something of a triple threat there -as a professional nerd I get technology, as a traveler who loves the web I have a lot to say about what appeals and as a writer, I can articulate what I think. Sometimes I feel a little sorry for the folks I advise, but hey, that’s what they hired me for!

I do a modest sideline in travel writing. I’ve worked on two guidebooks (Hawaii & Vancouver/British Columbia), sold a few stories to web and print publications, and recorded two broadcast stories for a National Public Radio station.

I live with my Austrian husband – who I met at the campground at Uluru in Australia – in a house with brightly colored rooms. We can walk to the beach from our door, it’s great fun to go down there at low tide. I play the ukulele with more enthusiasm than skill, am an enthusiastic home cook, take way too many photos, and love to write.

2) What do you like about what you do?

On the tech side, I enjoy getting to see new technology before it hits the market and being part of making new things. The people I work with are smart and creative and fun. I’m project based, so every time I start a new project, I learn something new. I really appreciate that the nature of my work dovetails perfectly with travel – I work on nice meaty tech projects, fill the bank account, then spend my money traveling! It’s a system that works.

On the travel side, I love to write travel stories and I love to take pictures, I just love it. I genuinely enjoy the people I meet through travel contacts, not just fellow travelers, but the industry people too. They’re good company and they seem to understand my crazy priorities.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

Tech work can be all consuming and stressful, there’s no denying it. And as a travel writer, I’m frustrated by the low paid opportunities, the difficulty in getting work published, the extremely long lead times… I’m sure that’s nothing new.

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.

I started blogging when I was an expat in Austria – it helped me tell stories to my friends and family back in the States and kept me from losing my mind – I was in a small town with no expat community. That was my initial goal – stay sane – but it turned out I couldn’t shut up. For a while I blogged about American politics – I spent a lot of time as a volunteer during the 2004 US presidential election – and then, I refocused on what I really like – stories about places.

My ignorance about the travel market meant that I was completely content self publishing my own stories at Nerd’s Eye View. But opportunities found me and my blog became, in addition to an outlet for my need to tell stories, a portfolio of what I could do with the written word or my camera. I recently added the Travelblogger’s Forum to my site to provide a community for people like me who want to grow their blogs into something more.

I have this fantasy that some day, I will live the luxurious life of a pro-travel-blogger, but I know it’s just a fantasy. I’m lucky to like the work that pays my bills, so it doesn’t kill me to accept that “making my living 100% from blogging” is unlikely.

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

Oh, this is so hard. I love Hawaii – we were married there and I have a real affection for the islands. Hawaii is so friendly, the landscape so beautiful, the hodge podge of cultures makes for good food… I was in Cambodia earlier this year and it kind of cracked me open – I was so taken with the people, so heart broken by the history, and of course, Angkor Wat is amazing. I went to art school and I’ve wanted to go there since I sat through that slide show in my Asian art history class. Finally, and closer to home, I never get tired of the Olympic Peninsula – the giant trees, the rugged Pacific coastline, the unpredictable weather. I’ve been there dozens of times and every time I fall in love with it all over again.


Boy Selling Travel Guides at Angkor Wat

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

I did a story on luxury hotels in Vienna and we stayed at the Hotel Imperial. The bathroom floors were heated marble, the breakfast was spectacular, our view of the Ringstrasse was unbeatable and Vienna in winter is so romantic.

While working on the Hawaii guidebook our first stop was at Kona Village Resort, an all inclusive beach front development where you get your own, standalone “hale” – I almost burst in to tears when we left.


Flaming cocktails at Kona Village Resort

But that’s deluxe stuff. I’ve also slept out on a tarp under the stars in the Australian outback and woken up to a pale pink sky and a symphony of birdsong – I had never experienced anything like before and haven’t since. And in case your readers are winking and saying, “Oh, she was in love,” this was before arriving at Uluru, I hadn’t met my mate yet.

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

Memorable doesn’t necessarily mean good, right? We ate at a place in Saigon that served us some of the most mysterious food I’ve ever had the pleasure of being confronted with. Things were fishy or gummy or salty or just unrecognizable. This was a rather nice place, the open kitchen was immaculate, the staff in white shirts and bow ties, but I was way out of my element as far as food is concerned.

I’ve written extensively about the Fachertorte served at the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna. My mouth is watering just mentioning it. I am a fan of pastry, the Austrians do it so well. And this Fachertorte? It makes me lose my mind. I would like a piece right now. It’s poppy seeds, apples, almonds all wrapped in a flaky brioche like crust… oh. It’s to die for!


Desserts in the window of the Demel in Vienna:

In Honolulu, we ate at a place called Chef Mavro’s that serves Hawaii Regional Cuisine – let’s hope I get this concept right – the idea being to take local fresh ingredients and interpret them in the chef’s style. The chef was born in Greece, grew up in Marseilles and now lives in Hawaii. We had the tasting menu, paired with carefully selected wines and it was spectacular. My normally laconic husband called this meal “fireworks for the mouth.” I could taste the food – elegant but not fussy and served on small plates – in every part of my mouth. Stunning.

And yes, we’re back in Hawaii. It’s a theme, I guess.

8) Your 3 worst destination/ accommodation /food experiences to date and why?

While preparing to cross the Himalayas in India, I stayed in a hotel in Kargil and awoke covered, head to toe, in bright red welts from bed bugs. That’s pretty bad.

On arrival in Hanoi with a splitting headache of migraine like proportions, we checked to a room that was freezing cold, had a rock hard bed, and where a crew was performing sledge hammer demolition on the other side of the wall. That was unfortunate.

But by far the worst was a hotel/pension in the Westerwald in Germany where the place stunk to the high heavens of boiled meat. The place was spotless and it’s not like we were uncomfortable, at all, but the next day we fled, top speed, into the fresh air. The intense smell was making me horribly queasy. The dining room was full of taxidermied animals, the staff had a certain terrifying edginess, and it took very little imagination to transform the place from rustic hunter friendly lodge to slasher film set. “What happened to Herr Schmidt? He was so charming at dinner last night.” “Ah, he went for a walk. I mean, uh, he checked out. Yes. Checked out. Will you be having the homemade sausages?” Yikes. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/ food / accommodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?

Our neighborhood – West Seattle – is a great place to bring new visitors to town. It has a funky beach town feel, something you don’t expect from a city in the Pacific Northwest and as a former California girl, I love that about it. We have a truly spectacular French bakery, Bakery Nouveau, where we take our guests for treats, and then, we go walk on the beach. The views of downtown are gorgeous and it’s a great introduction to our city.


View from Alki Beach near our house at sunset:

If the time of year is right – and sometimes, even when it’s not, we take visitors to the Ballard Locks to see the salmon in the fish ladder. You can’t be in the Pacific Northwest for any period of time without learning about the salmon and the fish ladder is an entertaining place to learn about their life cycle. It’s really close to an excellent fish and chips joint, which I get is a little morbid, but it’s fun.

There’s one really touristy thing that I recommend – I’ve done it myself a few times and always enjoyed it – the Seattle Underground Tour. It’s a little weird to suggest that your out of town guests go touring the basements of a bunch of brick turn of the century buildings, but Seattle has a crazy colorful history and the guides that run the tour are terrific story tellers. It’s great fun.

But Seattle is a fantastic city, so limiting it to only three is nearly impossible. I don’t mind at all if you (or your readers!) look me up and ask me for advice, should you be traveling my way. I love showing visitors around.

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?

You didn’t ask me where I’d like to go next! If money were no object, I’d be off to Ethiopia like a shot. I saw an exhibit recently about Lucy, she’s the ancient human predecessor who was found in Ethiopia. I thought the show would be all geology and fossil science, but as we entered, there was a lot about the history and culture of Ethiopia. I was enchanted and now, I really want to go. Sadly, it’s VERY far away from where I sit, so airfare alone is quite prohibitive. Here’s hoping the fates send me there.

We’re hoping to spend some time in Hawaii this winter and there’s a long shot I’ll go to Panama in early December. But anything could happen, that’s the great and terrible thing about travel.

My Observations:
Pam, Thank you for being part of this series. Now you’ve made me even more curious. Where can I find your tech writing?

On the photo front: I have chosen a portrait that I believe although not technically correct features you the best from what I have seen. It’s curious how avid photographers usually don’t have a lot of portraits from themselves. Ha and I hope you won’t flame me about this choice:-)

You didn’t add me to your contacts on Flickr, and since your copyright protection is mostly “on”, but I got around that with a nifty gadget called WebKut that I recently found and that unlike earlier versions of Piclens still let you work around the Flickr copy right protection…

There must be a world, no two worlds of difference between Seattle on the one hand and Aigen against the Czech border. Must be a lot of German influence there as well.

Finally you inspired me to to make a note to self to upload some of my my own Demel photos to Flickr…

To all:
Don’t forget to visit Pam’s Travelblogger’s Forum

10 Questions For (14): Tamara Heber Percy of Mr & Mrs Smith

Happy to present to you Tamara Heber Percy of Mr & Mrs Smith, a wonderful collection of funky hotels.

tamara-heber-percy-and-son-tom-oct-08
Tamara Heber Percy and son Tom

1) Who are you?

I’m Tamara Heber Percy, founder and director of Mr & Mrs Smith, the boutique hotel specialists.

2) What do you like about what you do?

Apart from the travel which comes with the territory and you couldn’t do this job unless you loved travel I’d say the thing I love most about my job is the feedback we get from customers as they are constantly (and pleasantly) surprised with the experiences they have at hotels we recommend. I also love new stuff, so getting to know about new design, interiors and innovation in the hotel world.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

The lack of time to do anything else: when you run your own business you work long hours. When you travel, there’s the jet lag, the whirlwind of meetings. I just wish there were more hours in each day.

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.

The Smith Travel Blog started because we realized that we had a lot of great content and information that didn’t really fit into the main website. We have teams of staff who are travelling all the time, as well as our Smith Spies (our term for people who keep our info on each destination up to date), all having great experiences that we wanted to share with our customers. We are also in contact with some great people in the industry – from Michael Caines the Michelin-starred chef to Anouska Hempel who are happy to share their experiences with us. We felt it was time for us to introduce another voice to Smith, to open up what happens behind the scenes a bit more, and to engage customers with a more personal and responsive tone.

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

A road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas. The coastal road is just stunning. Also, I love Ibiza – it sounds corny but I was actually brought up there so the island has a very special place in my heart. You certainly don’t need to be a clubber to go there. I’m also a massive fan of the New York city break – I love the buzz of Manhattan life.

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

I spent my honeymoon at the Royal Malewane in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. It’s a boutique safari lodge with its own giraffe-frequented watering hole, mahogany four-posters and a Bush spa.

The penthouse suite at the Hotel on Rivington would be my next choice. Not only is it spectacular in itself with a rooftop Jacuzzi and all the luxury trimmings, but the views of New York are incredible.

Finally, I loved my recent holiday in Ibiza – two weeks in a stunning self-catering villa – we really pushed the boat out and felt like rock stars for a fortnight.


A stunning view from the Hotel on Rivington Penthouse Suite

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

Lunch at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for my husband’s birthday.

Dinner at Gramercy Tavern in New York – it’s not new, funky or modern but always delivers great food and a fantastic atmosphere.

Coffee at Monmouth Coffee – without a doubt the best coffee in London.

8) Your 3 worst destination/ accommodation /food experiences to date and why?

That’s a tough one, because generally all my travel experiences have been good. Of course, we check out a lot of substandard hotels when researching for Smith but I wouldn’t say that was a bad experience.

I’ve had a lot of boring experiences waiting for delayed airplanes but since I have become a BlackBerry addict, that time just seems to fly by (sorry!).

When I was a teenager I backpacked around the world. In Jakarta I stayed in a youth hostel which I’d arrived at very late one night. When I woke up the sheets were covered in blood and I was covered in bug bites, and when I looked down the floor, I was met with a carpet of rat droppings. I decided from that moment on to up my accommodation budget.

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/ food / accommodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?

I love the Thames in London. I used to live on a Dutch barge moored in Chiswick so being near water is important to me. One of the nicest walks in the whole of London is along the river from Hammersmith to Chiswick.

My favourite hotel in London is Anouska Hempel’s Blakes – I got married there. It’s the original boutique hotel and I’ve never found anywhere more intimate or sexy. There’s no high-end spa or high-tech conference facilities as this is all about couples. One of my favourite things to do in place is amble around the markets: Borough for incredible foodie treats and exotic ingredients; Spitalfields for arts, crafts and leather, and Portobello for, well, anything really.

My (current) favourite restaurant in London is Yauatcha – yummy dim sum!


Tamara’s Dutch Barge at Chiswick

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?

What does the future hold for Mr & Mrs Smith, perhaps? It’s quite an exciting time for us. As well as really exploring what we can do with the Smith Travel Blog, we’re also exploring other media and formats. You can expect to see our first foray into online TV before long and an extension of the services we provide to mobiles (we already have a bespoke BlackBerry application). We’ve also got big developments happing in the States – we’ve already got a S-specific site – and, although I don’t want to give too much away, you may see some Smith-related goings-on in the Asia-Pacific area before too long!


Mr & Mrs Smith site

My observations:
First a Big Thank You, Tamara for being my guest! You are a hell of an inspiring lady!

You got me convinced to acquire my own Blackberry. Albeit to be able to take reservations while on the road. Typically when I am underway to fetch some clean linen, I always get calls about our vacancies.

I would like to congratulate you with your portfolio of hotels and the Blog: If “Damien” Cronian coins the blog one of the best corporate blogs in the industry he means it and I concur! But not only an excellent bunch of hotels that you have, I believe your keen eye for detail and things to do in the neighborhood of a hotel makes the brand standing out between the best of the best.

One small remark. I tried this summer to book a small hotel in the South of France to find out there was no way of checking their online availability. I believe that unnecessary in these times. I’m a notable late booker, because only at the last moment, when there are really no guests, we take off, but I can imagine the same applies to busy people….

And finally a small question: Does the blog has two Tamaras? The Tamara featured under contributors got married in Ca… Hey where are your contributors’ Bios?

Last edited by Happy Hotelier on Saturday, October 17, 2009

10 Questions For (13) : Darren Cronian of Travel Rants

Happy to present Darren Cronian of Travel Rants which he unfortunately discontinued. Darren is one of my Travel Bloggers friends who, as a sort of Godfather, kept me going shortly after I started this Blog.

Darren doesn’t like to be photographed. Therefor I have used the Travel Rants logo. When I succeed to make a nice portrait of him on November 11, when approximately 80 travel Bloggers will meet in London, I will replace the logo with his portrait. Darren organized this Bloggers Meet Up, Travel Blog Camp, entirely on his own. Tickets are sold out now! Am looking forward to it!

1) Who Are you?

I am Darren Cronian, and in my spare time I write and promote Travel Rants, a blog that focuses on travel consumer issues and news. I live in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and work in IT development and support for a large organization.

2) What do you like about what you do?

I love writing about travel, interacting with travel bloggers, and anyone involved in the travel industry. I like to write about my own travel experiences and consumer issues. My drive is making people aware of the Travel Rants blog and raising it’s profile in the UK, and around Europe.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

The long hours, sat at a computer can be very tiresome, but I give myself mini challenges to complete which keeps me going. I usually write when I return home from work, or at the weekend, basically any spare time that I have.

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.

I started writing the Travel Rants blog in April 2005 and has over the years become popular with consumers, bloggers and the travel industry. It’s been featured in a number of newspapers and this year won the Travolution Award for best Travel consumer blog.

I recently launched the Travel Rants newsletter, and will be launching the monthly Travel Rant Podcast. The aim then is to continue to write quality content, and raise awareness of the blog in the UK through an online advertising campaign at the start of 2009.

The goal is for it to become a hugely popular place for travel consumers to air their views and opinions.


Eagle’s eye view … the new route takes you through the steel to the top of the bridge. Photo: BridgeClimb Sydney via The Guardian

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

Sydney
Prague
Oslo

Sydney is my favourite city because I had so much fun; walking over the Harbour Bridge, no, I actually mean over the top of the Bridge. Then there’s the jeep safari in to the Blue Mountains, and relaxing on Manly beach.

Prague I visited for a long weekend break with my girlfriend at the time. It was romantic, historic and made me realize there is so much in the world that I have not discovered. Walking over Charles Bridge, up to Prague castle and through the markets in the Old Town.

Oslo was expensive, but I was expecting that and I loved the snow, yes tons and tons of snow, walking up to the top of the World Cup Ski jump at Holmenkollen, a visit to Norway’s international stadium. The people were so friendly too.

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

City AS Hotel, Oslo
Albatross Bote, Prague
Southern Cross Hotel, Sydney

I chose all of these hotels because of the location of each hotel was within a short walking distance of the major attractions. When searching for hotels I don’t worry too much about the rooms themselves as I just want somewhere to sleep and get a shower. As long as they are clean I am happy.

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

Alligator Steak, North Queensland
Devils Curry, Kuala Lumpur
Chips and Mayonnaise, Bruges

Yum. Sat overlooking the great barrier reef eating my alligator steak with an ice cold beer, then there’s the time I had a devils curry in Kuala Lumpur which is about four times as hot as a Vindaloo curry, Hot very hot. I loved the chips with Mayonnaise in Bruges as well.

8) Your 3 worst destination/ accommodation / food experiences to date and why?

I don’t have any bad experiences, I choose my destinations and accommodation carefully, and as long as the hotel is clean I do not worry too much about it. The food, well I love food, and I have not yet eaten anything that I’ve found disgusting, well maybe the squid salad.

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/ food / accommodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?

I live in Leeds, a city in Northern England. I would advise anyone to take a trip by train from London to the North. Visit York, it has tons of history with its Viking past. Then there’s a trip to Whitby on the coast, typical seaside place, and burial home of Dracula. Finally, a shopping and restaurant trip to Leeds, to collect your last minute Christmas presents before returning home.

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?

I get asked why I started to write Travel Rants, it’s a question I get asked a lot. Basically, I visited a high street travel agency and found that the agent was rude, and did not seem to be happy to help me find a holiday, so I left the shop in disgust and started writing Travel Rants a few days later.


Bitterballen

Thank you, Darren! Eating chips with mayonnaise is a typical Belgian and Dutch habit which few foreigners appreciate. If you appreciate that, you’re also likely to appreciate our typical Dutch “bitterballen” and maybe also our raw herring:-)

10 Questions For (12): Kimberly Kradel of Artist-At-Large

Happy to present Kimberly Kradel, the ever traveling Artist. Probably she’s on the road again, because despite some gentle nudges I haven’t received better photos from her….now I have collected some from her sites.

1) Who Are you?

Who am I or what am I? Who I am is Kimberly Kradel. The short list of what I am is that I’m an artist, writer, and photographer who happens to love to travel. My background is in photography and studio art and I’ve also had a keen interest in words and putting them together since I was very young.

Languages are also something that I am interested in and have studied. Studying five of them has not only given me a much larger vocabulary to work with, they have also shown me how connected we are as the human race.

I’m currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. But I grew up in Western PA, went to art school in Pittsburgh, then after graduating I came out to San Luis Obispo, California on a Greyhound bus with ten dollars in my pocket. And that was the beginning of my travels. I spent a lot of time hanging out on the Big Sur coast and I eventually got my degree at Sonoma State University. I have worked in both the publishing and internet industries. I am the founder, web developer/producer, and lead contributor to artist-at-large.com.

2) What do you like about what you do?

I love being a story teller although I’m fairly wordy and my stories usually go in circles. I love taking photographs of the places I go to and use them to jog my memory – because every picture tells a story. One of my biggest joys is going back to places that I’ve already been, exploring them further and deeper, while making and keeping connections with the locals.

When it comes to working on my own site, I love that I can publish my own work, on the web, without using paper. Not only is there nothing to recycle, as long as the content is kept up to date, it stays relevant. I like that I can make my own schedule, travel when I can (which isn’t nearly as much as I would like) and be my own boss. I like that I don’t have to get dressed and ride on a crowded train to and from work every day. I’m looking forward to expanding the artist-at-large project off of the web – I have a few projects that are in the pipe for early next year.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

That I’m not living in Paris – yet!

I don’t like that I haven’t yet found the trick to supporting myself with my site, bringing in that ad income, but I’m working on that. I would love to be able to travel more and support a few more regular contributors on the site. The project as you see it today is very small compared to the vision I have for it. I think it would be a much more interesting place on the web if I could have a crew of artists and writers who travel, all reporting their perspective on a destination.


Black and White, but in colors by Kimberly Kradel

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.

artist-at-large.com | exploring cultures with eyes open launched in September 2000 and is made up of both static and blog content. It is about art, culture and travel. Good for both the trip researcher and armchair traveler, on it you will find regional travel guides, travel stories, travel information, quirky survey questions, photos of the day, and listings for open studios and events in each region on the site. The stories and information presented on the site are written in a way that are meant to be valuable over a long period of time, like an art or travel magazine or guidebook that you keep by your desk and flip through when you need information, or just want to daydream. The site also fosters online art education and promotes artists from around the world.

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever had to date and why?

I always enjoy Paris. What an enigma of a city – a great mix of the old and the new, where the culture is not only uniquely French but includes many cultures from around the world. I love spending time in the museums and just walking the streets, or sitting in cafe, letting my experiences come to me. I love picking up a bite to eat in a boulangerie. I’ve made friends there while on my travels so it’s a place I enjoy going back to time and time again.

Finally making the trip to the village near Prague where my grandfather was born and lived for awhile before that part of my family emigrated to the US. That was probably the most incredible journey and intense experience I’ve ever made – mostly because of my expectations of the place, and the cultural differences that I didn’t expect would be there between me and the place that I thought would be my extended home.

I was totally taken by surprise by the Yucatan peninsula. I really wasn’t prepared for the culture of the place and thoroughly enjoyed the things I discovered there. I’m really into art history and archaeology so I was in heaven while visiting the Maya ruins. And the beach in Tulum is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever walked on.

Big Sur, California is one of my favorite places to go to get away from my life for awhile. I just drive the Escape Pod down the coast and car camp. The isolated landscape of the area is incredible and car camping really connects me to that. There are some great hikes, some great beaches, and just a lot of spectacular views while driving down the coast.

That’s four. Sorry 😉

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

I’m a budget traveler and I tend to make friends to stay with or visit old friends when I travel. But I do have a few places where I have stayed that made the trip better than it could have been.

I rented a room in an apartment in Prague from a random guy who met my train when I arrived there. It turned out to be a wonderful experience and a wonderful way to stay in that city – I felt like, well, except for the language and culture barrier, a local. Plus when I had a bad day my hostess would explain my cultural faux pas to me so that I could do better the next day.

I love the town of Arles in the South of France, and the last time I was there I stayed at Hotel Le Cloitre in the center of town. I had spied this hotel while on my first visit to Arles and told myself I would stay there the next time I had the opportunity. So I did. I always travel by myself, so I took the smallest room in the hotel. Considering that I would be spending most of my time walking around or hanging out at the Cafe Van Gogh, it was perfect. The hotel is located right around the corner and behind the Saint-Trophime cloisters. I really enjoyed my little room in this antique space.

While in Tulum I stayed for a week at Zahra, part of the Eco-Tulum family of properties. I had a large cabana to myself, right on the beach. During the hot part of the day I would sit at my table, with both doors wide open and just watch the kids playing on the beach with their parents. The sunrises were spectacular. The Maya Spa next door at Copal also has excellent rustic spa services which are not to be missed.

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

I like little finds rather than the big experience meals. There have been times when I’ve found street food to die for and top rate restaurants that have been a disappointment. But the good ones are:

My favorite restaurant anywhere is The Slanted Door in San Francisco. It’s been in about three different locations but has finally seemed to have settled in The Ferry Building at the end of Market Street. We recently had the first SF Travelbloggers meeting there. They do both traditional and contemporary Vietnamese and Asian style dishes. All of their produce is local and fresh, so the dishes are very flavorful. When my friends come into town to visit, it’s the one place I like to make sure we dine.

My favorite food find ever is Nutella. I found it while traveling on my first trip to Italy. I can’t keep it in the house because I can’t keep myself from eating the entire jar in one sitting.

The first time I ever had crepes in France. Two friends from Paris and I were visiting the South of France and we had dinner in a restaurant that was carved out of the side of the hill, like a cave, in Saint-Guilhem-Le-Desert. I can’t remember what we had for dinner, nor the name of the restaurant, I just remember the crepes for dessert. It was the evening that I learned that the word in French for whipped cream is chantilly.

8) Your 3 worst destination / accommodation / food experiences to date and why?

I’m not much of a complainer when it comes to my travels. I like to look at all the ups and downs of the trip as one big experience. So for the sake of my need to put a good spin on my stories, I can’t think of many bad experiences.

Although, there is one thing. I don’t enjoy having the entire fish, head and all served up on my plate for dinner. There’s something about the eyeballs staring at me from the plate that really gets me.

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel / food / accommodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?

Well, San Francisco is a very exciting city to visit. If you are just visiting for the first time, I would definitely hit The Slanted Door while in town. I would try to go there for lunch on a day when the farmer’s market is happening at the Ferry Building to get a taste of all that the Bay Area has to offer in the way of food. I would visit some of the many museums and galleries in town – SFMOMA, The Asian Art Museum, The de Young, and the new California Academy of Sciences. If I were to suggest a hotel, it would be any one of the Joie de Vivre hotels. They really pay attention to their environments and offer a unique San Francisco experience.

10) What makes up the artist in artist-at-large?

My work isn’t for everyone, it’s very abstract, and a bit cerebral. It has nothing much to do with travel although sometimes it does have something to do with archeology. You can see some of my work on www.kimba.com

Thank you Kimba! I relate much to your thoughts and site, as I find Art an excellent excuse to travel and do that at least once a year with a small group of friends associated under the name “Art en Route”.
As a Nutella aficionado i can point you to a similar experience: Peanut Butter (the version wit little pieces of nuts in it) with Chocolate Flakes sprayed all over it and a thick layer of butter under it! Yummie! More addictive and less sickening than Nutella:-)

10 Questions For (11): Shannon Hurst Lane, another Traveling Mama

Wow! number 10 already! And mind you, already two weeks ago I started to approach some fellow male travel blogger friends with my 10 questions and dared them to be the first male subject – to no avail. Which shows me that female writers are at least more punctual and / or more willing to share something of them self 🙂

Happy to introduce another traveling mama:


Shannon Hurst Lane

1) Who are you?
Sometimes I wonder the same thing and must admit that who I am seems to change with each decade. I’m a mother, a wife, a writer, and a Communications Officer for a nearby fire department. My name is Shannon Hurst Lane and I’m a Traveling Mama. I’m also and expert on my state of Louisiana and my portfolio and clips can found at Shannon Lane.

2) What do you like about what you do?
I really enjoy the excitement and anticipation of every journey I take. I love the planning. I love the adventure of getting to my destination. I cherish each personality I encounter and absorb all the experiences that occur while on a trip. And upon my return, I love to tell stories of the events that happened during my research travel. I like to inspire people who don’t travel to leave their comfort zones and see the world.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?
The pay for travel writing is feast or famine, and as one with family responsibilities, a steady income is imperative for survival. I really miss my children when, and sometimes my husband J, but we all need a short break from each other every once in a while. My Cajun great-grandmother used to call this a “good miss” meaning that while we missed each other, we had a greater appreciation for the other person upon the return. Lastly, people think being a travel writer is days upon end of laying in the sun near the beach with umbrella drink in hand. If only that were true!


The 4 Traveling Mamas

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.
I’m one of four mamas at Traveling Mamas and our initial purpose in starting the blog was for purely entertainment purposes and a personal outlet to place stories from our print assignments. We share our experiences in hopes of assisting travelers make the most out of their travels. It is miserable to plan a holiday for an entire year, save up for said holiday, only to be surprised at how awful a hotel is. Truly we are saving marriages, relationships, and helping parents have an easier time to bond with their offspring.

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever stayed to date and why?
Ocho Rios, Jamaica –
This was the first place I traveled to outside of the USA and it was my honeymoon. My husband and I made friends with a local taxi driver=2 0who showed us around the island and introduced us to the “real” Jamaica. I witnessed my first cricket match, which was a competition between resort teams, drank lots of Red Strip beer, and picked up a wooden fertility goddess by accident. When I realized what I was holding, I dropped it like a hot potato, however it was too late for me. I ended up making a baby in Jamaica, but I’m sure there was more to i t than just holding a wooden icon.

Wellingborough Station, Northamps, UK
I extended a research trip to London so that I could see the town where my grandmother grew up. I ended up staying with cousins in Irthlingborough, meeting an aunt that I didn’t know was still living, and learning so much more about my grandmother than I ever knew. I remember sitting at the station waiting for my train to Salisbury looking at the scroll work It was an overwhelming moment, thinking that my grandmother sat at this same train station almost 60 years before and left her country to live a new life.

Brazil
Years ago I was to meet up with a press group in Miami. My flight into that airport was late, so I missed the one flight for the day. I was upset, angry, and frustrated at the situation. I must also admit that I was a bit nervous. I ended up entering a foreign country, totally alone and couldn’t speak the language. I talk a lot, so I befriended three men who were sitting in front of me and looked definitely American. They thought I was some poor student traveling by backpack (judging by my looks and not asking me what my purpose was), so they offered to get me through customs and then gave me money to eat with. At first I wouldn’t accept the money, but then when they told me they worked for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, I felt entitled to take it due to the fact that my dad is a smoker!

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?
El Monte Sagrado Resort and Spa in Taos, NM
This resort is set around a sacred area to the Taos natives. It has been blessed by every religion in the world and is a luxurious place to run away to for a few days. The quiet setting with the view of Taos Mountain really helped me find an inner peace.

The Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, London, UK
This hotel was my first introduction to London. I felt like I was royalty returning home from a long trip and my every need was anticipated. I had a two bed two bath flat with a private entrance and truly began to think I was a rock star. Plus, I was just steps to Harrod’s and the Tube.

WaterColor Inn, Northwest Coast of Florida
This small hotel is set directly on the beach in a planned community. I think the Northwest Coast of Florida has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The white sand is so fine it makes a barking noise when you walk (it squeaks). This place can b e explained in two words – relaxed elegance.

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?
Banana Nut Cake from Museum of Appalachia in Tennessee
There is a small cafe inside the museum grounds that serves authentic southern dishes. I tasted the Banana Nut Cake and could taste the history and hardship of the Appalachian people in each bite. I could also taste love and heartache, which sounds like something unbelievable. I wanted to weep because this dessert was so good.

Seafood box lunch leftovers in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
Late one night after a research day of learning how to hang glide at Kitty Hawk (site of Wright Bros. first flight), a few of us took our leftover lunches of crab spread, crusty bread, seafood pasta, and a bucket of beer down to the beach. We were staying at The Sanderling Hotel in Duck, NC. We climbed over the dunes with food and beach chairs in hand, searching for a place to just chill after such a long day. The light pollution was non-existent at this place on the beach and the stars were bright and glorious. We munched on our edible goodies, grabbed a local beer out of the galvanized bucket full of ice, inhaled the scent of the ocean on the air and felt the breeze blow by our necks. It was a glorious night of appreciating being on Earth. Definitely memorable.

Sunday Jazz Brunch at Arnaud’s in The French Quarter, New Orleans
In Louisiana we live by the mantra Don’t eat to live, live to eat and no place celebrates this more than New Orleans. My favorite restaurant is Brennan’s, where the three course prix fixe breakfast isn’t just a meal, its an event. However, I was treated to a Sunday Jazz Brunch at Arnaud’s Restaurant during Mardi Gras season. The meal began with a Mimosa and Creole Cream Cheese Evangeline (a=2 0fruit dish). The entre was Eggs Sardou, which is a poached egg served over artichoke bottoms and creamed spinach topped with a Hollandaise sauce. The meal was topped off with Crepe Suzettes and memories of the Jazz band leading diners around the tables, elderly ladies dancing waving their dinner napkins in hand, and the entire restaurant singing a Mardi Gras tune. Now that’s a way to celebrate a Sunday.

8) Your 3 worst destination/ accommodation/food experiences to date and why?
They were so bad that I’ve blocked them from my memory 😛

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/ food / accommodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?
I actually live in the small city of Zachary, LA
which is just north of Baton Rouge. My favorite place to recommend to someone for lodging is The Shade Tree in nearby St. Francisville, LA. This historical town shows its English roots in the architecture, the people, and the gardens. There are a large number of plantations to visit, even one of the most Haunted Houses in America, The Myrtles Plantation. The Shade Tree is a collection of three cottages overlooking a bluff in a private and shady setting. It is by far the most romantic place to stay in this area.
The food here rivals many restaurants in New Orleans. Mike Anderson’s Seafood Restaurant near LSU in Baton Rouge is a popular place to bring out of town guests and to celebrate special occasions. If you are searching for sushi, Tsunami is the local place to go. It is set on the roof of the LSU Arts Museum in Downtown Baton Rouge and offers a spectacular view of the Mississippi River while you dine. Here in Zachary, my family and I enjoy eating out at Sammy’s Grill, which serves various seafood dishes and steaks. The food is always good, as is the company, and the price is just right for any pocketbook.

Finally, to get a good introduction to the culture of Louisiana, just visit the LSU campus on game day (American Football). The entire campus is filled with tailgaters, cooking, eating, drinking, and enjoying camaraderie of friends. The dishes include jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and sometimes even grilled alligator. Tailgaters usually adopt out of town visitors and introduce them to what southern hospitality really is.


Handlebars Saloon

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?
What is one place I would return to if I could? Waimea Valley Park on the north shore of Hawaii. I swam in the falls a few years ago and it was a magical experience that I would love to visit again.

Thank you Beth. Your mouth watering description of the Louisiana food made me make a mental note to put that experience on my wish list!.