The Girl In Seat 5A

Travel Like You Mean It

I Don’t Know How to Put This, But I’m Kind of a Big Deal

Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but I sure felt like a big deal when I saw that my fellow travel blogger Avalon, from Angelic Travels, nominated me for The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!

As a lot of bloggers know, blogging is not always an easy thing to do. It’s time consuming, sometimes stressful, and, most of all, you often wonder if anybody really cares to read what you have to say (or at least I do!). Therefore, receiving this nomination is truly an honor, and I want to thank Avalon for thinking of me and passing it my way. Please do check out her and Maikel’s blog at angelictravels.com to read about their adventures and see their wonderful photographs!
So what exactly is the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award?
It is an award passed on by female bloggers to give recognition to their work and to connect with one another by welcoming other people into the community. What you need to do once you get awarded is:
  • Put the award logo on your blog
  • Always thank the blogger who nominated you, with a link to her site
  • Begin your post and answer the questions given to you
  • Nominate 10 new female bloggers
  • Then it’s YOUR turn to ask the questions to your nominees
So here we go with my answers to Avalon’s questions:
1. What’s the biggest culture shock you’ve ever experienced during your time traveling? The first time I traveled to Europe 11 years ago, we were in a museum (I can’t remember which) in Volterra, Italy. I had to use the restroom, so I went in and saw what looked like a big wooden box with a hole cut in the top. I looked at it for a moment, then decided I didn’t have to go that bad, haha.
2. If you could zap yourself anywhere in the world, where would you wanna be at this moment? I would zap myself to Rome, Italy. Even though I have been there six times already, I just can’t get enough. The minute I leave, I start missing it. It’s just…magical.
3. What would you do with a pot of gold? This is probably a common answer, but the first thing I would do is pay off bills. Not just mine, but my family’s, too: mortgages, student loans, car payments…everything. Then, naturally, I would buy a villa in Tuscany, as well as a private jet so I could go there any time I wanted. I would also open an animal shelter (more like an animal paradise) and save all the animals I possibly could. It’s obviously a BIG pot of gold, haha.  
4. From which country do you love the cuisine the most? Italy (are you sensing a trend here?). I could eat Italian cuisine every day for the rest of my life. 
5. If you could travel back in time, what advice would you give yourself? Oh my. I would tell myself to always believe in myself, to always stand up for myself, and to never, ever, EVER settle than for anything or anyone less than I deserve. 
6. If you knew you only had one more day on this earth, what would you do? Spend it just being with my family. I am so blessed to be part of a family that truly loves each other and is always there to support one another. We are not just family…we are friends. 
7. You’re going on a picnic, what would you pack in your picnic basket? Well, let me first clarify that I am going on this picnic in Paris at the Champ de Mars. In my basket would be a nice bottle of white wine, a large chunk of aged Comte cheese, a fresh baguette, some meats from a local charcuterie, and salted caramel macarons from Laduree.
8. What is the oddest or scariest thing you ever ate? I’m not a very adventurous eater when it comes to odd or scary things, but I did try something I never thought I would when I was in Florence several years ago…lampredotto. This is a typical Florentine dish that is made from fourth stomach of a cow (How many of you knew cows have more than one stomach? I sure didn’t.) Anyway, I was on a food tour with my mom and two of my nieces, and we were given the opportunity to try it. I told my nieces that I was willing to try it if they were (all the while hoping they’d say no), but they were brave and so we tried it. It actually wasn’t that bad…it sort of looked and tasted like the “Italian beef” we have here, but psychologically, I couldn’t eat more than a couple of bites.
9. Name a tradition from another country that you feel should be a tradition in your home country? This is an easy one. When we travel to Europe – and I’ll say Italy since the question is asking about a specific country – I absolutely love and envy how they all take their time to enjoy and linger over meals. Here in the United States, when you go to a restaurant, you are expected to order, eat, pay and get the heck out. In Italy, you can (and should) stay for hours. Slowly savoring several courses, drinking a bottle (or two) of wine, sipping an after dinner espresso…all with the blessing of your server instead of getting the evil eye because they want to turn their tables faster to make more money. I think this tradition contributes to being able to enjoy life more and to increase our personal interaction with others rather than sitting in front of the computer or TV or constantly texting.
10. For which volunteer program would you like to be an ambassador and why? I have a really soft spot in my heart for animals and have always been involved in some way with animal shelters and the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). I would love to be able to continue and grow my involvement with any organization that helps stop and prevent animal cruelty. It breaks my heart to see how awful some people can be to animals that give so much love and only want the same in return.
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And now for my nominations for the Sisterhood of World Bloggers!! 
Claire from curiousclaire.com
Lavi from laviwashere.com
Danielle from danielleonthego.com
Amanda from burgerabroad.com
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Here are your questions, ladies! 
  1. Did you ever travel somewhere you weren’t sure you would like, but ended up loving it? Or vice versa? If so, where and why?
  2. What is your favorite city in the world and why?
  3. What are three things you never travel without?
  4. If your life was a movie, what would the title be?
  5. When traveling, are you a planner or a make-it-up-as-you-go-along type of person?
  6. What is your favorite travel quote?
  7. Do you have a specific souvenir that you buy every time you travel?
  8. How has traveling changed you?
  9. Who is your personal hero and why?
  10. If I asked your friends to describe you, what adjective would be used most often?
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Please provide me a link to your post in the comments below or tag me on IG or Twitter as I’d love to read your responses.
Thanks again to Avalon for the nomination!

Comments

  2. Thanks again for the nom, Avalon! It was so thoughtful of you and I enjoyed answering your questions. I look forward to reading about more of your adventures. 🙂

    Reply

  10. This is excellent Denise. You put so much into this post. That is so amazing, wow 6 times in Rome. You answered your questions with so much thought, and it was wonderful to get to know you a bit better.
    Thanks for sharing!
    ~Carl~

    Reply

  11. Thanks, Carl! It's always a pleasure when you stop by and post a comment! Hope things are going well for you and your family…I know it's been tough recently and I hope everyone is healing day by day.

    Reply

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