Hi! My name is Fiorella and I run the travel Instagram @globetrottingblonde. I’m originally from Montevideo, Uruguay but currently living in Orlando, Florida.
My first big trip was immediately after graduating college when I left to backpack Europe for several months. I’d always known I wanted to travel, but that trip was definitely the jumping off point to realizing my world traveling dreams.
When were you first bit by the travel bug?
I was first bit by the travel bug when I moved from Uruguay to the United States at 10 years old. That was the first plane ride I’d ever taken, and fell absolutely in love with the freedom it represented.
Seeing how differently people live around the world also sparked a great curiosity in me to learn as much as I could about all the different cultures and lifestyles.
What’s your travel style? Why do you prefer this style of travel?
I would describe my travel style as a budget backpacker. I prefer longer trips in which you can truly get to know a city and its people.
I love incorporating into the local culture, and tend to stray away from the more touristy activities. I also try to spend as little money as possible, since this usually means I get to stay in a place longer. Hostels are usually my choice of accommodation because they’re affordable and enjoyable.
How do you fund your travels?
I fund my travels by working! I work full-time for a few months at a time, save money, and then travel. I also take smaller week-long trips throughout my work months by using paid time off. I do a little bit of freelance travel writing on the side as well, which helps create a small income when I’m abroad.
What first inspired you to start Globetrotting Blonde?
I started @globetrottingblonde in March of 2016, after following various travel writers and bloggers for many years. I wanted to share my own travels and tips with like-minded people.
I truly believe that ‘living for the weekend’ is one of the worst things that can happen to a person, and inspiring people to make the most out of their lives is my top priority when it comes to my travel photography.
What’s been your most popular post? Why do you think this post resonated with your audience?
My most popular post so far was of the Eiffel Tower as seen from below. I think people like seeing familiar sights from angles that they’re not always shown from.
It makes you realize that there’s a ton of different ways to look at something, and that there’s always something to learn even when you think you know something extremely well.
What’s been your favorite destination city and why?
Picking a favorite destination is extremely hard, because all places have something unique to offer. I’ve really loved Spain, Greece and Mexico.
Barcelona was one of my favorite cities because of the lively and care-free lifestyle that the city exudes. Spanish people are extremely warm and welcoming, making you never want to leave. Greece was extremely beautiful. I had seen many pictures of Santorini before heading there myself, but was still blown away by the beauty and uniqueness of the city. Mexico was one of the most fun places I’ve ever been to. I traveled down the eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula and loved Playa del Carmen the most.
What picture have you taken during your travels that you’d consider to be your favorite and why?
My favorite picture taken during my travels is of me sitting at the edge of the Grand Canyon.
I think the picture does a wonderful job of portraying how beautiful of a world we live in, and just how small we truly are.
Have you eaten anything during your travels that absolutely blew your mind? What was it and where?
I had a strawberry and banana crepe in France, right next to the Eiffel Tower, that was out of this world.
Tell us about one of your greatest experiences during your travels.
One of my greatest travel experiences was visiting the Coliseum. I am constantly awe-struck by cities that are rich in history, so Rome was a dream for me. There’s nothing quite like standing in a spot and imagining what would have been happening thousands of years ago.
Tell us about one of your worst experiences during your travels.
I think the only bad experience I’ve ever really had was with some hostel roommates in Madrid, Spain. Hostel guests are usually very courteous of each other, but these guys were a hostel worker’s nightmare. They would bang on the walls in the middle of the night, leave all the lights on, steal other people’s food and belongings and leave the water faucet continuously running.
Thankfully, the hostel did a wonderful job of accommodating the rest of the guests and making sure everyone was comfortable.
What has surprised you the most about traveling?
How easy and safe it is. As a female solo travel, people often like to point out movies such as ‘Taken’. Thankfully, with a little precaution and common sense, traveling doesn’t have to be dangerous.
What’s one thing you seek out in every city you visit no matter what?
The locals! They’re a fountain of information regarding great food, locations and things to do.
Do you have a favorite travel hack or best piece of travel advice?
My biggest travel advice is for people that want to travel but haven’t yet gotten to. Start small! Visit a nearby city that you have never been to before. Eat at the local restaurants or checkout the well-known sights. Travel doesn’t always have to incorporate visas, passports and layovers – as long as you are trying somewhere new, you are a traveler.
Any future travel plans?
Next on my list is Lima, Peru. I also plan to visit Uruguay at the end of the year, as well as partake in a month-long volunteer program in Costa Rica. Next year I plan on backpacking Asia for 3 or 4 months.
Favorite travel quote?
‘The corporate world’s full of ghosts. They look forward to five o’clock and then the weekend and then the two or three weeks of annual paid vacation time. Day in and day out, and that’s what happens to their life.” – Emily St. John Mandel, “Station Eleven”.
It’s a great reminder of what I do not want.
What has travel taught you?
Travel has taught me that there is no right way to live, so you should always strive to do what makes you truly happy rather than what is expected of you.
Special thanks to Fiorella of Globetrotting Blonde for taking part in our Good Travel Interview series. Leave a comment below with your thoughts on the interview.
The post Globetrotting Blonde – Good Travel Interview appeared first on GoodTravelYoung.