Featuring: Catalina Todd

Catalina is travel addict and blogger originally from Chicago, Illinois. After a brief study abroad experience Florence, Italy, she fell in love with “la vita bella” and returned to begin postgraduate life as a tour guide and blogger. So far, her travels have lead her to 20 countries, 6 continents, and counting! When she is not consuming way too much gelato for her own good, you can find her sipping on a cappuccino & recording all of her (miss) adventures on her blog, missadventuresabroad.com.

Why do you travel? What are your inspirations?

I have had a passion for traveling since before I can even remember. As a child, I was constantly reading, and with each book I read I grew more and more curious about the world around me, anxious to experience the amazing places and adventures I had read about. Today, this same thirst to explore remains, and with every visit to a new destination, I am awed by the unique sights, sounds, and smells that I encounter. I am constantly inspired by the world around me-it feels as though each time I cross one thing off my bucket list, 10 more pop up in its place.

How do you organize your travel plans? Any travel hacks you can share?

Much of the traveling I do is actually work related! As a tour guide, I am constantly heading to various European destinations, and oftentimes find out last minute (the day before) where my next trip will lead me. While this might be maddening for some, I believe it has made me a much better traveler. I’m great at packing on the fly, preparing for last minute travel difficulties, and soaking up as much as I can from each destination with limited time or preparation. My best travel hack is to do your research! Though its not always possible to look up everything about your next location due to timing or a busy schedule, a little research goes a long way in helping to plan a trip.

Tell me about a person you’ve met or a memory that impacted you the most during one of your trips?

My most vivid memory that comes to mind was on a 9 day hiking trip through Patagonia. After a particularly rough stretch of the trail, our group was given the option to take an easier route, or continue to a better viewpoint. Naturally, despite my huffing and puffing, I chose to press on. I continued along the mountainous trail until we reached a large boulder in the center of a valley. After I caught my breath, I looked around and was amazed by what I saw. Stretching before me was a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains, iridescent glacial lakes, and rolling hills. I have never been so awed by the beauty of nature or more inspired by the universe. A true reminder that hard work often pays off.

Aside from the basics, name three items that you always bring when you travel.

I am a very light packer, so I tend to stick to the basics whenever I am on the go. However, three things that I never leave at home are:

My raincoat. I absolutely detest rain and getting wet. No matter the forecast I tote a lightweight raincoat along just in case.

My DSLR camera. Though I often fanaticize about traveling without this rather bulky piece of equipment, I always end up happy I packed it. You never know when something amazing will happen, and I know I’d totally regret not getting a great shot because I left my camera at home.

My travel journal. As a travel blogger, remembering the details is extremely important. When I am busy traveling, I often won’t sit down at a computer for days at a time, making a journal the perfect place to store my thoughts for later.

What is your motto when it comes to travelling?

“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” But seriously, many times when traveling things won’t go according to plan. Be it bad weather or a train strike, sometimes things don’t go smoothly. But it is in these moments that you grow as a person and as a traveler, and that is where the beauty of traveling lies.

The best and the worst meals you’ve ever had travelling?

Worst: Raw fish. And no, it wasn’t sushi. This was just straight up undercooked fish. Fortunately I realized this early on, but some of my traveling companions weren’t so lucky.

Best: I could go on an on about the amazing meals I’ve had abroad, but I’ll spare you the details. Needless to say, after living in Italy for nearly a year, I’ve said the words “this is the best meal of my life” more times than I ever thought possible.

Which city do you consider yourself an expert on? Can you share any hidden gems in that city?

After both studying abroad and now working in Florence, Italy I think its safe to say I know my way around my second home like the back of my hand. Though it isn’t exactly a well-kept secret, the views of the city from the Piazza Michelangelo are incredible, particularly around sunset. The best part is that it’s completely free, and you can BYOV (Bring Your Own Vino)!

What is your favorite travel song/album to listen on a trip?

Cliché though it may be, I really like matching my songs to my travels. Personal favorites include “Budapest” by George Ezra, “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and (when visiting Pompeii for work) “Pompeii” by Bastille.

What is the best foreign curse you know?

Cazzo! Though it is decidedly a swear word, you will hear this all the time walking down a crowded Florentine street. The largest collection of curse words I’ve encountered at the same time was at a Fiorentina soccer match-needless to say, Italians take calcio (soccer) very seriously.