Traveler Next Door: Michele Watson

This week's Traveler Next Door is Michele Watson, traveler, photographer, and writer. Learn more about Michele at her website, www.michelewatson.com. Check out some of her photography here.

What do you look for when traveling? I look for new passions. New insights and knowledge.

When was your last trip? May 2006 a short getaway to Barcelona, Spain.

Why do you travel? I want to discover everything that I possibly can about the world. Travel completes me. It makes me a better American and a better global citizen. Travel has a spill over effect on every aspect of my life.

How do you prepare for a trip? I spend months prior to a trip on research. Travel shows, travel magazines, travel books, movies, the internet.

If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go? Road trip the entire continent of Africa- the place of all our beginings.

Where to next? Taking the parents to Italy and France, also a birthday trip to do some more exploration of Turkey and Greece.

What's the one thing you regret about traveling? That we don't have family and friends with us to share the experience and wonders of the world.

* If you would like to be interviewed for the Traveler Next Door, please send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com or leave a comment.

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Terah Shelton
www.terahs.com
Traveler. Writer. Ingenue

The Traveler Next Door: Silvia Keller

This week's Traveler Next Door is Silvia Keller. She is the co-author of a book of “Twelve Steps to a Debt-Free Life” and former writer for Florida newspapers such as El Latino Semanal and Alma Hispana where she dealt with financial and legal issues. After visiting Spain’s beautiful Costa Blanca, Silvia became a U.S Representative for Deneb Properties and promotes the sale of homes on the Mediterranean. In addition, Silvia hopes to instill the joy of travel and achieve her goal of seeing the world by pursuing her second dream as travel writer and photographer. Her work has appeared in International Living’s new Magazine The European, Ex In the City, Passport Only and a few other publications.

What do you look for when traveling? When I travel I look to get the real feel for the place I visit; I like to meet the people, talk to them about their country, learn about their customs, what makes them happy and what problems do they have. I enjoy eating the different foods, visiting the local grocery stores, eating where the locals eat. For me, sitting at a café and meeting people is as educational as visiting museums.

When was your last trip? My last trip was to Austria. Visited Vienna for a second time and drove to Salzburg. Took a trip on the Danube to Slovakia.

Why do you travel? Travel is my passion. I travel because I want to see the world and learn about the different cultures. Now, as a travel writer, I want to transport readers to all the beautiful places around the world; I want them to feel the same excitement and feel an impulse to book that trip they have been postponing.

How do you prepare for a trip? When planning a trip I do a lot of research. I read about the place I am visiting; I look for accommodations based on what I wish to do and see. For example, when I visited Budapest, I found a great hotel located on a small island outside Budapest. My reason for staying so far from the city center was to enjoy a world famous spa located here. It was quite an experience.

I read about all the important places to visit and then I compare notes with the locals. I look for interesting places to visit, unusual places where to eat and create my own tour. I also try to learn the language of the place I am visiting. If this is not possible, I try to learn the basics.

If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go? I would love to visit the Middle East. There is so much to see, so much to experience and learn in these countries.

Where to next? My next adventure will either be to Russia or the Netherlands.

What's the one thing you regret about traveling? One regret I have about traveling is that I don’t have all the time in the world to stay and visit every small town, every little village. I would love to just travel and write, without time or money constraints.

* If you would like to be interviewed for the Traveler Next Door, please send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com or leave a comment.

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Terah Shelton
www.terahs.com
Traveler. Writer. Ingenue

The Traveler Next Door: Liz Lewis

Liz Lewis is a freelance writer based in New Zealand. But living in such a far away location has not stopped Liz from continuing to roam the world (real and cyberspace) in search of new and exciting adventures to experience and document. When not writing or travelling, Liz works as an RN in the field of rehabilitation.

What do you look for when traveling? Places that have heart. Places that speak to you. Places that provide adventure, learning, and fun. Oh, and a clean toilet!

When was your last trip? The last big trip I took was in November 2005. I did a month long solo road trip around Southern California, Arizona, and Southern Nevada. The freedom just to get up in the morning and drive was great. Not having to make big decisions or compromise with anyone else about where to go was fabulous. I discovered that travelling alone also allows you to meet and talk to more people than you do when traveling with someone else.

Why do you travel? I travel to explore the world and myself within the world. I love to learn about different cultures, experience the foods, drinks, and arts of the place I am visiting. Landscape and architecture are also a big thing for me. I like to be amazed by the natural landscape (i.e. the desert) and the man-made landscape (i.e. Las Vegas)

How do you prepare for a trip? I love the research, the planning, and the learning that goes into the decisions to make a trip somewhere. I use travel magazines, travel books, and of course, the internet. The internet is great for planning accommodations, tours, discovering other peoples views of places. But I still use a travel agent for all airline bookings.

If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go? Cuba

Where to next? Right now am weighing up two options for later in the year - Spain or New Mexico. Spain for the language, New Mexico for the desert and Indian and Spanish markets in Santa Fe. Might have to flip a coin. Although at the moment, I'm considering leaving New Mexico until 2008 so that I can be in the United States during the Presidential Elections which are starting to look real interesting.

What's the one thing you regret about traveling? The only thing I regret about travel is not being able to stay longer in most places.

Check out lizlewis.co.nz for samples of her work, learn more about New Zealand at Travel Cafe Kiwi, and follow her path to freelancing success at her blog My Year of Getting Published.

* Interested in being interviewed for the Traveler Next Door? Please send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com or leave a comment.

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Terah Shelton
www.terahs.com

Traveler. Writer. Ingenue

The Traveler Next Door: Nyeshia Early

This week's Traveler Next Door is Nyeshia Early, a financial associate at Citigroup. Ny is a fiesty, yet, lovable New Yorker, but don't let her place of residence or aggressive nature fool you. Oozing with confidence and independence, Nyeshia's classic personality, coupled with her sense of humor and make her a great person to know.

What do you look for when traveling? A clean toilet and someone who speaks English.

When was your last trip? My last trip was in October 2006. I went to Paris, France for the first time. That was also my first trip to Europe. Paris is so quaint. I don't know how else to describe it. It's nothing like New York.

Why do you travel? I travel because there is so much to see and experience in the world outside of New York. I love where I live and New York City has a lot of style and flavor and there are so many people who live here, who where born and raised in different parts of the world. But that doesn't compare to going outside of the city and experiencing different cultures first hand. I'm quite the novice when it comes to globetrotting but I'm slowly earning my stripes.

How do you prepare for a trip? The internet is my friend. I also like to check out the Lonely Planet guidebooks.

If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go? Not sure I understand the question. What do you mean like restrictions on toiletries? Maybe if they didn't restrict the size of like toothpaste and shampoo and lotion and deodorant, I'd go to India or Africa. But I need my toiletries if I'm going to places like that, u dig?

Where to next? London, England so I can tryout my accent and see if I can fool 'em.

What's the one thing you regret about traveling? Not having enough time to do and see everything. I'd really like to have the time to take a super holiday where I'm gone for months at a time so that I am able to take the time to fully experience another culture and way of life. Coming home and being happy that I was away but still leaving where I was a bit unfulfilled.

* Interested in being interview for The Traveler Next Door? Send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com or leave a comment.

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Terah Shelton
www.terahs.com

Traveler. Writer. Ingenue

The Traveler Next Door

This week's Traveler Next Door is Leir Williford, author of Voice of the Eyes. Leir has worked as an RN, offering physical and mental support for her patients. Now, she entertains and inspires her readers with her tales of wisdom.

What do you look for when you travel? Traveling to me is a sense of adventure — meeting new people and seeing how other cultures live. Most of all absorbing the beautiful of each place has to offer.

When was your last trip? My last trip was to New York. I lived there for three years. I took my granddaughter Alexis there so she could experience the Big Apple. New York is the place everyone needs to visit at least once in their life. My previous vacation to Europe was more memorable. Three weeks of sojourning in London, Paris, Bern, and Rome. Mere words can not express my positive encounter of tasting different cuisines, observing various kinds of education and social growth and viewing captivating scenic lands.

Why do you travel? I travel to flee from my routine of life. To rest and rejuvenate my energy to better deal with the everyday stresses of life.

How do you prepare for a trip, books, magazines, etc.? To be honest my daughter is a travel writer. I rely a lot on her expertise.

If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go? Israel has captured my heart for years. Some day I would love to journey to the land where biblical events occurred.

Where to next? Bern, Switzerland. During my three week tour of Europe, I only got a chance to spend three days in Switzerland. Bern won my heart. I could have spent three weeks there. I love the crystal green waters and the mountainous landscape. Two days was not enough for me.

To learn more about Leir, read a sample chapter, or buy Voice of the Eyes, visit her website, www.leirw.com.

* Interested in being interviewed for The Traveler Next Door? Please send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com.

Terah Shelton
www.terahs.com
Traveler. Writer. Ingenue.

The Traveler Next Door

Did you know the travel and tourism is a $1.3 trillion industry in the United States? That approximately 2.6 million hotels rooms are sold everyday in the United States? That said, I often wonder, who are these people, where are they going, more important, why?

As a freelance travel writer, I meet a interesting mix of people on the road, traveling for various reasons: adventure, independence, business, freedom, among many others. And in honor of the grand tradition of traveling, I would like to introduce a new section to Traveler's Pen called The Traveler Next Door.

The Traveler Next Door is a bi-weekly interview with average travelers, talking about their travel habits, favorite destinations, and answering the question: where to next? Look for the first interview this Friday.

If you're interested in being interviewed for The Traveler Next Door, please send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com or leave a comment.