“I want to be surrounded by, succumbed to and saturated in vino!” Needless to say, Carly Raska is a wine lover. With stints in Florence, Italy and Port Willunga, Australia, she’s had the pleasure of expanding her palate, and horizons, around the world. Currently residing in Palouse, Washington, Carly is the Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator for the University of Idaho College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Daily duties include planning special alumni events and directing a commodity gifting program, Gifts of Grain. When it comes to traveling, Carly has collected some great travel tips and funny memories that she shares in this post and on her blog Dorothy’s Walkabout. If you need some travel inspiration for your next adventure or enjoy living vicariously through cool people who drink good wine and eat weird foods, check out Carly’s interview below.
You’ve traveled for fun to Peru, studied abroad in Florence, Italy and nannied in Port Willunga, Australia. Which travel method would you recommend over the others?
Oh man, all of the above! I love travel for travel’s sake and would encourage anyone and everyone to travel for various different reasons; work, study, adventure, relaxation, getting a change of scenery/climate/pace – take it all in for any and all reasons and each trip will be relished and remembered for its own very different reasons… Just try to avoid being robbed at gunpoint; or rather, just avoid Guatemala City.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
Uff, whenever I’m asked that question it feels like my own personal “Sophie’s Choice” – I know this is a cliche answer but I like every place for it’s very own reason. In recent memory, I’d have to say Australia takes the cake because I was able to spend two months, live with and work for a local family, become a part of their extended family, go crabbing, rock climbing, wine tasting, roo watching, body surfing and fall in love with the sweetest little 16mo old I’ve ever met. The total immersion that’s allowed when staying somewhere for an extended period of time leaves a palpable impression. I’d go back (and plan to) in a heartbeat.
What is the strangest type of food you ate while traveling?
I’ve eaten a fair bit of “odd things” including but not limited to: monkfish liver, fried grasshoppers, pork intestines (chitterling), frog legs, grilled kangaroo, roasted guinea pig, and durian fruit (peeee-yew). Sidenote: I’ve heard durian fruit described as eating an ice cream cone while sitting on an outhouse in 90F heat…and I gotta say, I can’t contradict. The fruit is sweet and creamy by my dear sweet lord that shiz stinks to the high heavens!
What traits do you love your travel partner to have? Any experiences you’ve had with good or bad travel partners that you will never forget?
My best travel mate has got to be laid back, adventurous, fond about food, eager to learn and happy go lucky.
One of my fondest memories with great travel buds is the sleepless long weekend a couple girlfriends and I spent in Iceland; David Guetta’s “Sexy Chick” top-hit-of-the-time had followed us from Seattle to Reykjavik and we bounced club to club fueled on coffee, chocolate, cheap beer, fermented shark and adrenaline to track that tune down.
Favorite travel memory that is capable of making you laugh out loud while walking in public by yourself?
To be quite honest, too many to share – but here are a few teasers:
Carly and Lauryl Do Peru: Lauryl’s troubled tummy needs some Pepto and she nearly avoids spending her soles on Peruvian laxatives instead.
–Super Travel Trip: Know the word for Pepto or “I have diarrhea.” in a foreign country or bring someone who speaks the language. Rubbing your stomach in the pharmacy gives you a 50/50 chance of getting the correct medicine. – LK
Carly and Wilson Tour Thailand: Our penchant for super satan-spiced satay led to Wilson’s swollen face, tearing eyes, and a slightly allergic reaction to fiery food.
The first time I ever got drunk drinking not one, BUT two!! glasses of white wine in Paris with my dear mother at the age of 18 (it’s legal there), a giggly walk back across the bridge from Ile St Louis, a stop for late night munchy ice cream cones and melt-in-your-mouth-macarons and cat calls from teen-aged rollerblading French foxes.
What kind of traveler do you think of yourself as?
I’d like to think I’m fairly laid back, open to learning, conversing, friend-making, food enjoying. I’m sure some of my travel partners-in-crime could say I sometimes get caught up in worrying about the day-to-day back home, craving a fresh shower or needing a mind-melting run, but sometimes creature comforts die hard.
Where are you going next?
Wherever the dart lands.
Be sure to follow Carly’s blog here for more funny travel memories.
Happy Travels
@laurylkitson