Almost every day I am asked interesting questions from all over the world and I thought I would start sharing my responses to them, along with travel related giveaways. I love questions, thus please feel free to ask me anything in the comments or send me a private message if you prefer.
Q6. Any negatives about Argentina?
A6. The thing I dislike the most about my adopted second home is the time in which most people eat dinner. I grew up eating dinner every night at 6:30PM. When I moved to New York City for Graduate School I begrudgingly began eating at 8PM to accommodate my friends. However, most Argentineans do not sit down to eat until 11PM and there have been many occasions where I have even eaten after midnight. This has been the hardest thing for my Argentinean husband to adapt to now that he is living in the United States. Other than that, how can you find anything negative about a country where it is normal to see people dancing tango in the streets? Okay, maybe the traffic there drives me a little crazy sometimes too!
Q7. What was your worst experience during your travels?
A7. Despite my undying love for travel, I have had some horrible moments on the road. Nonetheless, I strongly believe that in order to experience and appreciate the best of life you have to experience the worst as well. I think the worst was in Madrid, Spain. I had just come from the train station where I had purchased tickets to Toledo, when I realized that my wallet and brand new camera had been stolen from my purse while I was on the subway on New Year’s Eve. Inside my wallet, which I had bought the day before with my Christmas money at Prada, were the train tickets, my beloved passport, my money, my license, and my credit cards. I think I lost about $2,000 that day, plus all of my priceless photos. I definitely learned to be more aware of my surroundings after that.
Q8. If you could change three things about your wedding what would they be?
A8. I would have had my Grandparents there (they were not in good enough health to fly), I would have had pink peonies as my bouquet (they were impossible to find in Buenos Aires that time of the year), and I would not have stressed out as much I did on the Big Day (all that really matters at the end of the day is the marriage, not the wedding).
Q9. What country were you the most nervous about visiting? When you arrived how did you feel?
A9. Without a doubt Cuba, simply because I was sneaking into the country illegally and the penalty of getting caught can be either a hefty fine or jail time. Thankfully, I did not get caught, but I did experience some major nerves passing through customs going and coming.
Q10. If you have visitors coming to your hometown for the day, where do you take them?
A10. It really depends on what time of the year it is, but a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina would absolutely require a dinner at my Dad’s restaurant the Cajun Queen. It is the best food in the Queen City, plus there is live jazz! I would also take visitors for a stroll in our lovely Uptown with a stop at the Mint Museum and drinks at the Ritz Carlton.
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Do you have any tips for families who want to travel?
What a terrible experience in Madrid!! And I, too, will never really get used to eating that late in the evening; while it was fun while on holiday, I prefer to eat around 7:30 or 8pm!
I love the Ask Andi Anything segment, it’s a really interesting insight to see what you think about travel. I don’t know where to submit questions so if you are going to continue to do this feature, I would like to know how you run a business and fit in travel? I’m massively considering being my own boss and I know it’s a big time commitment so some time organisation tips would be great!
Oh my gosh, I can’t even imagine waiting till 11 pm to eat dinner. And I think I would totally be freaking out about the Cuba thing!!
Interesting. I believe in falt tyres. Everything negative in live is just another flat tyre. I have a mind to decide to kick the tyre. And I have. But I learned. Kicking does not help. I fix the tyre and move one.
The question:
Did you plan the flat tyre or did it happen by accident?
Well it depends. If you believe in accidents then you can blame the accident. You can project your anger at a force outside of yourself. If you say that you say that it’s not an accident then others may say you are mad. How can you plan the misfortune?
If you say you are mad and planned the misfortune then I may say: You are not mad you are right minded.
To cut a long story short: By saying you planned it you are now responsible for the so called misdeed and you cannot project your anger.
Getting back to your story: If you planned this loss of your valuables, in Spain, then what is it that you should learn from it?
Have traveling.
Happy learning.
Umm, when are we coming to Charlotte again? Cajun food and live jazz = bliss!
I don’t even finish work until 9:30 pm and am used to eating after 11pm! Just one of those things that marriage made me do…! I know what it’s like to have your photos lost. I was also robbed/forgot my computer in a taxi when I was in Madrid, too. Poor Lauren of Spanish Sabores was witness to that meltdown, as I was staying at her house for the night.
Hi Andi- These are great and unique questions! I just LOVE that tango photo but I would be staving by 11pm dinner- won’t stop me from going there one day though 🙂
it is fun to read your questions and answers! 🙂 xx
I was in Madrid a few weeks ago and the street crime is still very prevalent, probably worse due to the unemployment situation in Spain. Hopefully I’ll visit Charlotte again soon and get to eat at Cajun Queen again! One of my colleagues went there again not long ago and mentioned talking to Lucas after they had all met last time I came to town. I was jealous!
Does your hubby like to travel as much as you do?
How do you travel so stylishly?
I am sad your Bad Travel Day happened in Madrid, although I have spent so much time in Spain that I guess I’ve had some bad days there, too. In fact, I’ve been robbed there and Costa Rica, two of my favorite countries. I guess that’s what happens when you put down roots for long periods of time!
Some good questions and answers here. Sorry to hear about the $2,000 dollar loss. That sucks. I have been swindled for $20.00 here and $100.00 there, but have been lucky so far not to have had anything major like that take place. Like you said, it is a lesson learned.
Why did you visit Cuba? How was the food?!
Fabulous. I always love Q&A time! How do you get to travel free? I tell the hotels and restaurants I’m a writer (who could give them exposure) and they don’t give me squat! 🙁
Love the tango photo, btw. Beautiful.
Have you lived abroad?