Interview With Maria Giurcan of Vegan World Trekker
•Maria, please give my readers a background about yourself. What made you want to start veganworldtrekker.com?
I am Software QA Engineer by profession and a world traveler by passion! A dozen years ago, I started traveling across the globe. At this point, I have visited 6 continents and many states across the USA. I found that even in remote places, it has not been too difficult to find vegan meals. Hence, I wanted to share that information and other sightseeing travel tips through blogging.
•In all of your travels, in your opinion what country has the best food? and the worst food?
Difficult question. So many fantastic vegan meals everywhere! I'd say that Capetown, South Africa had a wonderful selection of vegan cuisines, as did New Zealand! The most difficult place to find vegan restaurants was Egypt. However, there was still plenty to eat there, as fava beans, hummus, and salads were typically part of meals.
•If you had to choose one favorite destination, which one would you chose?
I would say that the vacations I've taken in past few years were very memorable! Peru and New Zealand for the landscape, Egypt for the ruins, and South Africa for the animals.
•What has been the least exciting destination you've traveled to?
Don't have a least favorite. I appreciate the splendor of nature and history where I visit.
•Did you always have a love of travelling?
Subconsciously, yes. However, when I graduated from college, I was terrified of planes. When I was given the opportunity to meet my European relatives for the first time, I jumped at the chance and have loved traveling and meeting different peoples/seeing different landscapes and cultures ever since!
•What impact has veganworldtrekker.com had on your life?
It has had a much bigger impact than I ever would have dreamed! It's amazing to know who reads blogs! I have been contacted by Hollywood publicists & tv execs to conduct interviews backstage for Def Leppard and to ship my vegan travel tips ebook to an actor. Vegetarian societies across USA have invited me to speak at their VegFests. Book author events and travel seminars have invited me to speak. A popular PBS tv & radio host asked to interview me on his show! The list goes on..
•What has been the most surprising destination you've been to?
Meaning, you had a specific mindset about a certain destination but it was totally a differnet experience than you had imagined. I would say South Africa. You expect a safari country to be entirely carnivorous. I found Cape Town to be very vegan-friendly. In addition, I was amazed at just how diversified the landscape was and at all of the truly unique activities I experienced, such as visiting an indigenous village, chatting with children at a shantytown school, visiting Mandela's prison cell, attending a jazz concert, and seeing a wide range of animals including penguins and baboons.
•If you had to decide which destination has been the most influential in your life, which destination would you chose?
I honestly can not pick just one. I feel that every place has it's charm and culture and that we can learn and appreciate everywhere we visit.
•What advice would you give to a newbie traveler?
Be prepared by doing research on google prior to your travels. Visit restaurant search sites such as VegDining and HappyCow to find vegan restaurants. Read up on the safety factor in that country, the popular tourist attractions, cultural differences, modes of transportation. Since each travel destination may be a one time visit only, try to get in as much sightseeing as possible from morning until night. Finally, get to know the local people at your destination. Try to truly experience the culture, such as attending a music or dance performance.
Thanks Maria for the interview. Please visit Maria's blog @ VeganWorldTrekker