For this Travel Tuesday post I want to introduce my friend Amye! I love reading about her travels on her blog Mon Ayme and seeing all the amazing places she travels to. She is a Washington, DC based lifestyle blogger and she posts about travel and Connections on Mondays.
You can check her out on social media:
Instagram + Twitter + Bloglovin
Tell me about your early life. What do you think sparked your passion for traveling?
As I child I absolutely loved to read, above all else, and that has definitely contributed to my love for travel. In a book you can escape to an entirely different place. Through reading a lot of the classics, I followed the adventures of some incredible heroines that I am reminded of now when I go to new places in the world.
Sticking to the classics, many of which are British-based, was also one of the unspoken reasons I studied abroad in London for my first time overseas!
(Photo above is from a trip to The Tattered Cover, my favorite bookstore in Denver. I always leave extra room to bring back some treasures from an afternoon spent there!)
What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
I’ve never been very good at picking favorites. I love each of the trips I’ve been lucky enough to take for different reasons – each place has something special to reveal. Traveling for business in recent years has also opened my eyes up to the pulse of different U.S. cities, even if I don’t get time to do much exploring during those trips.
What is on your travel bucket list?
I’ve been saying Greece, among other European destinations, but other trips seem more plausible in the near future. For instance, we’re currently planning The Texas Trip 2015 as something on our U.S. bucket list. I’ve been toying with the idea of going to Japan, but also feeling like a South American destination should be on the list sooner than later (any advice there?). Really, I’ll go just about anywhere :)
I know you like to travel with your husband. What’s your dream romantic vacation?
Oh, you mean our recent trip to France? :) That 10-day trip to Paris and driving through Burgundy wine country to the French Riviera was definitely a dream-come-true. The fact that it was lavender season was just a bonus! Beautiful places, amazing food – with wine and champagne aplenty! – in one of the most romantic places on earth with my guy. Can we go back now, please? (You can read more about our Paris itinerary, hotel, and some sights here and here.)
at the Rodin Museum in Paris, France
Who is the most interesting person you have met while on the road?
Goodness, that’s definitely Yorg. I studied abroad in Dubia / Doha and we crossed paths on a cheesy dinner cruise down the river. The cruise itself is another story, but Yorg was (supposedly) this middle-aged German mogul who befriended our group since he was traveling alone. He evidently led a fabulous jetset life – he was “The Most Interesting Man” before “The Most Interesting Man” even existed, and has become a larger-than-life character in our memories.
Favorite Travel Quote?
25 minutes later she returned from Pinterest and said: Who could choose a favorite?
Eat Well, Travel Often.
Paris is always a good idea.
Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.
However you’re inspired to get going, the most important thing is to go.
What was the best meal you have eaten while traveling?
Italy is an obvious choice here, and certainly a favorite. Pizza, pasta, and all the gelato. Yes, please.
But to share something different, I’d say that the food in Iceland was surprisingly good! Seafood is common here, and lobster bisque was great from a mug at a hole-in-the-wall at the marina, or from a Zagat-rated ocean-to-table place in downtown Reykjavik.
After a day-long driving tour of the natural wonders of Iceland, I highly recommend a trip to Hamborgarafabrikkan (translation: The Hamburger Factory) – on the Icelandair flight over, watch the “behind the scenes” video of the guys that founded this place.
And finish your food journey with the most fantastic hot dog you’ve ever eaten. I’m ruined for backyard bar-b-ques forever now that I’ve had the Icelandic version. Others have attested to its greatness, and I can confirm the hype is real. I may not look thrilled in the photo below, but that’s because I hadn’t taken a bite yet. Don’t miss this one.
What is your favorite and most versatile outfit to pack in your suitcase?
A little black dress is never a bad idea to have on-hand! It’s not black, but I have this one dress that is impossible to wrinkle, always fits, and is seasonless and magically appropriate for all occasions. I’ve worn it to a wedding and out for casual drinks, and if needed I’d take a business meeting wearing this dress. It usually finds its way into my bag, especially if I’m having a tough time packing.
(some silly wedding photobooth snaps, but they showcase my travel dress! See the humiliation I’m willing to put myself through for a relevant blog photo? lol)
What do you pack in your bag that isn’t totally necessary, but you just love traveling with it?
I feel like I only pack the essentials, but I’m actually writing this from a plane where I had to gate-check my bag since it was overstuffed, so, well, I’m sure I must have some non-essentials in there…
A simple thing that I always pack, and regret when I forget to include, are socks. If you’re out doing the touristy thing all day, or traveling on business and wearing high heels, its just a little luxury to put on fresh cushiony socks when you get back to the hotel to put your feet up.
Can you give us any tips on traveling on a budget?
Pack snacks! Its great to enjoy local cuisine but no one likes a “hangry” traveler, and the options in that moment might be limited or expensive. If you’ve stocked up on granola bars, fruit snacks, and other purse-friendly food then you avoid unnecessary expense and save time to enjoy the sights, until the next meal.
Bon Voyage, mes amies! And if you’d like to follow along with my journey, visit me at Mon Amye or @amyemae on Instagram.
My love of reading as a kid definitely contributed to my love for travel as well! Nothing makes be happier than jumping on a plane (or train/bus) and exploring a new place and diving into a new culture! Greece is on my bucket list as well <3
Angelic, you’ll have to let me know if you get to Greece before I do, fellow reader!
France during lavender season sounds incredible! I really need to get to traveling, we have a US bucket list that is growing longer by the minute, let alone Italy, Ireland & Greece! Thanks so much for sharing, this was a great read :)
@growingupmomma, France during lavender season was really incredible. I’m overdue for a post about the monastery where we stopped to take some gorgeous pics and pick up lavender the monks have been harvesting for a long time…
I enjoyed this interview and reading about all the wonderful places Amye has traveled. My love of traveling came from the many books I read as I child. I wanted to see all the places that were swirling around in my head. Great interview!
yay another fellow reader! Alli, what other places should be on our “book-travel bucket list”?!?
I Have always been fascinated with history, even majored in it in college… I’m pretty sure that’s what sparked my travel ideas! Great post!
Maybe that is why my husband and I enjoy traveling together so much – he’s a history buff. He especially loves early America, which makes our US Trips all the more interesting!
Oh my gosh she’s been everywhere! I would just like to be out of the country and go to someplace other than Mexico. Would love to go to Greece!
@Heather – everywhere, oh I wish! No, it probably just seems that way bc I’ve been to a few more “exotic” less-touristy places like Iceland and Doha, Qatar. But I still haven’t been to Mexico, so you’ve got me there! :)
I’d love to have as much experience traveling as her. She really seems to know how to have a good time in other countries!
Thank you Liz! Good food and good shoes are really key to having a good time on travel :) I try to post a lot of Amye’s Adventures on my blog, would love for you to join me for the journey!
What a cool interview! I love how much she travels, that must be quite the lifestyle! Thanks for sharing.
Awwww you guys are making me blush! I guess these trips do seem like a lot all together – I just really value experience over material and so travel is a priority. We really are fortunate to have been so many places.
What an awesome interview!! Checking out older books when we travel is fun and she has been to some amazing places!
I wish I had thought to pick up books from each of the places I’ve been…stopping into bookstores is a favorite pasttime!
She really loves to travel. How I wish I can try like her someday. When my kids are big enough, I wish we can travel as a family and enjoy the sights together. Nice to meet you Amye!
Hi Ruby, nice to meet you too! Its probably easier to travel now, before we have kids…but hopefully we’ll enjoy travel as a family one day! I say go for it, once they’re big enough – my parents definitely helped instill this love of travel in me.
That’s such a snuggly photo with the coffee/tea :) I love bookstores too. The only problem I have is making space for all the goodies I find, and actually making time to read through them haha. I think it’s a nice problem to have. Best of luck on upcoming travels <3
I like those wacky faces that they have taken. Their photo in front of the museum in Paris France is beautiful!
My bucket list of places I want to see is highly influenced by books and stories I read as a child/young adult…and also food. :) I love packing dresses when I travel, too (when weather/destination appropriate, of course) because they seriously simplify packing!
This is an awesome interview indeed and there is some awesome tips for traveling. I would love to travel at least a year but that is not in my cards yet I guess. I love the wedding pictures and they they are indeed cute. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rebecca, glad you liked the post! Let me know if you use any of the travel tips when you take your adventures :)
These are great pictures and of course an aazing interview! I’ve always wanted to go to Paris :)
Amye is very well-travelled. I want o to visit all the place she has been and more.
PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. I love Paris so much. I also love your tips about bringing snacks. Always good to feed a hungry tourist
Interview blogs with other bloggers is always so much fun. Being able to learn fun things about them, esp traveling bloggers. Paris sounds amazing to be able to visit.
I’d have to say that my inspiration from traveling came from being a book lover, as well. I’ve never thought about it though or came to that conclusion until reading her interview!! :)