I’m a Liebster Award Winner!
I’m thrilled to announce . . . that I’m a Liebster award winner!! Much gratitude goes out to Stefano of The Travel Bakery, an Italian from Turin who is also relatively new to this crazy journey called travel blogging, and who nominated me for this award. It’s a way for bloggers to recognize blogger newbies for their efforts.
First, thank you so much to all of my readers for your support for Travel Savvy Gal! I started the blog in August of 2016 not knowing if I would have enough to say to keep producing new blog posts & how everything would go as I slowly learn the ins and outs of social media platforms (many of which I had never used before). Even now, almost 6 months in, I am only just starting to get the hang of Pinterest, for example. It’s still a learning process, so I am incredibly humbled for this recognition of all of the work I’ve put in to produce quality, engaging content for YOU, THE READER.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Read on to learn a little bit more about how I travel, as I answer Stefano’s questions & be sure to check out the blogs I’m nominating below for some truly excellent travel inspiration!!
Please, read the rules before going on:
- Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their site on your blog.
- Display the award on your blog.
- Answer their 10 questions about yourself.
- Nominate 5-10 other bloggers for the award and inform them via social media.
- Create your own set of 10 questions for your nominees.
My replies to Stefano
- What’s the last place you have been dreaming of traveling to?
Georgia. The country, of course. I’ve been dreaming about it for a while, from the incredible cuisine to wine country to hiking the great outdoors. Anyone I know who has been came back raving about the experience, and it has all of my favorite things packed into a single country. I’m hoping that 2017 is the year I finally visit!
- You are given ONE TRIP in life. Where are you going?
Bora Bora
- Tell your most embarrassing travel moment ever. Don’t be shy.
Back in 2009 on my 5-week solo trip through Mexico, I had one of those terrible travel days when it seemed like everything was going wrong. After a disappointing day trying to do sightseeing in Puebla on foot, a huge rainstorm set in. Crossing the street was like wading through a stream, and some of the puddles were quite deep. The second there was a break in the car traffic, I started to cross one of the main thoroughfares, and only realized when I reached the island in the middle of the road that I would not have time to get completely across. And then as some locals were watching me standing alone on the island as traffic went by both in front of me and behind, a car came speeding through in the lane right next to me and completely soaked me from head to toe. I had a pretty embarrassing stroll the rest of the way back to my hostel, garnering stares from pretty much everyone I passed.
- Which books and movies you have read and watched in 2016? Which are you looking forward to in 2017?
I read 75 books in 2016, people!! My most ever, I’m pretty sure, although my early reading years may have given me a run for my money. And 2 of them were in Italian! Something I’m very proud of. My top reads from last year:
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Berniéres
- Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy
- I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
- Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
- The Liars’ Club by Mary Karr
- Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky.
I’m much more of a book than a movie person — probably most of the movies I saw last year were on airplanes. For this coming year, I am my usual eclectic self when it comes to reading, and already have a few dozen titles on hold at the library. I am currently reading The Italians by John Hooper.
- What’s the funniest item you always bring with you when traveling?
For any trip longer than a weekend, I take what is called a Miracle Ball. It’s a softball-sized teal, rubber ball that is used to relieve muscle tension that I use to help with headaches, back pain, and any other painfully tight muscles that crop up as I’m traveling. It may look weird, but it works!
- What was your lowest moment in your (presumably short) blogging career?
I think most of my low moments have come when I write a post that I think is great, and then there is not much of a reaction on my Facebook page. Even though I know a lot of this has to do with their recent changes to the algorithm for the News Feed, it’s still frustrating :-\
- Do you believe believing in blogging alone as a primary source of income?
Sure, I believe in it, and many people have certainly made that work for a variety of budgets and travel styles. For me, blogging right now is a hobby. I’m motivated to share some of the amazing destinations I’ve been privileged to visit and the tips and tricks I’ve amassed over my years of frequent travel, hoping to inspire my readers to get out there more!
- Tell a secret strategy (legit or not, we all know..!) you have been using to increase your social media followers.
I don’t think it’s a secret per se, but for Instagram I follow a lot of re-gram accounts that post pictures from a variety of people. When there’s a picture I like, I’m sure to follow the person who took the shot, which is how I’ve started following some of the more popular accounts and get great picture-taking inspiration.
- Mac or Windows? Lightroom or GIMP? Twitter or Instagram?
I am definitely a Windows person. As for touching up photos, I sometimes crop or adjust lightness, but don’t really edit. Everyone keeps telling me that “real” travel bloggers edit their photos, but at this point I want to do it differently – showing what things actually look like instead of displaying a stunning shot that I’ll never be able to duplicate in real life – because so much has been photo-shopped or adjusted from the original. And I’m much more active on my Instagram account right now, showcasing my adventures visually.
- Do you collect / Have you collected something in life or during your travel?
Probably the biggest thing I collect in my travel these days is wine. I enjoy wine tasting in lots of places I visit – and what better souvenir to take home and remind you of your wonderful trip than being able to open a bottle of wine you sampled there? Right now, my wine rack has wines from Australia, Bulgaria, France, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, and the US!
The 10 Questions I’m Asking
- What travel destination do you love so much you keep returning again and again?
- Tell the story of the best hospitality you’ve gotten from a stranger.
- What was the turning point from being like any regular traveler to being a blogger?
- What destination would you never go back to? Why not?
- Must-have travel accessory?
- What do you love most about being a travel blogger?
- Most under-rated country you’ve visited?
- Share your favorite photo-taking tip.
- Weirdest hashtag you’ve ever used?
- What’s the biggest success of your blogging career so far? (other than the Liebster Award, of course)
And here are my nominees for the Liebster Award…
From Italy. With Love. – I love the insights, tips, and engaging writing style of Gina, an American living just outside of Milan who shares her experiences with the “real” Italy.
Globetrotter Guru – Amy is living proof that even people with chronic illnesses can get out there and follow their dreams.
Headed Anywhere – Daina is inspiring people to prioritize travel in their lives, even for those working full-time jobs like she is.
Skye Travels – Skye is chasing his ever-growing bucket list, with no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Tales of a Backpacker – Claire is sharing her latest adventures and travel intel as she makes her way through South America.
Congratulations to all of the blogs!! Please take a moment to check them out and support these wonderful bloggers who are doing a stellar job sharing their travel tips and inspiration with *YOU*.
With gratitude, and happy travels!
Lana