Traveler Tuesday – Nyssa of The Cultureur
In 2015 I had the honor and privilege of working with an extraordinary group of bloggers on the ExperienceBuick project. One such blogger was Nyssa of The Cultureur. We peripherally knew each other from AFAR channels but had not met in person. Turns out we got along beautifully and I have a deep appreciation for her intellect, her taste, her sense of humor and her debating skills!
Nyssa focuses on luxury experiences for the Millennial demographic and she does it brilliantly.
Let’s meet Nyssa!
When and how did you become a traveler?
My parents gave me my passport at 2 months, so I’m deeming that as the point of no return.
Where do you love to travel?
I don’t travel to cross countries off a list, so the world is my playground. This question reminds me of the quote by Susan Sontag: “I haven't been everywhere but it's on my list.”
Most memorable travel moment.
There’s really too many to count, but the epiphany that travel was not a hobby, but rather a lifestyle is quite instrumental for me as it informed my subsequent decisions, both professionally and personally. It happened sometime during my senior year of high school.
What won’t you travel without?
My iPhone – my ultimate communication device – I feel invincible with it by my side, with WiFi, of course. Beyond that, I’m acutely aware that my lifestyle, including my ability to travel as frequently as I do, is a privilege, so gratitude is something I try to keep front and center.
A day isn’t complete until I…
Coffee it up! I live in Seattle – the coffee capital of the U.S. – so that’s only fitting.
A quirky daily habit of mine is…
I don’t know if it’s quirky, but I’m a huge list-maker, so every night before going to bed, I read my never-ending to-do list and prioritize 3 things that must be done the next day, irrespective of the rest of the list.
Travel essentials, 3 things you always travel with.
iPhone, pen, passport (even for domestic flights – you never know where it’s going to lead!)
Perfect travel day from start to finish.
Relaxing yoga session, leisure brunch with the best damn Bloody Mary in town, writing, spa/massage, coffee shop hunting, city exploration, Chef’s Table dining experience with my favorite people
Have you been anywhere which turned out to be totally different to how you imagined? If so, how?
I have to give this one to Detroit – a very new addition to my favorite cities in the U.S. list. It’s unassuming but fantastically charming. Detroit is not your traditional white-glove luxury destination, but it delivers lavishly to those who consciously seek out its cultural treasures and dare to peel back the intricate layers of history with its inventive restaurants, sleek hotels, and forward-thinking galleries – and all without the pretension.
What has travel taught you?
The better question is what hasn’t it taught me, but in all honesty, it’s taught me that what we may consider our bare necessities here are considered luxuries in other parts of the world. I've also learned that travel tends to bring out the best and worst in people.
Nyssa's Lightning Round of Favorites
Hotel: Too many to count, but The Lowell in NYC or The Savoy in London come to mind immediately
Airline: Domestic: Virgin America or Delta; International: Singapore or Emirates
Airport: Singapore Changi airport
Mode of Transportation: planes!
Travel snack: dehydrated or fresh fruits
Country: At the moment, I’m still on a high from my 2-month trip to Iceland.
Travel Gear: I don’t check in my luggage unless I have to, so I love my Bric’s Bellagio Metallo carry-on spinner. I’m obsessed with beautiful luggage with a vintage look.
Travel App: Spotify – love that I can listen to all my favorites in one place and not waste any memory on my phone.
Travel Book: I love humorous cultural literature, and one of my favorites is A Year in the Merde – it was a gift from a dear friend before I moved to Paris.
Thanks Nyssa!
You can keep up with Nyssa on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and of course on her blog. Wherever you catch her, I am sure you will enjoy her adventures!
How about you? What would you like to know about Nyssa?
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Very stunning and beautiful picture! Nice to see you after a time!
She sounds like my kinda girl!
Sounds like I need to goto Singapore, just to hit up the airport! LOL!
It is so nice that you get to do so much traveling. What a great life experience. I wish you the best in all you do. Thank you for sharing
Very beautiful and lovely pictures i felt like i was there just by looking at your pictures
Very interesting! Love the photos.
Wow sounds like a great way to live life – fun! I haven’t traveled nearly as much as I would like to, but it’s definitely still on my list of things to keep working at. THere are so many places to see and things to do – can anyone ever really fit it all in?
Sounds like some amazing adventure! Especially the airport at singapore! I would love to add more travel to my blog! Would love to add in the gluten-free travel 🙂
Sounds like you have had a wonderful time on your many trips. I like the fact that you also mention that we tend to take the bare necessities for granted. Some people are not as fortunate. It must be awesome to visit foreign lands and get first hand experience with its culture and people. Iceland, wow! No wonder you are still riding the wave. Can’t wait to hear about your next travel adventure.
As an avid traveler, I can relate to most of this post! iPhone is a must, and I NEVER travel without a pen. I’ve never had a pen and not needed it, and they can be difficult to find when you desperately need one. I’ve become an ace packer over the years and can pack a week’s worth of stuff in a Louis Vuitton Keepall, it’s a classic! Thanks for a fun read 🙂
@Sage, so true about the pen, I recently needed one desperately to remember something and was completely lost without one!
Talk about starting young – passport at 2 months old. I guess it’s been in your blood since birth 🙂
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list”. I love that! I hope to do more traveling, but I have to wait until my kids get a little older.
this is a very interesting post, i dont travel much..but i must say this would be a lotta of fun
I loved reading all about Nyssa. Sounds like she is living an amazing life! Thanks for sharing a peek into it. 🙂
@Jess, she is, it’s hard to keep up with her!
Sounds like an amazing and busy life.