Traveler Tuesday – Natalie of Cosmos Mariners
This is going to be the last Tuesday Traveler for a while. I am putting the series on a hiatus so that I can keep content fresh, interest high and readers happy.
I have often thought about what I would name my blog if I was starting over again from scratch. I think I would choose something far more unique than Misadventures with Andi (although I have a very good reason for selecting the name). One of my favorite names, for its meaning and uniqueness, is that of blog friend Natalie of Cosmos Mariners, check out Natalie's About page for a description.
Natalie travels all over the world and writes about her exotic locations, but she also lives in the South and I love her guides from all over that region.
Let’s meet Natalie!
[1] When and how did you become a traveler?
I don’t remember the first trip I took, but I’ve been told it was to Walt Disney World when I was 2. As I grew up, my parents put an emphasis on traveling, and we would go on multiple family trips each year. Those trips were always so much fun: experiencing new places with my parents and sister instilled a love of learning and travel in me. I went on my first trip without my parents when I was 18 when five friends and I drove to Key West, Florida for a week. Ever since then, I’ve stayed busy as I try to see as much of the world as possible!
[2] What is travel to you in 10 words or less?
Fully experiencing what it means to be human.
[3] What is your favorite mode of transportation and why?
As long as I’m moving, I’m pretty happy! If I had to choose one mode, though, it would probably be a car. I love road trips: I have the flexibility to stop and check out a fun site along the way, I can stop when I need to, and I’m a huge fan of wandering down back roads.
[4] What do you typically do while traveling by plane?
Read or watch a movie. I don’t sleep well on planes (who does?!), so I try to catch up on my never-ending list of books I want to read. Oh, the problems of a bibliophile…
[5] What is your favorite travel memory involving food?
When I studied abroad in London, it was only the second time that I’d been to Europe, and it was the furthest away I’d ever been from my friends and family. During my school’s orientation, the students were taken to the British Museum for afternoon tea, as a way to show us a bit of the culture we were about to immerse ourselves in.
Being from the U.S. South, I’d grown up on sweet iced tea and I had no clue what to expect. When the waiters brought these stacked silver trays filled with cakes and sandwiches, and white porcelain pots of black oolong, I was entranced. It was in that moment that I fell head over heels in love with London, British culture, and, especially clotted cream and scones.
[6] What is one blogging tip or lesson that you have learned along the way that you can share with my readers?
People can only absorb so much in one post. I have a really bad habit of getting super excited about a place I’ve visited and packing too much information in one post. So much great stuff gets overlooked when I write that way, and I’m learning to be patient, parse out sections of my trip, and tackle the pieces one by one.
[7] Where to next?
2015 is going to be a great year for my travels! I’ve got several smaller road trips in the works for Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. I’ve also got too big trips planned—one to Jamaica and Mexico, and the other to Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and France. I’m also hoping to do a little more exploring in my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, which has an abundance of historical sites and award-winning restaurants.
Thanks Natalie!
You can keep up with Natalie on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest as well as her blog. Wherever you catch her, I am sure you will enjoy her adventures!
How about you? What would you like to know about Natalie?
Great interview! Thanks for sharing!
Yay! I’m glad you liked it, Natalie. (Awesome name, BTW!) I hope you have a great week!
You know, I like the misery-loves-company aspect of some of this–none of us sleep well on planes, that’s the truth!
Haha–welcome to the bad-sleeping-on-planes club, Carol! 😀 (And happy travels, too, of course!)
Great learning more about Natalie! I totally agree about trying to break up blog posts about trips — it’s hard for readers to take in so much in one post. Sounds like lots of fun trips coming up this year, and I’ll look forward to following along!
Yay! I’m so glad to have you along for the ride, Lois! Life stays busy with all of the travels, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Since I’ve figured out how to break up my posts better, I’ve had a great response from my readers. I come from an academic background (I was a college Literature prof before I starting blogging), so it goes against my background to write these shorter posts. I’m always trying to learn, though, so shorter, more focused blog posts it is! 😀
I sleep great on airplanes. For me, the airplane is a giant sleeping pill…I’m often out before take off!
Oh my gosh, I wish I had that gift!! My life would instantly be improved! My husband laughs at me since I’m such a ridiculous sleeper–it has to be quiet and dark and I have to have my own pillow. I’m basically just the pickiest person ever. I usually end up with dried out contacts in my eyes and dark bags under my eyes after an overnight flight, but it’s SO worth it to travel! 😀
ooh let me know if you’re planning on going to atlanta! that’s what we consider our hometown. i actually sleep pretty well on planes too.. but it takes a couple glasses of wine first haha 😛
Esther, I haven’t been to Atlanta in a few years (since I was in grad school), but what I remember seeing then was so much fun. I need to go for a longer trip and see something more than the World of Coca-Cola and the Aquarium (both of which were awesome, but there’s definitely more to Hot-lanta than that)!
I wish I could sleep well on planes, but I am the PICKIEST sleeper ever! I will definitely have to try the glasses of wine the next time to see if that will help! 😀
Thank you for the prompt to go to the About Us page because I might have missed this absolute gem of a thought: “We are all mariners of the cosmos, and our journeys should be one of adventure, speculation and surprise.” I can’t think of a better way to describe living a life full of wonder and that is what travel is about! Thank you for the introduction!
Thanks so much, Ruth! I’m glad you liked that–it’s something that I believe wholeheartedly. 🙂 Here’s to many happy travels!
Well I’m terrible on planes and despise red eyes but it gets me where I want to go. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Natalie and love following her adventures through the south as I really want to plan a trip to Charleston.
Tamara, I see planes as a means to an end, too! I may get bleary eyed and grumpy, but I’ll do it a million times over to see the world. Definitely work on a trip to Charleston, and let me know if you have ANY questions. I can wax poetic about my hometown for days!! 😀
Jealous of all your travels! Good to learn more about Natalie!
Natalie your a very lucky girl to be able to travel so many places. I only wish I was able to. I always wanted to go to the Middle East. Maybe that is not everyone’s ideal vacation spot but I think it is so gorgeous and so many sites to see. If I could turn back the clock, I would have started out traveling. Now I am not sure I will ever make it out of the US. I barely have gone anywhere even here.
Thanks, Sandra! I’ve worked super hard to make most of those trips happen–when I decided to study abroad, I worked four part-time jobs my sophomore year! I think I enjoyed it more because I’d worked so hard for it. 🙂 I’ve always wanted to see the Middle East as well, but the political climate right now makes me nervous. I’m hoping things will calm down during my lifetime so I can see the pyramids! And don’t feel bad about about not traveling internationally: I believe that travel is a state of mind, rather than a location. If you want to learn and explore new things, the next town over can be a great place to start traveling! This year, I’ve made my own hometown of Charleston, SC, a focus–there are some great things in my own backyard!
How wonderful to experience so many new places and people! I love what you said about not putting too much into a blog at one time. That is very helpful.
Learning to break things into smaller parts has taken many , many blog posts to figure out–before I started my travel blog and freelance writing work, I was a college English professor. I’m used to writing these long, sustained arguments instead of shorter, more digestible posts: both have their place, but shorter posts are so much easier to read online. Thanks for your kind words, Ellen!
what a wonderful experience to be traveling any place you want in the world. you get to learn alot of new thing sounds like fun
Traveling is one of my favorite things in the world, and I do it at very chance I get! That being said, I definitely don’t get to travel wherever I want to whenever I want to–like most people, I have a house, student loans, and a kid that I’m trying to clothe and potentially put through college in a few years. So, a lot of planning and saving goes into my trips! You’re right that every trip comes with learning opportunities, something that I try to take advantage of whenever I can!
Great to learn more about you, Natalie! If you need a travel partner for all those amazing trips this year, I’m available!! Oh, and it’s a good thing you can’t sleep on a plane, because my father almost died from DVT (from sleeping on a plane). It’s the most preventable condition, but the airlines don’t want to talk about it because they’d probably have to make economy seats larger or give more leg room! 🙁 Anyway, off topic, but I like to share that info!
Happy travels!
The more, the merrier, Christina! 🙂 Though, I have to warn you, traveling with me these days means being the co-wrangler of one wild and crazy toddler! That is terrifying about your dad–I didn’t even know that was possible. If ever there was a time that I’m glad I arrive at my destination looking bleary eyed, this would be it. I’m SO glad he’s okay! Happy travels!
Great interview. I need to travel more, but I have to admit, I love being home, too!
Thanks, Janie! Oddly enough for a travel blogger, I am kind of a homebody, too. When I’m not on a trip, there’s nothing I like better than curling up on the couch with my husband and daughter and reading. I love the creature comforts at my house, and I have absolutely no plans to become a long-term nomad and give those up! 😀
I like her blog appearance, easy to navigate and read. Thanks for featuring her here, Andi.
Thanks for the feedback, Mai! It’s always good to hear how others are able to navigate my site. 🙂
Great advice about packing too much into one post!
Cool interview. I should follow that sage advice about cutting down the information in posts.
Haha I get all caught up in long posts, too. Her blogging tip is wise 🙂 Charming woman!
Sounds like Natalie is visiting some of my southern faves this year. 🙂 It can be so hard to break up those travel posts-especially when you have so much to share! I have been trying to do mine by Where To Stay and What To Do. It has been working alright so far, lol. 🙂
“Fully experiencing what it means to be human” – love that!!!
Disney was also my 2 year old’s first trip (when she was 6 months and then again right after she turned 2) and she has been asking non-stop to return for weeks!! #disneybrat
I really love to travel by car. But only it is me, my husband and our kids. We once took a trip to Florida with about 8 people total in one big SUV. That was not fun at all! And I don’t like flying, Take off and landing are the worst for me!
Thank you for the lovely interview, it was a pleasure to read! Natalie has such nice images of all the lovely places she has traveled!
Great interview… LOVE the photos!
Nice to e-meet Natalie! I’m also a big fan of high tea and scones in London. 🙂
Great interview, thank you for sharing!
I never sleep on the plane, Even on international flights! I hate the fact that my husband can walk on the plane, sit down and sleep until we land. Your 2015 road trip: I live in Georgia, I’d say try Atlanta and Savannah.