I first met Jana at a now defunct book club here in the Netherlands. I thought she was super sweet, and I really wanted to learn more about her, which is why I was so excited when she said she wanted to be part of my For the Love of Travel Series! I hope you have as much fun getting to know Jana through this post as I have. And don't forget to check out her blog over at Breaking One Hundred!

First things first, where are you at this moment?

 

We’re living in Amsterdam for a few more weeks. At the end of the month we move back to our home in Boston with our Old English Sheepdog Ozzie.

 

Ozzie in Amsterdam

 

Where did you grow up?

 

I grew up about an hour northwest of Philadelphia in a very small town. Despite that, my parents had us traveling from a young age. I have them to thank for my wanderlust and it’s something I am eternally grateful for.

 

A view of the Oley Valley

 

What is your favorite destination and why?

 

London will always hold a special place in my heart. I fell in love with London on my first trip to Europe when I was eleven and I fall further every time I’m back. It’s also the place I met my husband and some of my best friends, and where he proposed!

 

Our Uni

 

What is your least favorite destination and why?

 

Yet to be found.

 

What is your favorite vacation memory?

 

Our ‘destination’ wedding in Bluffton, South Carolina! We got there early so we could just relax and enjoy time with everyone as they arrived. I have wonderful memories of lounging by the pool, spa time with my bridesmaids, and my bachelorette in Savannah in the few days before our wedding. And of course it only got better when we reached the wedding weekend events. It was an incredible week.

Our Wedding at Berkeley Hall. Photo © Tim Zielenbach Photography

 

What is your profession and do you ever travel for business?

 

I am in Finance for a Chemicals company. When we were in the States, I regularly went to our office in western Massachusetts and took a few trips to NYC per year. Here, I frequent our office in the south of the Netherlands. My more exciting work travel comes when I get to visit our other offices, partners or attend conferences. That has taken me to Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chicago, LA, Sweden, Turkey and London on multiple occasions. And of course Amsterdam when I wasn’t living here!

 

Istanbul from my hotel room window.

 

How do you pack and do you have any items that you have to take with you?

 

Ah, a favorite topic. So much so I do a regular bit on my blog, “The Packing List” where I detail what I packed and how I wore it. I was terrible at packing for a long time. I over packed and often found myself buying lots of clothes before trips. Of course it’s fun to get new things but I saw this as an indication that I was missing key pieces and not putting outfits together in a smart way. Now I’ve got a pretty good handle on what to bring to feel appropriate in all situations [and not like a tourist] while still packing light.

 

Two things I always bring are comfy shoes (and at least two pairs, because even your comfiest shoes can start to hurt after a lot of walking) and my cashmere wrap (keeps me warm on planes and doubles as a scarf if our destination is chilly).

 

Do you have any trips planned for the future?

We’re spending ten days in South Carolina [Bluffton and Charleston] and Georgia [Savannah] right after we get back to the states.

 

How do you plan your trips?

 

The first decision point when we plan a get-away is do we want to take a ‘trip’ or a ‘vacation’. I’m a firm believe there is a difference between the two! Next, of course, is can we hit a new country on the list. (Note, this is much easier while living in Europe) Then we look into flights and hotels for our shortlist and pick a winner. I love a point system (we used points for our honeymoon and only had to pay for one of our ten nights!) so, if we can, we stay at Starwood hotels and fly SkyTeam. If we hit all those in one trip it’s the trifecta but we don’t let that

limit our travels.

 

What is your dream vacation?

 

Tough to pick just one! (I dream a lot). I’ll go with staying in an over water bungalow in the Maldives. It just seems like pure bliss.

 

What kind of traveler are you? 

 

My husband is my main travel partner. Luckily, we have the same travel style which I will classify as ‘leisurely.’ We’ll make a point to see the major attractions in a city, but we’re not the type of people who wake up at 6am and sprint from museum to museum. Before trips we research a few spots we want to go and use those as a rough guide. We walk everywhere we can and generally just explore. In my book, eating and shopping are the best ways to see a city so those are things we include. I always seek out the market or food hall at our destination - it’s a great way to sample local treats and see more of the city.

 

Our favorite stand at Borough Market in London. Grilled Cheese and Raclette.

 

Fresh fish at the Central Market in Helsinki

 

Amazing traditional Swedish fare at the Willy Ohl counter in the Stockholm Saluhall

 

Delicious Estonian Garlic Bread in Tallin.

 

 

Thanks so much Jana! Check out some more of her great travel pics! I'll admit, I'm more than a little envious! 

 

 

Crete

The view from our room in Crete

 

Budapest

Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest

 

Berlin

Berlin’s Eastside Gallery

 

Saint Petersburg

Church on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg

 

Copenhagen

Adorable Nyhavn in Copenhagen.

 

Norway

Gaustatoppen Norway

 

Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo

 

Belgium

Walking in the Belgian countryside

 

Morocco

Dirty faces after 4-wheeling through the Moroccan desert.

 

Hong Kong

Victoria Peak in Hong Kong

 

Macau

Cotai Strip in Macau

 

Golfing!

Golfing in Phuket

Golfing in the Canary Islands

 

So pretty, don't forget if you want to be part of the For the Love of Travel Series, send me a line at GAPeachAbroad@gmail.com And don't forget to leave us a comment, we love comments!

 

 

 

If you liked this post, you should also check out:

For the Love of Travel Series- Sarah from Life in a State of Wanderlust

For the Love of Travel Series- Amanda from Poppies and Ice Cream

For the Love of Travel Series- Carolyn from Carolyn Horne Illustration