Inside the Traveler's Mind: Katie Parla

While some people take time to discover their travel addiction, Katie Parla discovered her love early on, and has been going ever since. She's an avid traveler, writer, and foodie who's got some great stories to tell, which she shares over at her aptly named blog, Katie Parla. We were lucky enough to be able to interview her and share her story with you.

Name: Katie Parla
Hometown: Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Current Location: Rome, Italy

Where have you been? Italy, France, UK, Spain, Austria,
Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany,
Holland, Poland, Greece, Belgium, Croatia, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, Canada, Mexico, US

What's your favorite travel memory? The three-week solo trip I took to Syria last February was filled with great moments but my day in Palmyra was definitely the hightlight. I spent the day exploring the ruins of the ancient Roman city and saved the necropolis for the late afternoon. As the sun set, I strolled among the tombs. The light in the valley was so incredible and cast this bronze aura on the monuments. It was absolutely incredible. By this time, all the other tourists had left so it was just me, the mausolea, and a few men riding lumbering camels. Truly memoable. The felafel I ate when I arrived in Palmyra earlier in the day was pretty spectacular too.

Do you have a favorite airport? Newark. You can see the NYC skyline from the food court and I love that. Also, there is something strangely comforting about the steaming Anheiser Busch plant.

What's on your essential packing list? Canon EOS 30D and lenses, extra camera battery, power adaptors, 3 pack Moleskine Cahier Pocket Squared Notebooks, leatherman, pilot pens, Ziploc bags, flipflops, wine key.

What have you learned to leave at home and what can't you live without? I used to pack lots of clothes and guidebooks but I have learned to leave them at home. I prefer to prepare with guidebooks before I leave then fend for myself once on the ground. I cannot live without novels and my Blackberry (lame, I know, but I travel for work so it’s necessary).

If you got stuck somewhere and were never able to leave, where would it be? NYC
Who's your travel hero? Paul Theroux, with Louis as a close second.

What's the biggest travel myth that you can debunk? I think it’s a myth that traveling should to be easy or pleasant. Some of my best memories are of experiences that were infused with chaos, danger, and confusion (often the result of a lack of planning on my part).

What mistake have you learned from that could help others to avoid the same mistake? I’ve learned that when you are on a schedule, it is best not to trust websites that list bus and train connections. Maybe its just my luck but I find 99% of this info is outdated and/or seasonal, especially in Italy. Double check with the local tourist board to save yourself from being stranded or missing connections.

What's the first thing you do when you get off the plane or leave the airport? Turn on my phone and check email.

What do you plan before you leave home and what do you leave to chance? I always depart armed with information on the destination’s best restaurants and food markets. I used to plan every moment of my trips but now I leave most everything between meals up to chance.

You find yourself in an unfamiliar situation while on the road. What do you do? How do you approach a problem? What advice would you give to a timid traveller? I try to roll with it. Last year, I was crossing the border between Turkey and Syria and I thought I bought a bus ticket for the journey but I had actually hired a driver with a car with blacked out windows. My luggage had disappeared at the bus station as I was wisked into a very shady looking vehicle. I had a moment of panic but then decided to go with it. If my luggage was gone, no biggie, and if I was in a dangerous situation, there wasn’t much I could do about it at that point. So I just relaxed, tried not to asphixiate on the fumes that were pouring into the car, and hoped for the best. At the border, my luggage emerged from the shady car and I was passed off to another driver in a brand new SUV who drove me to Aleppo and dropped me off in the center of town. The whole thing was totally weird and unfamiliar but it would have been futile to freak out about it.

My advice to a timid traveler would be to take baby steps. It takes time to build confidence as a traveler and it would be arrogant to think otherwise. So, timid traveler, be aware of your comfort boundaries and push beyond them little by litte.

Your most memorable meal....Hard question. A recent meal at Momofuku Ssam Bar in NYC’s East Village changed my life. Every pizza I eat in Naples is memorable. Maybe the winner is a cow head stew I was served at a friends house in Tunisia. Ill never forget that one.

If you could only give one piece of travel advice, what would it be? Be flexible.
What's your take on souveniers? What do you bring home with you? I have a soft spot for the popener (bottle opener with the Pope’s face on it) but generally I never buy souveniers. At the most, I will buy a nice bottle of wine or some local food to take home and savor later.

Do you have a travel experience that's changed how you look at the world or changed your life? My first trip to Italy changed everything. I visited with my high school Latin class in 1996 and did a horrendous bus tour. We visited 13 cities in 8 days and spent most of the time on the bus. It was my first time in Europe and the trip made me want to move to Italy (which I did 7 years later) and made me hate mass tourism, which I have been successfully avoiding ever since.

What's your next trip? I’m going to Istanbul for the month of March. I plan to take a short trip to Capadoccia but the odds are I will just stay in Istanbul. I have a hard time leaving that city.

Anything else you want to share? To see where Im traveling and what I am eating, you can check out my website or follow me on twitter.