Tell us something about yourself.

I am a musician and a singer, part of KazinSka, Brikkuni, Duo Kukkanja, Rockestra, Komokuba, Perkuss’hawn Maracatu. I love sounds and  I am a programme coordinator with Fondazzjoni Kreattività. I love consuming art and experiencing local cultures.

Young in Eurodisney.Young in Eurodisney.

How often do you travel?

Up to a few weeks ago, when I was still working as a freelancer I used to travel to five or six countries a year. I will probably spend less time abroad in the next years. However, I made it a point to always have at least one future trip booked as something to look forward to, the next one being Bologna, Firenze, Pisa.

Do you remember your first time abroad, and can you tell us about it?

Paris, a trip with my parents when I was 10. I clearly remember this as an exciting childhood adventure where I experienced a number of new things at one go – from flying and watching the Maltese Islands from above to the Disneyland Paris experience and staying at a hotel.

Atelier for Young Festival Managers – Poznan, Poland.Atelier for Young Festival Managers – Poznan, Poland.

Best holiday ever and why?

I’ve had quite a number of short best holidays, particularly since I joined student/youth organisation AEGEE. I must admit, however, that during my year in London studying for my Masters degree, I can say I was on a pretty great part-time holiday, as I used to frequent exceptional and world-class shows and concerts on a weekly (if not daily) basis.

Which place would you never visit and why?

There is no place that I would never visit, since I consider staying in another country as a cultural experience that is different than that which I am used to. I feel that I learn much more about other places and people by experiencing them first-hand, rather than by reading about them or watching travel channels on the television. The more genuine a place, the more I am interested in going there, so I would avoid as much as I could all touristic locations. Also, I didn’t quite enjoy Luxembourg City as I thought it is too much worker-oriented and has no genuine cultural soul, so I don’t think I would visit it again.

It’s a small world, after all, and diversity is beautiful

Best travel companion?

During the past three summers, I had the opportunity to travel with AEGEE on a programme known as Summer University. This is a holiday organised by locals from cities around geographical Europe, where one learns about the history, traditions, food and culture of a place and its people. The most interesting thing, however, is that the group travelling together for two weeks or more consists of people who have never met before from all over Europe. I must admit that I find having non-Maltese people whom I don’t really know as travel companions is actually quite interesting, as I never get bored meeting people from other countries.

Krakow, Poland.Krakow, Poland.

And what’s the worst your travel companion could do?

Travel solely for shopping, constant texting, being attracted to and falling for all tourist traps, cause me to miss the flight back (I am slightly paranoid and like to be early at foreign airports, particularly when returning to Malta.

What do you usually look for when you travel?

I am interested in experiencing and absorbing local cultures as much as I can, be it food, traditions or simply the local way of life. I also love visiting contemporary art galleries. Occasionally, I enjoy buying tea towels with modern designs to hang in my studio and, in fact, I have a small collection of these.

The perfect holiday would be... ?

Everything that I just mentioned and making new friends that eventually come visit me in Malta. Coming back to Malta, meeting a person from the place I’ve visited and having my experiences in that person’s country enable me to relate to this person and to be able to speak to him about.

What’s the furthest you’ve been from home?

Probably Chernobyl in the Ukraine or Poznan in Poland. Unfortunately, I have never travelled outside of Europe.

Esperanza Spalding, Koko, London.Esperanza Spalding, Koko, London.

Package tours or DIY?

Definitely DIY

What the best travel advice you can give?

Meet and exchange your culture with locals, be careful of tourist traps and travel as if you are going to die tomorrow. Do your research. There are less expensive countries that are equally or more beautiful than more conventional tourist locations.

And what’s the worst piece of advice you’ve been given?

Not to visit Eastern Europe for safety reasons and because the countries are uninteresting this is very much untrue.

Flying – hate it/love it/neutral?

I am quite neutral on the actual process of flying. I dislike terminal queues, delays and uncomfortable seats.

There are less expensive countries that are equally or more beautiful than more conventional tourist locations

The one place you never get tired of visiting?

This is easy definitely London. I spent a long time there and I consider it as my second home.

Describe one memory that stuck with you from a place.

While in Constanta in Romania in 2014, following a Summer University trip I got obsessed with having a picture taken with the party-animal mayor Radu Mazare. Needless to say, I succeeded, following a three-hour walk around the clubs of Mamaia with my group of freshly-made friends. I learned later that the lad is quite a controversial politician and tycoon.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

You met the coolest people at... ?

I try and search for cool people in all my travels and honestly, I believe you can find them everywhere. However, the place where I met the largest number of cool people at one go was probably at Malom Festival in Serbia.

Your best budget tip to save money on holiday?

Avoid tourist traps and move away from the conventional destinations and consider visiting other countries such as Serbia and Poland.

If you actually had to live away from Malta, where would you pick?

If I could manage financially, I would probably return to London. Berlin and Amsterdam also seem like interesting places and magnets for interesting people. So I wouldn’t mind spending some time there even though I don’t know how to speak the countries’ languages.

What’s the one thing you would never do in a foreign country?

Forget how to speak Maltese.

Anything on your travel bucket list?

Hungary and the Czech Republic and anywhere beyond Europe, really. However, topping the list are Morocco, the US and China.

Travel is important to you because... ?

When I travel I try to shut down my work connections. I limit internet usage and, therefore, the time I spend on Facebook and replying to e-mails. Also, not meeting the usual suspects anywhere I go in Malta is also a good enough reason.

What has travel taught you?

It’s a small world after all and diversity is beautiful. Every travel experience teaches me that I need to travel more.

Where would you retire and why?

I really can’t say. Gozo might be an option unless it is all built up by then.

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