Every Thursday, A Dangerous Business will be shining the spotlight on a world nomad, travel blogger, armchair adventurer, or just someone really cool in the travel world. This week, the traveler is Gareth Leonard of Tourist 2 Townie. Gareth is a marketing director who left his online marketplace startup in October 2009 to begin writing his own legend. He’s currently traveling deeper in South America to see what it takes to go from tourist to townie in a foreign land. Follow him on his social experiment around the world, one mission at a time.
1. How do you define the word “traveler,” and why would you consider yourself one?
A “Traveler” to me, is anyone who leaves home in search of new experiences. I’m a traveler because that’s exactly what I do.
2. What has been your favorite travel experience thus far?
Celebrating the Argentine Open Polo Finals victory with La Dolfina was epic, attending my first soccer match in Buenos Aires was intense, swimming in Cartagena was beautiful, dancing salsa in Medellin was embarrassing and Gloria in Santiago was… experienced.
3. How about your proudest travel moment?
When I scored a bartending gig in Buenos Aires. Working with all Argentines had a major impact on my first travel experience in South America, as well as my Spanish knowledge and “townie” goals.
4. Have you had any travel mishaps or bad experiences? If so, have these influenced how you view the place where they happened? Would you go back?
I’ve been pretty lucky so far, nothing too drastic. One time on my way to catch a ferry from Montevideo, Uruguay back to Buenos Aires, I was shaken down (Coima) by a police officer coming through a tollbooth. He stopped our rental car and told us our lights weren’t bright enough. He said he would report it or… “algo” (something). He opened his notebook and slid it into the open car window and over my lap. I understood. I placed a few hundred Uruguayan pesos inside (about $10 US), he closed it and let us pass. When I returned to Buenos Aires and told my Argentine friends, the only thing they couldn’t believe was that this was the first time it had happened to me. I learned a lot that day about the corruption and financial chaos South America faces. I would definitely go back, but will always be conscious of how much cash I carry around at one time.
5. Name one thing you can’t travel without.
Passport. You just can’t do it.
6. Name one thing you wish you COULD travel without.
Pants. You just can’t do it.
7. What do you think has been the biggest thing you’ve learned while traveling (about yourself, a destination, a culture, travel itself)?
Life is about family, friends, food and music. The backdrop will change but those should always remain constant. Live life on your terms, in search of what makes you happy, knowing that impossible is what you make it.
Otherwise, don’t worry about things that don’t matter, put everything you have into the things that do and everything else will work out just fine.
8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Because I’ll be so wealthy from running a travel blog, haha, I would split my year into quarters. I would spend the holidays in London (Nov-Jan) then Switzerland to ski (Feb – Apr) followed by Chicago for fun and sun in the city (May – Jul) and then Medellin to sing and dance (Aug – Oct).
9. Name one place you’d like to see or one experience you’d like to have before you die.
Rio de Janeiro for the World Cup in 2014. I’m trying to figure out how I can work there. Any leads?
10. If there was one thing you wish somebody would have told you before you started traveling, what would it be?
Here’s a million dollars… go have fun.
Visit Gareth’s site: Tourist 2 Townie
Follow Gareth on Twitter: @tourist2townie
“Like” Gareth on Facebook: Tourist 2 Townie
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Are you a travel blogger who has something to say on these topics? Do you know of somebody really interesting in the travel universe that you’d like to see interviewed? Speak up! The Thursday Traveler needs some interview subjects.
Loved learning more about Garrett, T2T is always read in my Google Reader…and lol to #2.
Number 2 made me laugh, too. That, and number 6. Haha. He’s a character, this one!