Hi all! Another interview is here today and this time I’m interviewing Cristina who runs the brilliant blog ‘1000 Places and Memories’! Enjoy!

• Hi Cristina! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview. Would you mind starting by telling us who you are and where you’re from, and of course the name of your blog? What do you do when you’re not blogging (doesn’t have to be work, could be hobbies or interests etc) Where are you based at the moment?

Thank you, Andy, for having me on the spotlight! My name is Cristina, but most of you know me as Christie😊 I was born in Romania, and I’m currently located in Greater Toronto Area, Canada. I enjoy traveling, the destination as much as the journey: I love to work on the logistics, searching for a new place, points of interests, optimizing the route, etc. I like reading, bird watching, gardening, fishing, and nature in general, so you will find me a lot rather outside than inside. If I’m not away in a trip, you will find me writing about one, or planning something new. And not the least: I love the road trips. Canada is quite large, and getting in the car for a go came out naturally.

• When did you start your blog and why you decide to start a travel blog?

The blog idea came up right in time when the wearisome job I was having back in 2015 was getting dreary. I needed something to boost me up, something to continue. That was the time I decided to leave Cristina doing her 9 to 5 job, and let Christie wander the world. Since I couldn’t really travel all the time, I came up with a plan to organize my travels, my priorities, the past and the future ones, and why not, to give other people ideas. This is how 1000PlacesandMemories was born. It’s been almost 6 years, wow, the time flies, doesn’t it?

• What do you like to write about and why?

Mostly, I like to write about my travels. This is how I’ve learned a lot about new cultures, new traditions, new places. At the same time, I feel that sharing them might give people travel ideas, impressions and some information.

A couple of years ago I started noticing birds, and then birdwatching became my new hobby. They bring me so much joy, which of course I am thrilled to share it with you!

• What have been some of your favourite destinations?

This is a tough question! I tend to leave a little piece of my heart everywhere I go, but let’s pick Provence (France), The Rockies (Canada), and Colca Canyon (Peru); these are my top three destinations so far.

• Who do you see as the audience for your blog?

Most of my readers are people with same interest as myself: people who love to travel, enjoy the nature, and everything that comes with it.

• What advice would give to someone just starting out blogging?

Writing with your soul is the best advice anyone can give. Writing about something you love, and are passionate about. Be consistent with your posts. Then engage with your readers and other bloggers; there is an amazing community out there!

• What is the hardest thing about running a travel blog?

I think the hardest thing is to keep up with my posts. Between a job, family, friends and some personal time, there is little time left to cover everything I would like to.

• We’ve survived a nearly a year now of Covid-19. How do you see 2021 shaping up?

It’s been already a year full of worries, and hassle, but also of hope and promise. It will still be a while until we will be able to travel internationally. But I am optimistic, we will get there!

• Reading your bio I see your dream is to full time travel around the world in a motorhome. What is it about a motorhome which makes you want to travel in one? And where would you take it?

Hehe, to be honest, I have never travelled in one. But when the time comes, the plan is to minimalize everything and have the journey of my life. We currently live in Canada, and the whole of North America is right at our door.

• What would it take in your life to become a full-time traveller?

Financial reasons of course, otherwise I would have been one already😊

• What place would you really like to visit and why (that you haven’t visited yet)?

We haven’t been to a lot of places, and our travels are considered based on the time and the budget available. Southeast Asia is one for sure, for its pristine lands, rich history, ancient traditions, new cultures. Definitely we will need more time to fully immerse into the local life and history, reason we haven’t taken this destination into our radars yet. This is just aside of some other destinations such as Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand to name a few.

• Recently you’ve been posting a lot from your homeland of Canada and specifically Ontario. What are some spots in Ontario outside Toronto that people may not have heard of that you would recommend?

Petroglyphs Provincial Park would be a place that people may not have heard about, with pristine lands, as well as the largest collection of ancient First Nations petroglyphs in Ontario.

RGB Cootes Paradise Sanctuary is a park I have recently discovered, with many hiking trails, and a lot of wildlife, not far from Toronto.

Another amazing place we have visited again, in 2020, is Manitoulin Island. A quiet retreat, great for relaxing, it was the perfect place to visit last year, out of the city crowdedness, especially in this Covid-19 era.

• Please recommend three posts from your blog you’d like people to read (and why!)

A tough selection, for sure, as I tend to fall in love with most of the places I visit:

Colca Canyon was by far my favourite place in Peru. People rush to visit Machu Picchu, Cusco, Inca Trail, but this amazingly beautiful canyon is sometimes overlooked. We did a 2day-1night tour, you can see for yourself a glimpse of the beauties I’m talking about:

The Rocky Mountains is a must for anyone visiting Canada. With all the hiking trails, wild life opportunities, all season resorts, lakes, glaciers, jaw-dropping landscapes, etc, the province of Alberta is one of the best provinces in Canada.

Danube Delta in Romania is close to my heart, especially my native city lies along the Danube River, but not only. A birder paradise, Danube Delta became UNESCO World Heritage for its unique settings, a sanctuary for more than 300 species of birds, and few thousands of animals, and plants.

• Finally, how can people find you on the net and social media? Please include blog address, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and any other channels you use.

The address of my blog is https://1000placesandmemories.wordpress.com/ and my recent you tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYT4bRXEE0sTY3OVpXM13LQ

Please subscribe to read more stories, or find more ideas, and tips for your future destinations. Any why not, learning a bit of something from across of our beautiful world.

• Finally (again!) what are you hoping or dreaming for in 2021?

Hoping to be able to meet with our friends soon, and be able to hug them without fear or doubt, to be able to travel again, to get our lives back to normal. I also hope to be able to keep up with my plans, and put my old photos and videos to some work together.

Thank you, Andy, for having me, and thank you to all your readers! Wherever you are, wherever you go, happy travels to all of you!!!

And know that you will always be welcomed @ 1000PlacesandMemories😊