Before I introduce this week’s traveler, can we just take a moment to acknowledge the fact that we are in the fifth week of this series already?! I can’t believe I’ve A) been able to consistently get these up every week (life has been crazy, y’all) or B) that I still have such a big, amazing lineup of women to share with you. I hope you’re enjoying this series as much as I am – please let me know (either in the comments or on Twitter) if you have any specific questions you’d like me to ask during these interviews or any suggestions on how to make them even better!
For more interviews with amazing women creators, you can click here for last week’s interview or here for a full list of previous posts in this series!
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I want to let this week’s traveler and creator take the proverbial stage and share with you. Jessie Festa is a veritable force to be reckoned with – she works incredibly hard, manages multiple companies and commitments (including an NYC Photo Tour company and blog coaching business!), and prioritizes sustainable, eco-friendly travel whenever and wherever she can. I came across her colorful Instagram account back in January and was immediately struck by how unique her perspective was. She’s not simply churning out basic photos and slapping a cliché travel quote on them. She’s trying to educate and inspire those who come in contact with her work to do better and be better as well. I really admire that about Jessie, and think you will too. On to the Q & A!
Who or what inspires you to travel?
What inspires me to travel is a desire to immerse myself in new places and cultures. My first big trip abroad was when I flew to Australia to study abroad at the age of 20. Sure, it was still a westernized culture with English speakers, but it was still different from what I knew. I realized this was just one of many places I could expand my mind and life experiences.
What are you currently reading/watching?
So interestingly I actually rarely read travel books. Instead I’m obsessed with true crime and autobiographies. I’m currently reading Helter Skelter, about the Manson Family. Not quite a light read, but fascinating.
What equipment do you use for capturing your travels?
While I’m not the greatest videographer, I am a professional photographer. Along with my travel photography work, I actually lead photo tours through my company NYC Tours & Photo Safaris. I’m almost never in a studio setup, so I try to pack light and efficient. I love my Nikon D5100, and for travel my Joby GorillaPod Travel Tripod. I also use a Pulse Wireless Remote as well as an intervalometer to take photos I want to be in as well as to take crisper shots by not shaking the camera. I use numerous lenses, but my favorite is my fisheye. Of course it’s not for every situation, but it can capture really fun, dramatic shots!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BT1ZS_chD3j/?taken-by=jessieonajourney
How did you transition from a traditional job to what you’re doing now?
I actually never truly had a traditional job. My goal was to get a job in nonprofit PR, but when the time came to graduate I stalled and went for my masters. Yes, that’s right. I got a Master’s Degree so I could stay in college longer and keep traveling during breaks. No joke.Then when I finally did leave school I was sick with the idea of giving up travel for an office and two week’s vacation each year. I had a short stint as a travel agent, but felt it was too sales-y. From there I discovered travel blogging, took a class and built my site up as I waitressed on the side.
What is the soundtrack to your travels?
One song I absolutely love listening to when traveling is Lord Huron’s “Ends of the Earth.” Seriously, listen to it while wandering a new city. You’ll feel invincible!
Who are your favorite Instagrammers at the moment?
In terms of travel, I love @SeattlesTravels, @alexinwanderland and @court_scott. Good stuff!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTG8ajyBkwh/?taken-by=jessieonajourney
Can you name one place you’ve traveled that surprised you the most, and tell us why?
One place that surprised me was Namibia. I feel like there’s a misconception that “Africa” is all the same place, and when people hear of a dangerous area they become terrified to travel to the continent. In reality the different countries, cities and villages are all unique places offering different things. Along with being safe and easy to get around, there are tons of things to do in Namibia. Some highlights for me were sandboarding in Dorob National Park, hiking to see the “Painted Lady” in Brandberg and visiting a Himba village in Opuwo.
What is your favorite quote about traveling?
“Not all those who wander are lost” by J. R. R. Tolkien. I know it’s cliche, but it just speaks to me so much. I remember in 2011 when I announced I was going to take a stab at professional blogging, which was pretty unheard of at the time. That combined with the fact that, while my friends were going on interviews and getting jobs while I was backpacking meant people constantly referred to me as a “lost” soul, even though I felt very “found!”
One piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring traveling entrepreneur. Go!
For those looking to get into travel blogging specifically — which is what I do full-time — I’d highly suggest doing an audit of your niche to see what’s already being done. From there, consider what you can do better or different.
Also, take a class or two as you get going. It’s so much easier to set yourself up for success from the beginning than scrambling to fix things later. Knowledge is power, and can save you months of painful researching having a coach/teacher lay everything out for you. I actually teach a number of blogging courses online, and depending where you live there may be some in-person coaching, too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSRHi1dB6OQ/?taken-by=jessieonajourney
Do you have any trip planning tools or packing tips?
In terms of trip planning tools, I’m a fan of TripIt for keeping my itinerary organized in one place, as well as FourSquare for finding unique local things to do. I’ll also hop onto social media to ask for suggestions of things to do.
I also love sharing economy sites like CouchSurfing, EatWith, MeetUp and Gociety for interacting with locals. For packing, I’m avid about only using a carry-on. Right now I’m using a smart carry-on called Barracuda and a backpack as my personal item. You really can fit so much!
What is one thing you have learned about yourself while traveling?
One thing I’ve learned about myself while traveling — particularly traveling solo — is how capable I am. I remember leading up to my first solo trip 10 years ago I worried about everything: lost passports, missed trains, lost reservations, bad hostels, lost and stolen luggage. And yes, these things do happen. But they’re nothing to worry about because when faced with a problem you’ll figure out a solution. I’ve become quite the problem solver traveling on my own.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRqzdcphH4N/?taken-by=jessieonajourney
What is your favorite place in the whole wide world?
My favorite place typically depends where I’ve been most recently; however, one destination that blew me away was Slovenia. I was able to homebase in Ljubljana and take incredible day trips like hiking around Triglav National Park and cycling around Lake Bled. The city itself is peaceful, with no cars allowed in the city center and river running through. It’s so easy to have a 1 Euro glass of wine or al fresco cup of coffee while sitting near the river. I also did an incredible homestay in the nearby countryside with a family of herb pickers that immersed me in local culture. I seriously can’t believe more people don’t visit!
Big thanks to Jessie for taking the time to share with us!
Follow along on her adventures:
Blog / Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook / Twitter / Google+ / Blog
I was thinking to start a similar series of interviews where to highlight the way that each of us travels in her/his unique, authentic way. Your series up here inspires me a lot and I will put my feet in the door and do it. Congratulation for the idea and keep writing the interviews.
I highly encourage you to go for it! It has been such a rewarding, enjoyable experience for me doing these interviews, and I’ve learned so much. Thanks for the encouragement!
What an inspiring interview! I absolutely love her photos and I love reading about the bloggers behind the blog (as i follow hers!). I often read non-travel books too. 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Karen! Thanks for taking the time to read through. So happy to hear it was fun to learn more about her – I always have such a good time putting these together and getting to know the “(wo)man behind the curtain,” it’s just an added bonus that everyone else is enjoying this little series too!
I’ve been notoriously bad at reading for the past few years, and I do want to change that. I think being in school for so long put a damper on my desire to read, and now I’m on social media far too much…the struggle!
Oh my goodness, Jess’s photos are divine! She also sounds like a total #GirlBoss and I’m feeling very inspired by her! A great read, keep them coming!
Aren’t they beautiful? She’s totally #GirlBoss-ing it up over there – I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview! I do them every Wednesday, and they’re so fun. Thanks for reading Meg!
I appreciated Jessie’s remarks about Africa. Your maternal grandmother led tour groups to Kenya and Morocco, as you know, and she loved both countries but especially wanted to return to Kenya. When she began talking about that desire, she was cautioned it wasn’t safe to travel to Kenya at the time. She died with her unfulfilled dream of being in Kenya again. Maybe you will fulfill that dream of hers, as you already have many others.
I would absolutely love to fulfill her dream through my own travel – I’ve always wanted to see Africa, and I know there are so many different, beautiful places to explore there. Grammie was such an intrepid, brave traveler – I definitely hope to follow in her footsteps!