Leah Shoup is a 24-year old translator and world traveler currently based in Santiago, Chile. We met through Instagram earlier this year, and I’ve been enamored with Leah’s cheerful, colorful feed and blog ever since! She is constantly on the go, traveling to new places, exploring the globe, and finding all the prettiest walls wherever she goes, in true Leah fashion. Her feed is a combination of beautiful facades, bright murals, and gorgeous landscapes, and the thoughtful and interesting posts she writes for her blog are always fun to read! As a fellow female traveler, I love seeing other ladies traversing the globe fearlessly and sharing their journeys. For more about Leah, just keep reading!
Who or what inspires you to travel?
I think that for me, what’s always inspired my travels has been the sheer joy of learning. I love being able to learn new languages, truly experience cultures, and get to see history come to life.
What are you currently reading/watching?
I read a lot of historical fiction, so I’m currently reading the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cromwell which focuses on the creation of England as one unified nation. As far as TV shows go, once again I love history, so I’m watching 11 22 63 on Hulu.
What equipment do you use for capturing your travels?
I’m pretty new to photography so I use a basic DSLR, the Nikon D3300, to capture all of my photos. I’ve also recently purchased a Fujifilm Instax mini camera because I love to be able to have Polaroids as keepsakes from my travels.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWQPnRIFnWi/?taken-by=leahshoup
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https://www.instagram.com/p/BWsir52FQ7h/?taken-by=leahshoup
What inspired you to start your Instagram account or blog?
The first person to really inspire me to start focusing my Instagram account on travel and photography was Glo Atanmo. I’ve always really looked up to her, and her writing and photos convinced me to start documenting my travels as well!
What is the soundtrack to your travels?
My music taste is always changing, but I love to throw a bit of Spanish and Portuguese music into my playlists. As far as English music, my favorite artists are the Arctic Monkeys, Daft Punk, and Empire of the Sun.
Who are your favorite Instagrammers at the moment?
So hard to choose! Some of my current favorites would have to be @thebelleabroad, @nomadicfare, @sophieannenadeau, and @mvandersluis.
What is your favorite quote about traveling?
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener
Can you name one place you’ve traveled that surprised you the most, and tell us why?
Valparaíso, Chile. When I first arrived, I had a really negative impression of the city. It seemed dirty and nothing like a place I would like. However, during my second visit, I really learned to appreciate Valparaíso’s artsy character and look past my first impressions.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWpwD2FF9UC/?taken-by=leahshoup
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWc46lWl6GG/?taken-by=leahshoup
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One piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring traveler. Go!
Traveling is never what you expect it’s going to be and rarely matches up to the idea in your head. It’s best to try to stay in the present while traveling and enjoy yourself rather than only thinking of the future and what’s next.
Do you have any trip planning tools or packing tips?
I’m honestly still bad at packing! I’m one of those girls that always ends up packing too much. Nonetheless, I have a three-week trip starting next week and I’m going to try to pack in one carry-on, so wish me luck!
Psssst…if you struggle with packing too, check out my top packing hacks post!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVco3BalNWw/?taken-by=leahshoup
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https://www.instagram.com/p/BU9wqkbgW6I/?taken-by=leahshoup
What is one thing you have learned about yourself while traveling?
You’re not going to find happiness in a place. I think this is something I’m still learning. I felt unhappy at home so I went out seeking a place that would make me feel happy. In all reality, I needed to learn to accept myself!
What is your favorite place in the whole wide world?
Florianópolis, Brazil. It’s a beautiful island in Southern Brazil that has tons of great beaches! I would love to eventually live by the beach and this town isn’t overrun with tourists like Rio de Janeiro, so it’s perfect!
Editor’s Note: Leah just got back from Cuba, so be sure to check out her Instagram and keep an eye on her blog for some fun photos and stories from that trip!
Follow Leah’s adventures:
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook
To read more interviews with other creative, inspiring ladies like Leah, check out all the previous posts in this series! If you’re interested in contributing an interview of your own, please get in touch. I’d love to chat with you.
She’s one of my faves too – always love her fun, colorful photos! Loved reading more about her!
Yesss! The Leah Shoup appreciation club 🙂
Leah’s was another interesting interview, thanks for introducing us to her and her work. I’ll tell my brother Steve to check her out too, as he’s going to Cuba soon.
Ooh, perfect timing! Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed learning more about Leah 🙂