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#rtwsoon Interview: Hannah – Caravan Of One

#rtwsoon Interview: Hannah – Caravan Of One

Nearly a year ago we predicted that Iceland would be the next big travel destination and it seems that we’ve been proven correct… today we’ve got ANOTHER traveler setting off around the world and starting their adventure in one of the most beautiful countries there is.

Hannah from Caravan of One will then be spending a few months in Europe exploring some of the lesser-known destinations in what sounds like an amazing trip. Read on to find out more…

Hannah - Caravan Of OneWho are you?

If someone were to ask me to describe myself in one word, “normal” definitely wouldn’t be it. Crazy, quirky, adventurous….now that’s more like it.

My name is Hannah, and I grew up in a small town in the midwestern United States that no one has ever heard of. That being said, it can be deduced that my small-town complex has contributed to my determination to strike out and discover the world. Indeed, I’m leaving my job, friends, and family behind and selling all my possessions to travel indefinitely.

This isn’t the first time I’ve left to travel, but it will be the longest trip I’ve ever done. I’ve traveled before to the Middle East, as well as Mexico, Costa Rica, and Great Britain. I’ve done some crazy things during my travels; I’ve visited Syria during the Arab Spring, gone grave digging in Wales, and contracted bedbugs in a questionable hotel in Doha, Qatar.

Exploring the beautiful Baha'i Gardens in Haifa, Israel.

Exploring the beautiful Bahai Gardens in Haifa, Israel

Where are you going on your RTW?

The first two months of my trip will take me to Iceland, and then on a Celtic quest through Britain. Then I will embark on a two-month whirlwind tour of Europe in which I will focus on visiting cultural and linguistic minority communities throughout the continent. Why? Because I believe that Europe is much more than the Eiffel Tower, the Roman Colosseum, and the Berlin Wall. I want to provide travelers with tips about lesser known, yet equally amazing places and communities throughout Europe.

Following my visit to Europe, I am tentatively planning to travel through Russia, the “stans” of Central Asia, eastern Turkey, Iran, and northern Iraq. After that, possibly Western Africa!

Would you call me a crazy girl with a death wish? You wouldn’t be the first one. My friends and family don’t believe that the places I want to go are actually safe. But that’s just why I want to go there – to take away people’s sense of mystery and fear from countries that have oh-so-much to offer.

When are you leaving?

I’m leaving for Iceland on September 17th.

This snapshot from Cappadocia, Turkey looks idyllic, but doesn't reveal the fact that I was wracked with an extreme case of food poisoning at the time.

This snapshot from Cappadocia, Turkey looks idyllic, but doesn't reveal the fact that I was wracked with an extreme case of food poisoning at the time

Why did you decide to go on this trip?

I decided to leave because travel for me is a lifestyle & not just something I want to do for vacation. I’ve decided to embrace my wanderlust & travel just as long as I possibly can (or until I become broke and homeless).

I also want to travel to show other people that the world is not such a scary place. Maybe I’m just a peace-loving hippie but I believe that if we all understood each other just a little more maybe we could all get along better.

What will you be doing to pass the time before your travels?

Before I leave the US, I’m going back to visit my family in Colorado for several weeks. I hope that will give me some time to relax and work on developing my blog. Of course, I will be hanging out with my friends as much as possible because I never know when I might see them again.

Trying my best to blend in, I wore a black chador at the Iranian-style Sayyida Zeinab Mosque in Damascus, Syria last year.

Trying my best to blend in, I wore a black chador at the Iranian-style Sayyida Zeinab Mosque in Damascus, Syria last year

If you could give just one piece of advice to a fellow #rtwsoon traveler, what would it be?

My advice would be plan well….then throw all your plans out the window.

I think dreaming and planning a trip can be almost as enjoyable as the trip itself. If you allow yourself to daydream and build up anticipation for your travels, you will benefit from the experience. Use the local library and the internet to do research and create a plan of what you want to do and where you want to go.

As you dream and plan, however, realize that the best laid schemes often go awry. Flexibility is an important part of travel, and realizing that you aren’t going to follow your plan 100% of the time will prevent angst and disappoinment later down the road.

Visit Hannah’s Website: Caravan of One
Follow Hannah on Twitter: @caravanofone

If you’re heading around-the-world in the next 12 months and would like to be featured here, please contact us.

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