When I created Vegan Around the World as a way to connect with vegans while I traveled,
Vegan World Trekker creator, Maria Giurcan, was one of the first travel bloggers to welcome me into the community. Born, raised and based just north of Boston, Massachusetts, Maria has traveled to 27 countries. She touched down on her 6th continent in 2011. She is the author of
How to Travel the World as a Vegan, an e-book that details the vegan travel scene including information on more than 70 countries. Below is a Q & A with Maria. She shares her dreams, passions and travel plans for 2012; as well as why Beantown is a great city for vegan travelers.
Tell us about yourself. I am Software Quality Assurance Engineer by profession and an avid world traveler who aspires to be a travel host on The Travel Channel, PBS GlobeTrekkers or The Food Network as the first vegan travel host! I became vegetarian at the age of eight. I became vegan about ten years ago. I enjoy staying active with dancing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, light hiking and zumba.
What’s your travel résumé? I’ve traveled all over the US; Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada and the Caribbean (Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago); several countries in Europe (France, Italy, Greece, Romania, Hungary, England, Switzerland, Iceland); several countries in South America (Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile); several countries in Asia (Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand), and a couple of countries in Africa (Egypt, South Africa). I recently took my first trip to New Zealand and enjoyed a 7-hour layover in Australia.
What’s your favorite city? There are SO MANY!! I really enjoyed Capetown, South Africa. There are gorgeous landscapes and a multitude of international cuisines with vegan options. I enjoyed the Cuzco region of Peru with breath-taking landscapes and vegan dining with local cuisine. I also felt that Egypt, while not having vegan restaurants, was satisfactory for vegans. Also, the Nile River ship excursion offered veggie, grain and legume options. The ruins were amazing!
What’s the best meal you’ve had on the road? So many favorite meals!! I really enjoyed the Cape Malay curry dish in Capetown, South Africa, as well as the African stew and buffet items from all over Africa. The Govinda’s in Cusco, Peru had great vegan versions of local cusines. I found great vegan desserts in Iceland.
What’s been the most challenging country or region? Costa Rica especially in the villages. I had to resort to eating a few side dishes at times, as vegan-friendly cafés were hard to come by. Also, the Bahamas really does not have vegan cafés or many vegetable options at restaurants.
A big part of traveling is going off the main paths. Do you find this is possible as a vegan with dietary restrictions? Actually, yes! It is easier than one may think at times! I have found that even in some remote places in African safari country and South American BBQ country, there are vegan dining options. However, to be on the safe side, I always pack vegan snacks for lengthy bus tours and vegan packaged, lightweight, dry meals (soups, rices) in case I can not find vegan meals.
How do you prepare for excursions? I research on the web to find vegan restaurants, vegan bakeries, vegan markets and vegan ice cream at my destination. I also research the region’s attractions, including the wildlife and eco-tourism. Finally, I sometimes take a 10-week language course if I am not familiar with my destination-country’s language. It helps with bargaining in the markets, as locals respect visitors who attempt to speak their language.
Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina
You do a lot of solo traveling. Why does solo travel work for you? Though it would be great to have someone to share exciting experiences with, there are indeed benefits to solo travel. For one, I get to meet other travelers from many countries and many locals who may even invite me to visit their families or to dine with them. I get an inside look at the culture.
Second, I get to see everything on my itinerary at my pace. I am a very detailed planner who loves to cram in many, many activities on a vacation (often at an accelerated pace), even if its just a long weekend. I keep an hour by hour list of what to do, which landmarks to see, which museums to visit, which tours to take, and where to dine! I am REALLY good at sticking to it!
Tell us an interesting encounter you’ve had on the road. In South Africa, I embarked on a 3-day, private tour along the east coast “Garden Route”. Everywhere along the highway, there were families of baboons with babies, posing for photos it seemed!! They appeared to be vegan themselves, as I noticed them biting on something which resembled an apple. Just a couple of days earlier, I had visited the penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach. As I started taking some photos, the penguins all lifted their heads up and opened their jaws simultaneously. In the photos, it appeared as though they were singing or communicating with each other!
Boulder’s Beach
Tell us about how you became vegan. I became vegetarian at the age of eight when my 3rd grade teacher told us unpleasant animal stories. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks that animals are killed for food but do not need to be! I became vegan about ten years ago when my local vegetarian society had a film presentation which revealed to me that dairy cattle are killed after milk production ceases. I could not bear the thought of contributing, even indirectly, to this. My appreciation of life, both human and non-human, keeps me vegan. Sentient beings deserve a life of non-suffering and a life as long and as natural as human beings.
What are some words of support you have for people who want to make the change to a strict plant-based diet but are struggling? It is easier than you may think. There are so many options and alternatives these days. Many restaurants all over the world have vegan options. Supermarkets have many vegan options too. If it is difficult to get used to the lack of meat and dairy, try the substitutes like faux meat, soy cheeses, and vegan desserts. They are really tasty so there is no reason to crave anything. Go cruelty-free!
What are your upcoming travel plans? I’m going to Norway in March to see the Northern lights! I will spend some time in the capital of Oslo visiting museums, Viking ships, art galleries, and royal palaces.
Then, I fly to the arctic city of Tromso. There, I plan on visiting an arctic museum to learn about the Sami culture and the arctic marine life and mammals. Also, I plan on seeing the northernmost botanical garden in the world, the northernmost cathedral in the world, and the northernmost university in the world.
I am most excited about my evening, 8-hour tour searching for the Northern lights across Norway, and possibly into Sweden or Finland! There are several vegan-friendly cafés and restaurants in Oslo. Some of my meals in Oslo will hopefully take place at
Spisestedet (all vegan),
Cafe Blitz, and
The Fragrance Of The Heart. Tromso does not have any vegan restaurants. However, I will dine at vegan-friendly
Sivertsens Cafe.
You live near Boston. What are some of your favorite restaurants when you’re home? My favorite hometown restaurants are
Veggie Galaxy,
Life Alive, and
Tru Bistro. Vegans should visit the Boston area because they will enjoy the veggie-friendly restaurants in town, after a busy day of historic landmarks and sightseeing! Veggie Galaxy includes an all-vegan bakery inside its diner. LifeAlive offers nutritious comfort food such as rice bowls. Tru Bistro offers eclectic, gourmet vegan meals.
What is your favorite quote on veganism? My quote is from the bible “Thou Shall Not Kill.” I take it to include animals also.
You can follow Maria’s Vegan Travel Information Facebook page here. She recently launched an online business, Vegan Honeymoons, which provides honeymoons at vegan-friendly accommodations, as well as eco-friendly sightseeing tours.
All photos copyright of Maria Giurcan.
Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina
Boulder’s Beach
