A Conversation with Christine Lambert at Christine’s Travel Gems
Every Friday, I interview a different traveler for my Instagram and Facebook pages. I love following along and sharing their journeys. Find a recap below from my Q&A with Christine Lambert of Christine’s Travel Gems.
About Christine
Christine is a complete and total travel addict who has lived on three continents and explored over twenty countries and is currently living in Germany. She would like to invite you to explore the world with her and find unique places and things to do around this beautiful planet.
What do you love most about traveling?
I love going out of my way to find the places people don’t usually go to. Oftentimes these places hold more of the traditional soul and heritage of a country or region. As much as I love big-name destinations, I find myself desiring to wander off the beaten tracks more and more.
I want my worldview to be challenged. I want to learn the history. I want to know what I’m looking at and why it’s significant to that culture and its people. I want to climb all the mountains, cross all the bridges, and explore every nook and every cranny of a country.
Tell Us About a travel story that went wrong.
My husband and I had made plans to visit Budapest and Vienna for Thanksgiving break 2021. Like many of our trips, this is one that has been delayed for a bit due to the “bug” that’s going around the world.
Unfortunately, Vienna voted to lockdown less than a week before we were supposed to arrive in the country. So, in order to “save the trip”, I decided Bratislava would be a great choice. I’ve been wanting to go there and I had picked out some great things for us to do! Plus, being only an hour away from Vienna, it was going to be pretty easy for us to hook up with our train home from Vienna on Saturday.
No such luck! We arrived in Slovakia on Wednesday, just hours before they decided to lock down the county starting Thursday. At this point, we decided to read the signs and stop fighting this losing battle.
While my classical music heart was very disappointed about not seeing Vienna, I am thankful for those two days, stuck in an apartment during a lockdown in Bratislava. I will never forget how instead of delectable Viennese desserts, I ate pasta with pesto sauce for Thanksgiving. And, I will always be grateful for the quality time spent with the best guy I know (my amazing husband).
The thing is, at the end of the day, it all comes down to attitude. Are you able to roll with whatever unexpected (or expected) event is thrown at you? Can you find joy in the little things? Rarely does travel ever look like what we initially planned. But, that’s part of the fun. And often those moments of disappointment or those sudden changes in plans become the funniest and most memorable times we laugh about over a good meal and drinks with friends and family.
Do you bring home souvenirs when you travel? What do you look for?
For myself, I always look for an ornament. It’s always an adventure trying to find something that really encompasses a piece of our experience in a new country.
Of course, my favorite time of year is Christmas when I get to decorate my Christmas tree. As I place each ornament on the tree, I am reminded of places we have been and adventures we have had. Each year, the tree gets just a little bit more filled in with new memories. I feel so lucky and blessed to have had so many travel opportunities in my life.
Where Can You Find Christine?
Find Christine on her blog Christine’s Travel Gems, featured below. Or on any of her social media sites, also shared below.
Discover more traveler interviews here. Or sign up to receive my Discovery e-newsletter for more Q&As and helpful travel tips. You will receive a free trip budget calculator as a thank you for signing up.
Hi, I am Janice and and I run the Gather and Go Travel blog. I am a travel writer, blogger, and bookhound, specializing in family and group travel. I have traveled extensively domestically and internationally to 40+ countries. I am fascinated by other cultures, religions, and languages—and love to share what I have learned in my writing. For more on my background, read my bio, our story, and how to work with me.
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