What do you do for a living? How long have you been doing it and how did you get it?
I am currently looking for work after a experience working at Eurail in Netherlands. In 2016 I decided to quit my job as a Geography teacher to shift my career towards tourism and I was accepted in a Tourism Management Master’s and I’m still struggling a bit to get some professional experience in this new field.

Tell us about your trips. With whom do you travel? Which means of transport do you prefer for your travels?
I started traveling since early age with my family. When I was 3 years old, we moved to Italy and we often went to nearby countries, like Slovenia and Austria, and I got fascinated about traveling. Once we moved back to Brazil it became a big tradition to do at least one “big” trip every year with our car somewhere in Brazil. Later I started traveling with friends, girlfriend and then alone. I am really used to travel with all kinds of company and I enjoy the trip with whoever I am traveling with. Regarding transport, I only don’t really enjoy boat trips. I never did a cruise ship and have no intentions to it. Now that I’m getting a bit older, more conscious and a bit less price-sensitive, I’m starting to pay more attention to the carbon footprint my mode of transport leaves and I have tried to choose trains when possible.

Which aspects of travel do you like the most?
Meeting people and experiencing different cultures. Of course I enjoy the nature, going to museums or parks, but nothing beats experiencing the place with someone that can show you the “between the lines” of the place.

How do you choose the destinations for your travels?
It’s a combination of how much money I have at the moment, with the season I will be able to travel and the choice of affordable tickets. It usually starts with the tickets. I find an interesting ticket and then I do the math if I can afford traveling to this place. If yes, I go. If not, then I keep searching. My first backpacking in Europe I was really reckless and choosing the next destination one or two days before. And on the other hand, my Lada trip in Eastern Europe was carefully planned with several months in advance. I wish I had a real criteria to choose, but I don’t. Which is actually very good sometimes.

What are the first 3 things you pack in the suitcase? 
Camera, a decent and comfortable shoe, and raincoat. All other things are extra.

What destinations would you recommend to those who want peace and relax with breathtaking views?
Right now, where I am temporarily living, Brianza. Actually, closer to Como Lake, near Lecco. It’s very calm, with amazing views of the lake and the pre-Alps, which get very snowy in winter. If you can afford, go to Tasmania. It’s a bit of a trip to get there, but it’s one of the most amazing places I have ever been (and luckily lived).

A place that disappointed you and a place that surprised you instead?
I had high expectations about Dublin. It’s not a bad city. People there are really nice and I had a great time, but it’s in general a normal ordinary city, with very expensive prices and almost nothing to do as a tourist. It was a bit of a disappointment, for sure.
There were several places that surprised me. I had a wonderful time in Romania. I met amazing people and saw many impressive cities. It’s a place people don’t expect much, a bit forgotten, but that really surprised me. Georgia and Uzbekistan also surprised me greatly.

Your dream in the drawer?
Currently would be to work for a company, or have my own company, that could provide more accessible (in the general sense, not just handicap-friendly) and sustainable travel for people. In other words, working towards making tourism more democratic and sustainable.

The 3 favorite songs?
It’s already hard enough for me to choose my 3 favorite musical styles. Let’s say that I had to choose 3 songs, I’d choose a Brazilian one, to remind me of home, a punk rock song, to remind me of my teenager times, and a classic one, to pretend I’m sophisticated haha

Have you ever met really special people on your travels?
All the time. And this is what keeps me traveling more and more.

If you could talk an hour with a person of your choice in the world (living or not), who would you choose? 
Probably with one of the current right-wing populists that are flooding the world recently. Trump, Orban, Salvini, Putin, Netanyahu, Erdogan, Bolsonaro. I’d really like to understand what kind of sick logic they have behind their prejudices and racism. I still can’t believer we are almost in 2020 and we have receded hundreds of years in human behavior with these people.

Best beaches, in your opinion? 
The best beach I’ve been was for sure in Binalong Bay, Tasmania. Camping right by the beach, with pristine waters, white sand and the most amazing sunset I’ve seen in my life. It was too cold to swim, but the setting was just breathtaking. Other really amazing beaches I’ve been are Railay/Phra Nang in Thailand, Praia de Carneiros, in Brazil, and Praia do Felix, also in Brazil.

Which is the best place to walk in the rain?
In a museum. Stay there until the rain is gone haha.

Where have you been on your last trip? If you close your eyes and think about your last journey, what smells and sensations come to mind?
It was in northeastern Brazil, states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. The food was amazing and I am still having dreams about it. The bad side is the fact that in this region of Brazil people like to listen to music very loud and you basically can’t run away from the bad loud music.

Your personal travel tips?
Go local. Try to eat what they eat, drink what they drink. Even if you are 100% sure you won’t like or that it’s bad, as long as it’s not a threat to your health, you should try.

What is the thing that makes you  more angry? 
When traveling, I really hate selfish people who are completely unaware of their surroundings. But in general, human stupidity (that one coming from people like the populists I mentioned above, or the people who idolize them).

Best sunset ever seen? 
Binalong Bay, Tasmania.

An amazing street? 
Oudegracht, Utrecht. The main canal street there is the perfect postcard.

Best castles? 
The castle itself, is De Haar, near Utrecht. Now considering the whole picture, with the landscape, then I have to add the one in Tossa de Mar, in Catalunya, and Dunnottar Castle, near Aberdeen, in Scotland.

Now you live in Holland. What is it like to live there?  Benefits and defects?
Oh well, I was. Haha. And I miss there. It was a really nice experience. A place with great public services, decent salaries, and really high life quality. The defects are mostly superficial, like the weather, or prices. It’s a place to grow a family for sure.

Your favorite city? 
This is something that changes from time to time. Right now is Utrecht.

A phrase or quote that represents you?
I don’t know exactly how is the quote because I read it many years ago and I don’t even remember who wrote it, but it says something like “Don’t be too proud of your achievements and don’t be too sad of your failures. It’s all experience”.

Have you ever found yourself in danger on one of your trips?
Yes. I was attacked by neo-Nazis in Lithuania. I was called bad names in Germany. I was scammed in Bulgaria. And while driving my old Lada I almost had a big crash when one of the back tires exploded in Hungary or when I lost my breaks in Romania.

What do you take with you on your return from each trip?
Dozens of amazing people I met and that I definitely keep in touch. And thousands and thousands of pictutes.

Next planned rip? 
Russia for new year’s.