Ally Lewing

Q&A with Ally - Europe Specialist

What is your favourite travel memory?

After years of seeing photographs and videos of the famous Catalan castells, essentially human towers, I had the opportunity to visit a castellers club outside of Barcelona as they practiced for an upcoming festival. In the club’s lounge I watched videos of some of their most impressive towers, then met with instructors to learn the basics of climbing and even got to support the base of a tower several levels high. As much as I was in awe watching people of nearly all ages – from young children to senior citizens – participate in building a human tower, it was the hospitality and warmth of the castellers community that most overwhelmed me.

Your most annoying travelling habit?

Regrettably, it’s overpacking. I like to be prepared when In reality, I find myself wearing the same comfortable clothes and wishing I had more space for things I buy during my travels. It’s a habit I’m trying to break…

What 5 things do you always travel with?

Packing cubes and pouches to keep me organized (and reduce stress!), credit card, iPhone, wet wipes, and a scarf or wrap (which I can also use to protect my skin from the sun, or to cover-up when entering a place of worship).

What is on your bucket list?

The list is long and always getting longer, but a game viewing safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara and driving through the amazing landscapes of New Zealand’s southern island are high on my bucket list.

You are stranded on a desert island with 2 famous people, who are they?

Jennifer Lawrence – she seems fun and hopefully she can use some of her skills she learned filming the ‘Hunger Games’ to get us food; and Beyonce, because if she gets stranded on a desert island people will definitely be relentless in searching for her.