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Born abroad in Italy, Kaya’s been exploring the world since before she can remember. She’s lived all over North America and the Caribbean, most recently putting down stakes in Texas with her husband. Throughout her transient life, a constant has remained: a thirst for adventure.
“Life's been a whirlwind since our move from Canada to Texas last year. Any time we’re traveling, it’s quick visits or getting obligations done. I can’t remember the last time we said, ‘Let’s go on a vacation,’” Kaya reflected.
But in her Go For It Giveaway entry, she clearly portrayed what a break from the bustle of everyday life would look like, writing, "I'm dreaming of wandering through the French Quarter, indulging in Creole munching, and getting spooked by ghostly tales.” And although the ghosts never manifested, the trip more than made up for it in culinary wonders and cultural explorations.
Over six days and five nights, Kaya and her husband basked in the expansive, ancient city of New Orleans: cruising the Mississippi river on a steamboat, grooving to the tunes of live jazz standards, walking the brick alleyways of the French Quarter, exploring the bayous—home to masses of alligators—that surround the city, and participating in a celeb chef’s three-course, Creole cooking class.
Kaya described how the steamboat tour was a breathtakingly immersive way to begin their trip, “We were floating down the Mississippi and seeing sugar factories and just really getting an outside perspective.” Her husband might have missed some of the sights, though, a bit distracted by the live music aboard. “I was surprised, he ended up standing near the jazz band and listening to them for most of the night.” She conceded, “It was something where you couldn’t help but tap your foot.”
Kaya also painted a vivid picture of the food in New Orleans, “A lot of gumbo, a lot of fish, po’ boys–you really know that you’re on the Gulf. It’s all very different.” Her culinary journey culminated in a private, Creole cooking class. “The first thing we made was gumbo. Up until then, I wasn’t that enthusiastic about it. Then making it with this chef, the gumbo was delicious. I’m craving it still now.”
Starting to settle back in under the Texas sun, Kaya can imagine a life where traveling for pleasure is more regular. The first place she plans on going? Right back to New Orleans. She even got a few recommendations from the cooking instructor, “We wrote down all these notes during the class. Now we definitely have to go back and try all the restaurants she mentioned.”
On jumping at the opportunity to get out there and experience something new, Kaya said,
Stay tuned for the next adventure in our Go For It Giveaway winners series.
