The most exciting part of the year when I was younger was my family vacation abroad, so it was inevitable that I would end up exploring the world. I achieved a first-class degree in Tourism Management at Hertfordshire University and started my journey in the exciting travel industry over a decade ago. I enjoy sharing my travel experiences, so I joined Audley as a country specialist for Portugal and Spain.
My love of nature and hiking led me to sub-tropical Madeira, where I followed the network of Levada’s that criss-cross through the luscious island and its dramatic coastal paths. I walked the Rota Vicentina path along the wild Atlantic coast of mainland Portugal, and the red cliffs of the Algarve’s Seven Hanging Valleys. I had the wonderful opportunity of experiencing sections of the famous Camino de Santiago in Spain, something that I would like to walk entirely one day.
I’m passionate about dancing and food, so I found joy in watching traditional flamenco dancing in the colorful streets of Seville, an especially romantic setting to enjoy Spanish tapas ‘al aire libre.’
Q&A with Becky
What's the best local dish you've tasted?
One of my favorite places is Madeira, not only because it’s such an incredibly beautiful island, but because of its delicious fresh food. I tried a popular Madeiran delicacy of Black Scabbardfish with banana and passionfruit sauce, known as Peixe Espada. Scabbardfish is caught off the deep waters of Madeira. Madeiran cuisine includes a lot of passionfruit and banana because the island’s unique climate and soil conditions allow passionfruit and bananas to grow in abundance. It was so refreshing and the flavors complimented each other. Madeira also has a delicious passionfruit drink called Brisa. It’s a fruity and refreshing soft drink, ideal for the all-year-round warm weather. I now have a love for passionfruit.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
I was astonished by the beauty and intricate Islamic architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada. Its decorative design, ornate archways, glorious fountains and colorful Arab tiles immediately captivated me, and it’s like nothing I’ve experienced before. Following the path through its magnificent vibrant gardens, some are more refined and some are wilder, the trail led me to an extraordinary panoramic view of Granada. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra Palace is one of the most visited attractions in Spain and Europe, but its carefully crafted planning allows you to experience the palace and gardens at your own pace without being surrounded by a sea of visitors. I walked through narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses decorated with cascading pink flowers to the viewpoint of Mirador San Nicolas to experience the Alhambra Palace from a different perspective. Listening to the sound of local’s singing and playing the guitar, I enjoyed a leisurely lunch overlooking the Alhambra Palace and the distant snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada.
Where would you love to travel next?
I hope to explore the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Menorca. I’m fortunate to have explored San Telmo, Soller, Palma and Alcudia in Majorca, so I wish to explore its neighboring islands. Ibiza looks like a verdant picturesque island with a variety of diverse places to visit. I hope to one day snorkel along its clear turquoise coastline and explore its secluded beaches. Whereas Menorca has some beautiful hikes, and the island seems tranquil, with wild and untouched natural beauty as it has a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.