Episode #346: Running with the Bulls 6 Times in Spain, Falling in Love in Colombia, and How to Experience Guatemala with Chris Davila

Episode Summary

Hear Latina-solo-travel stories from Guatemala, Sweden, Colombia, Easter Island, Bolivia, Madagascar, Spain and Vietnam. Chris Davila joins Matt for a virtual wine night and starts off reflecting on speaking at the Latino Travel Fest in Chicago.  She then shares her parents immigration journey from Guatemala to the U.S. and how she navigated her Guatemalan and American identities while growing up in an immigrant home in Chicago.  Chris then gives her tips for how to visit and experience Guatemala, reflects on her trips back to the homeland, and explains how her interest in world travel developed.  She describes her professional career journey, explains why she took an 18 month sabbatical to travel the world, and tells the story of spending Summer Solstice in Sweden with Benny from Abba.  Chris then takes us on her journey solo-camping on Easter Island, visiting the world’s largest salt-flats in Bolivia, and meeting her husband in Colombia. She also describes solo-traveling to Madagascar and how visiting local villages there changed her perception of what it takes to be happy.  Chris also talks about her experience Running with the Bulls 6 times in Spain and training others how to do it.   She then explains why she became a vegetarian in Vietnam, how she celebrated a 42-hour long birthday while traveling from Australia to LA, and reflects on the impact of her 18 month sabbatical.

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Chris Davila

Chris Davila is a communications and PR freelancer, storyteller, and the creator of Girl Takes Mundo, a Latina travel blog that empowers Latinas to explore the world fearlessly. Born and raised in Chicago with Guatemalan roots, she now travels the world from her base in the UK. Through Girl Takes Mundo, she partners with international travel brands to monetize her travels while providing expert insights, travel resources and free guides to help others do the same, and she has now been to over 80 countries.

What You'll Learn
  • Tips for Spending time in Guatemala
  • What It’s Like to Run with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain
  • Stories from Madagascar, Easter Island, Bolivia, Colombia and Vietnam
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Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[1:24] Introducing Chris Davila

[3:49] Reflections on the Latino Travel Fest in Chicago

[5:25] Chris’s Parents’ Immigration Journey from Guatemala to the U.S.

[7:42] Growing up in Chicago in a Guatemalan Immigrant Home

[9:30] Going back to Guatemala as a Kid

[12:00] How to Visit and Experience Guatemala

[15:29] How Chris’s Interest in World Travel Started to Develop

[17:17] Chris’s Professional Career Trajectory

[19:54] Taking an 18-month long sabbatical and traveling to 6 Continents

[20:43] Celebrating the Summer Solstice in Sweden with Benny from Abba

[22:33] Solo-Camping on Easter Island

[25:54] Bolivia and Salar de Uyuni

[29:22] Falling in Love in Colombia

[34:34] Madagascar

[38:24] Running with the Bulls in Pamplona 6 Times

[41:24] Training People to Run with the Bulls

[44:38] Becoming Vegetarian in Vietnam

[46:47] Celebrating a 42 hour-long Birthday from Australia to LA

[48:30] The Impact of the 18 Month Sabbatical