Meet Eva
Born in the USA (Pleasanton, California), she’s lived in 7 states and 3 countries
She’s been traveling since 2004 and has visited 42 countries. This summer, Eva will be taking a round-the-world trip!
Travel Style: Budget traveler, Adventurer (but not too extreme), Foodie and Beach-lover
Interview
Word on the street is you’ll be publishing a book this year. Is there a release date? Also, could you share a little about the story?
Answer: Yes! I’m super excited to release my first book this summer! It’s a travel memoir titled Alfacinha that primarily explores how I fell head-over-heels in love with Portugal over the course of a decade. The project is really meaningful to me because I’ve learned a lot about myself and about life through my experiences in Portugal, and I wanted to reflect on those lessons and also share the things that I love about this place. Much of the story unfolds in Lisbon—the place I call Cidade dos meus sonhos (‘City of My Dreams’). And, as I describe people, places, and experiences in the city that feel like my compass, I also recount the twists and turns that life can take in a 10-year period. I share the places I’ve been, the people I love, and the lessons I’ve learned. On one hand, the book is for people who love travel and who love learning about new places. But the core of the story is freedom, love, and belonging, so my hope is that a broad audience will be able to connect with some of those more universal themes.
What made you decide to write a travel memoir?
Answer: I first got the idea to write a travel memoir when I was living in the Dominican Republic back in 2013. Everyday life was so interesting and so different from what I had experienced in the U.S. Like, how one time I had to board a bus through the window (!!) because the aisles were too packed for me to go through the front door. Another time, I had to climb over the seven-foot security gate at the house where I was staying (with bags of groceries!), because I came home while everyone was napping. Or the time that I crossed paths with a man who was walking down one of the city’s main avenues in nothing but his birthday suit! I wrote the book, Aplatanada (in Portugal, actually), and I didn’t even know that Alfacinha was a story that I wanted to tell. Then, at the beginning of the pandemic, the whole world was at a standstill, and I couldn’t travel to Lisbon. I had been to Lisbon eight times in eight years (now, that number has almost doubled!), and people were always asking me why I loved Portugal so much. So I started thinking about my experiences there, and this story came to me. Readers who enjoy Alfacinha should keep an eye out because Aplatanada will follow soon after!
What advice would you give to fellow travelers who aspire to turn their adventures into page-turning biographies?
Answer: Live life! Take risks, try new foods, connect with people, and chase the moments that take your breath away. That’s the first step, live and savor every moment. While writing both books, I looked back at old journals, social media posts, text messages, and anything that could remind me of what I was thinking and feeling at the moment. So live life, and also make sure to capture the moments in your memory. Everyone has a story to tell. Tell your story, and share it with people who can give you feedback and perspective. But, no matter what, tell your story.
Who is your favorite author?
Answer: That’s a great question. I love James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Ernest Gaines, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker – some of the literary giants of the 20th century. I love the ways that they create worlds. I pay special attention to the use of language, and I love it when the story takes me on a journey.
How many languages do you speak? Not including your native tongue, which one do you enjoy speaking the most?
Answer: Currently, I speak three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese. I’m also learning Cape Verdean Kriolu. I’ve studied French, Basque, and Catalan, but I don’t speak them much. It might help to know that I am a linguist, and that I have a master’s and a PhD in Iberian Linguistics, and that is how I came into contact with many of the languages. But I have also always been drawn to language—for communication and connection. Right now, I spend a lot of time with Portuguese, because I’m trying to build my skills … perhaps for a future location change.
What do you enjoy most about travel?
Answer: Travel feels like it is hardwired into my DNA. I love going to new places—eating the food, meeting the people, trying to pick up the local language. Traveling has broadened my perspective and taught me as much about myself as it has taught me about the world. Travel also feels like freedom to me, and freedom is one of the things that I value the most.
Name one of your favorite destinations and something you love most about it.
Answer: One of my favorite destinations is Cape Verde in West Africa. The country is made up of 10 islands, and there is so much culture, history, and natural beauty. I love the food, and I’ve made connections with so many amazing people. It is also personally significant because it was one of the first places in Africa where I (an American of African descent) felt a deep sense of belonging.
What’s the best food you’ve eaten while abroad?
Answer: This is a tough one!! Everything passion fruit flavored in Portugal! Decadent pastries in France! Arepas and coconut lemonade in Colombia, literally everything in Brazil, Doubles in Trinidad! We could be here all day finishing this list. Something on my travel food bucket list is to try Pad Thai (my favorite dish) in Thailand when I go visit with my mom this summer. I can’t wait!
You have a 10-hour flight and can only choose one form of entertainment. What are you taking: books, movies, or music?
Answer: I very rarely listen to music on flights, so I can eliminate that option pretty quickly. If I’m reading a gooooood book, I can absolutely remain engrossed in it for hours. For example, when I was traveling home for Thanksgiving last year, I took two flights, and I read your book the entire time. If I’m not in the middle of a good story, though, I will absolutely watch four movies and a few tv shows to pass the time.
If you had to choose between being a best-selling author in a genre completely unrelated to travel or cashing in on a ticket to travel the world, which option would you choose? And why?
Answer: Okay so, I feel like I’m cheating a little bit on this one, but I would choose to be a best-selling author. First, because I have so many more stories to tell! Second, because I am able to do some great travel now—42 countries so far! And third, because I just booked business class Round-the-World tickets for my mom and me for the summer. We are heading to Turkey, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Seychelles, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and Singapore. I can’t wait to see what stories I have after that amazing trip!
To connect with or learn more about Eva, follow her on Instagram @evadelaire_
