Our Trafalgar Unlocked Awards has now closed and after combing through over 10,000 incredible entries, the lucky winners have been announced. Each of these winners will be joining us with their travel companion on a 12-day trip to the Balkans this June.
One of the lucky winners was Rochelle from New Zealand, who shared her story about her trip to Italy with us in the winter. She says she loved the Isle of Capri and Sorrento, but being in Venice during Carnival was the most memorable experience.
We reached out to Rochelle to find out more about her trip to Italy, her favorite Trafalgar trips, and how it feels to be named one of our Trafalgar Unlocked Awards winners.
GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Italy
How did it feel to be one of the lucky Trafalgar Unlocked Award winners?
When the phone calls and emails came through I was still traveling with my daughter overseas. It was not until I returned home and I listened to my voicemail messages that I actually realised. I went through all my emails to find, yes that it was true. I printed it off then went out on the farm to look for my husband Shayne. I waved him over and slapped the printout on the driver’s window of the car. I cried tears of excitement and joy!!
We had our 25th wedding anniversary in January but because we are moving our farm and our daughter Natalia wanted to spend her 21st birthday overseas, we were unable to celebrate or go away together. So this has come as a true blessing. We are grateful.
Have you ever been to the Balkans? Who are you taking with you?
The Balkans has been on my bucket list for almost 20 years, so we are very excited to be going.
Over the past four weeks we have moved home to Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand. Before this we lived way down the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand (and the world). We have moved our children and grandchildren, our machinery, cows and house all this way so it has been a long six months of moving.
I am looking very much forward to spending time away with my husband and away from the chaos we have been living. Once we get back from this Trafalgar adventure we will start calving and then supply our milk to the dairy company.
What are you most excited to see and do during the 12-day Balkan Delight Trafalgar trip?
I am looking forward to visiting Dubrovnik, of course, but I am also really looking forward to seeing the Plitvice Lakes. I can’t wait to walk through and see the natural beauty and listen to the water flowing. Is it as peaceful and beautiful as it looks on the videos? I’m also excited to meet the people and experience the Croatian culture, hear their stories and learn about their history.
FIND INSPIRATION: Balkan Delight
In your winning entry you said being in Venice during Carnival time was the most memorable experience from your trip to Italy. Can you share more details about what it was like?
On arriving in Venice, we checked into our hotel where the ceilings were adorned with beautiful very large coloured chandeliers. As we entered the lobby, we could view the Grand Canal through the glass doors on the other side. We embarked on wooden water taxis to St Marks Square. The stalls with souvenirs and artists sellig their works were wonderful, but something else caught my eye.
The crowds were gathering and as we moved closer we saw people dressed up with the most exquisite costumes and masks. Little did we know, but we had arrived at Carnival time in Venice.
Many people were taking photos, others were the focus of the camera. Dressed up Venetians were posing in their fancy gowns and suits, with expressionless faces behind glazed masks. Some costumes that looked like they could be from Alice in Wonderland.
A grey winter fog moved in across the water, getting thicker and thicker so that you could no longer see the sun though it was only mid-afternoon. It created an eerie and mystic atmosphere. We carefully climbed into a gondola and ventured out into the busy Grand Canal. Relaxing in red velvet-lined seats, we explored the city, turning down quiet, narrow canals fenced by local’s homes, hotels, restaurants and shops. The only sound was the talented oarsman pushing his paddle through the water with such skill, guiding us through the back canals with ease.
Later, after an amazing walking tour, we managed to find the Rialto Bridge. Then after an hour getting lost, passing by many shops filled with hand-made masks. We found our way back to St Marks Square where all the people who were dressed up had now lined up to have their costumes graded for the competition.
Once back at the hotel we got into our own costumes and mask and headed out to join the Carnival even for a moment.
It only takes a moment to create a memory.
Can you share 3 other favorite memories from your Best of Italy trip?
It was amazing to visit San Gimignano. I loved the medieval architecture. Natalia and I had the largest strawberries, and she ordered a hot chocolate which to her surprise came out as just melted chocolate, so we dunked our strawberries in her drink.
There I also had my favourite dessert – tiramisu – with a coffee. And we ate a slice of the best pizza we had on our trip to Italy.
In Milan the Opera House certainly took my breath away, but the other place we really did enjoy was Florence. Visiting the Medici Palace and seeing my daughter’s face when she saw the birth of Venus painting was amazing.
GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Italy
Why do you feel it is important for you to travel and experience new places and cultures?
I feel to have the ability to travel is a privilege that not all get to experience. To meet the people of other countries and live a little in their culture even for a moment in time is a privilege. Everywhere I have been I feel I have left a little piece of my heart with those I have met.
The wonderful blessing of them being able to share the stories of their country and culture blended with my own I bring home to share with my family and friends. Therefore in a way I’m bringing part of them home with me.
It is a wonderful experience to be able to travel into what really are other worlds compared to our young country. Each country has its own cultures, foods, specialties and craftsmanship. all of which are to be treasured.
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What is your all-time favorite destination or Trafalgar trip?
I have travelled four times with Trafalgar and it is hard to say which is my favourite when each was a new experience and taken with a different member of my family. But I really do love Ital, and the experience I had in Egypt was all and more than I expected.
What is your favorite thing about traveling with Trafalgar?
The travel guides bring each country’s history and culture alive. One Trafalgar Travel Director brought Napoléon Bonaparte so alive that I’m sure most the woman on the coach had fallen for him by the time we reached Paris. We felt we knew him intimately!! Haha!
Where else is on your bucket list?
I would love to go to Israel, Jordan and Egypt with my husband, and also my family roots stem back to Switzerland and Ireland respectively, so I would love to do best of both of these countries.
GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Israel & Jordan
Do you have a favorite travel memory from your trip to Italy? Share it with us in the comments…