By Wendy Knecht
As I pack my travel bag, my mind recollects all the good times that have included plenty of fine dining and tasting of new cuisines for the very first time. In my many years of traveling, both as a flight attendant and a passenger, I have found that eating my way around the world is not only a learning experience but also one of the major highlights of traveling.
Nothing beats eating foods where they originate and learning about the specialties of any locale. Food is an integral part of the local heritage, and experiencing the regional foods and drinks has enriched my travel experience immensely, and I’m certain it will yours.
People are proud of their culture, and food is culture, so trying the local fare is mandatory. I really can’t think of any place on earth that I have been where people aren’t proud of their local food heritage. Cincinnatian’s pride themselves on their Chili; 3-way, 4-way or 5-way… and I have even had it 7-ways! A trip to Texas without eating barbecue? Unthinkable! Kobe beef in Japan, New Zealand mussels, Hungarian goulash, the list goes on.
Sharing a meal is what makes life pleasurable. What could be more fun than sharing a Caprese salad in Capri or paella in Spain? You might discover your favorite food along the way. I discovered Pavlova working my way to Sydney as a Pan Am flight attendant, where it was our premier First Class dessert. Pavlova is a creamy, marshmallowy, crunchy-crusted, fruit-laden delight—and I still dream about and crave it to this day.
You may be surprised at how we’ve made our own version of certain dishes. Our take can be a lot different than the way it was originally intended. You may be happy or disappointed to discover that pizza and pasta in Italy are not sauce-laden like their American counterparts. Though I must say that I have never eaten anything in Italy that was a disappointment.
In all honesty, new foodie experiences may not end up to be entirely pleasant, but they are always an adventure. I have had some scary dining experiences, such as choking on a fish bone at an upscale karaoke bar in Seoul, eating grease-laden potato pancakes at a long-lost relative’s home in Prague, and trying to consume an entirely unidentifiable plate of “something” in Bhutan (they swore it was vegetarian).
Speaking of “vegetarian”; when the thought of blood sausage makes your stomach turn, this can be the best tack to take. If you’re truly adamant about not trying something new, professing strict vegetarianism can get you out of some hot water. I once had to employ this in the hinterlands of Vietnam. Adventure is one thing, but I just couldn’t bear the thought of what could be in that mystery meat. You might want to be a little careful in food stalls in places like India or China, but others can be a delicious delight. Check out any French fry or waffle stall in Belgium and you’ll soon be going back for more.
Don’t forget the local drinks. You must have the original Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Café at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco and the original Singapore Sling at the Raffle’s Hotel bar in Singapore. These places might be touristy, but they are institutions and you’ve got to go. Brazil’s national cocktail is the Caipirinha, and you wouldn’t want to miss drinking one there.
As an international flight attendant, I would sometimes pick my flights for the onboard food, which Pan Am always matched with the country traveled to. The best gravlax ever was on the Oslo flight and the creamiest, best cheeses were served in First Class from Paris. To this day, I can’t resist cambozola cheese, the most mouth-watering mix of gorgonzola and camembert you ever tasted. I loved to work first class to ensure there would be enough caviar left over for the crew. Oh, the joys of world class food.
Gourmet food browsing in local markets can not only be the best entertainment, but you could stumble upon the best meal or treat of your life. I have always considered a visit to a local grocery store a mandatory destination on any trip. Checking out the aisles is an education in and of itself and a most interesting one at that.
So, eat your way around the world. You don’t want to miss out on any culinary pleasure. As for me, I’ll be unpacking this time in Savannah, Georgia and I just can’t wait to try those fried green tomatoes and grits.
Wendy Knecht is a former Pan Am Flight Attendant, world traveler, entrepreneur, and author of Life, Love and a Hijacking: My Pan Am Memoir. Her website is wendysueknecht.com

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The Life-Changing Magic of Travel
by Wendy Knecht on July 12, 2016

25If you are suffering from acute boredom, having a mid-life crisis, dealing with a divorce, or feeling “unsettled,” you may be thinking you need a few sessions with a shrink. Before you lay out a substantial amount of cash for what may or may not be a worthwhile endeavor, consider this: Take a trip. Alone.
Going away could prove to be extremely valuable, whether you have only a spare weekend or the luxury of a yearlong journey. Simply removing yourself from the daily grind of life can work wonders.
I am not suggesting running away from your problems. But waking up in a fresh environment, away from constant reminders of discontent, can help you to look at your issues in a completely different light. When you’re alone, you have to be your own best friend. That can go a long way to help you to clarify what you truly need to do to move forward.
Getting out there in nature can also serve to soothe your soul. When my mother passed away, I was devastated. A dear friend kindly offered her condo in Tucson and encouraged a change of scenery. It was an effort to get there from Los Angeles, but once I did, I felt better. Hiking the beautiful trails and taking treks through nature gave me time to reflect on my wonderful relationship with my mother, and gave me solace and meaning to my sadness.
It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do, a trip to the city can be as valuable as a trip to the country. Losing yourself in a museum or window shopping can be as be as therapeutic as fly-fishing in a stream. You may not get an immediate epiphany (though it is entirely possible), but it has been my experience that insight happens in the spaces. It’s ironic, but getting away from a problem can bring you closer to the solution.
In any case, time away in new surroundings can be enlightening. It can reduce anxiety, stress, and be a calming experience. You many come home with renewed hope, a fresh attitude and an abundance of energy to take on your life.
I believe that to truly gain perspective on life; one must travel. Traveling gives you a unique point of view on the world that you cannot get otherwise, and helps you not only to learn about others but to learn about yourself.
There are so many reasons why expanding your own horizons, can also have ripple effects on others. Traveling can “wake you up” to what life is all about and give you the gift of compassion for others.
If you’ve ever met a narrow-minded person (who hasn’t!?), you know what I mean. These are people that only feel comfortable only within their own surroundings and are intolerant of other cultures, customs, religions, etc. I will be forever thankful for my job as a Pan Am flight attendant, and the incredible travel experiences I was privy to. My travels opened up my mind and gave me perspective on the world. It made me a forever grateful” person.
I will never forget taking the tour bus into East Berlin when the wall was still up. The macabre feeling in the air, the downtrodden look of the people, and the gray mist that seemed to permeate the air just screamed out “oppression.” Going through Checkpoint Charlie was enough to make my heart fly out of my chest, especially when I saw the long mirrored stick they used to search under the bus, searching to catch anyone that might have been trying to escape. A profound feeling of gratitude for the freedom I had taken for granted my whole life came over me as soon as we crossed into West Berlin.
Traveling made me realize the meaning of “there but for the grace of God go I”…, and I mean that in a very spiritual way. There is that profound feeling of just plain luck — any of us could have been born into any culture, any country, and any circumstance in life. But here I am, and how fortunate. Traveling to unknown territories made me realize that the freedom I take for granted is a gift, and not a given.
Traveling also makes history come alive. And gaining historical knowledge gives you a strong feeling of compassion. Visiting the Jewish Quarter in Prague, where the Pinkas Synagogue has over 77,000 names of Nazi victims inscribed on its walls, and touring Gory Island in Dakar, Senegal, where the historic slave trade site showcases the almost unbelievable conditions that people endured, were life-changing experiences. These are just a couple of examples of how travel can open up your heart and soul.
There’s just no substitute for being there. If you make an effort in your life to seek out unfamiliar places and cultures, you will not only increase your knowledge, but there is a great likelihood that you will open up your mind, your heart, and your soul as well. I’ve had many epiphanies and life-changing experiences while traveling, which began with my travels as a Pan Am flight attendant, back in “the day,” and continues to this day.
Sometimes just the planning of a trip can give you the lift you need to forge ahead and deal with the problem at hand. I’m reminded of the first time I enlisted the help of trained professional to deal with a few of life’s problems that were piling up: a breakup, a move, and a general feeling of hopelessness. I was doing some part-time private jet flying at the time, working as a “private flight attendant,” while building my new business designing travel bags.
I was sitting at my new psychologist’s office, baring my soul when my beeper went off (ah, the days of beepers!). I excused myself and came back in a much better mood when I received an assignment for a week-long trip to Paris for the following day.
“Wow, that sounds fabulous! I wish I could go! My job is so f-ing boring!” my therapist exclaimed.
Admittedly, that’s not what the patient wants to hear. But it does illustrate the fact that just the thought of getting away can certainly lift one’s spirits. So save your shrink money, and try a little travel. Sometimes a change of scenery might just be what the doctor ordered.