Unconventional Food Tours in Dublin and Florence
Laura getting ready for a tour - photo credit Lo On The Road
Ep 159 w/ Lo On The Road - The Unconventional Food Tours in Dublin + Florence: Discovering Food, Culture, and Travel Stories
My 159th guest episode on the Winging It Travel Podcast is with Laura, known as Lo On The Road, who comes on to talk about her food tours in Dublin and Florence.
Laura grew up in Northern British Columbia to Italian parents. At the age of 26, she made the leap to travel solo to Europe, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Growing up in a family restaurant, Laura was constantly exposed to excellent, especially Italian food.
After a stint nannying in Florence, owning a cafe in Dublin, and working for various companies, she now runs food tours in Dublin and Florence in her unique style; hence, the name ‘Unconventional’ is in the title.
Laura’s tour in Dublin is ranked number one on Airbnb Experiences, and people love having Laura as their tour guide.
This episode is very conversational with a lot of fun and laughs thrown in there to as we delve into various aspects of Laura’s life and travels.
Let’s dive into some topics.
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What to expect on Laura’s tours in Dublin
Laura's website provides a full description of her tours, including prices and the foods you can expect to taste.
However, in the podcast episode, Laura explains the vibe she is going for and what she tries to convey with the places you visit.
Laura emphasizes the importance of where the food comes from, and the tour will include information from the start of the process (for example, on the farm) all the way to your plate.
How often do you research where food has come from or read about how it gets to your plate?
Myself, never!
This is what I love about Laura’s tours; they sound fun and informative.
Laura is a really engaging speaker who radiates positive vibes every minute, so I know her tours will be filled with laughter, important information, and, of course, sensational food.
She likes to cover all the food groups, with seafood, red meat, white meat, vegetarian food, and Guinness thrown in for an all-around experience.
I know mussels are part of the tour, but I have never tried them before. Personally, I think they would make me gag, but if I were on Laura’s tour, I would definitely give them a go—just to see Laura’s reaction if I chunder in the corner into the bin.
She would find that funny (I think?).
With 6-8 stops on the tour, you must pace yourself wisely and not overeat at the start, as you would want to taste everything until the end.
Food tours are something that I have never really done that much, but when I head to Dublin, I will definitely be hitting Laura up for a tour and a laugh.
I can’t wait!
Following the advice of a random person at a wedding to go on her first solo trip at the age of 26
How often has someone told you to get out there and travel, but you shrug your shoulders and put it off until…forever?
Well, don’t, that is my advice; Laura heard the same thing from someone she met at her cousin’s wedding.
He strongly advised her to travel and fulfil Laura’s dream of going to Europe. When Laura asked when he thought she should do it, he replied, ‘Tomorrow.’
That threw Laura into action.
She went to a website that looked for nannies, signed up, and selected some European countries.
The next day, she had an offer for a family in Florence, and she was off but not without hiccups.
She almost didn’t go even when she made it to the airport as she nearly turned back.
When she arrived in Florence and the people picking her up didn’t appear, Laura felt a sense of relief. She accepted that this was a scam and that it was an excuse to return home.
However, she was picked up and thrust into nannying in Florence.
This was over ten years ago, and she is still in Europe, so it was the right decision.
The key point to take away from this part of the episode is that these trips are not easy. The easy answer is no. They will be stressful, emotional, and hard.
It will take time to adjust to a new country, a new language, and a new way of doing things.
But if you get past those first few days and weeks, you settle in, work it out, and start to enjoy the journey.
Laura loved Florence so much that she now hosts food tours there, too, in her way.
So even at the age of 26, making this decision is never too late and you just need to forget the media dominaed adults who advise you to get a house, a career and get those babies on the go, ignore them.
Forge your path with your own destiny and get a story.
Trust me, ten or twenty years from now, the people who had the ‘unusual’ discussions will be the ones people want to talk to, and you will have something to offer humanity.
Get on the road!
The trend of immigrant parent’s kids going back to their parent’s homeland
This strange phenomenon is happening worldwide, proving the difficult times people live in regarding economic prosperity or lifestyle choices.
Laura’s parents hail from Italy and moved to Canada for a better life, and now their daughter thinks the opposite and is living in Europe.
Why do you think this is the case?
I think that the Millennial generation, which I am part of, definitely does not see the status quota and earning enough money as enough.
We want a better lifestyle in a society that does not prioritize profit over human beings.
We want a better work culture. We wanted to be respected if we needed a day off.
There needs to be an acceptance if we take a vacation.
The USA and Canada have a normal vacation allowance of two weeks a year; yes, you read that right —two weeks. In some states in the US, they don’t have to give you this.
Granted, I am now living in Canada, and there are reasons for this, but I am starting to miss Europe for its weather, community feel and closer access to the rest of the world.
Being based in parts of North America is not ideal if you are a traveller, as getting anywhere abroad can take a long time.
People are starting to see this in the Western world, as many return to their parents' original locations.
However, there is a main caveat to this for Laura and me. We want to be our own bosses, which guarantees much more freedom.
Laura does this with her online businesses and tours, and I am working towards it.
You just need to work out what is best for yourself and aim for that goal. If not, this will only lead to regret.
Laura is super inspirational to me in her desire to see the world and try something new, and you should check out the full episode to get your ideas, too!
Laura on her travels in Europe - photo credit Lo On The Road
Check out my latest Roaming with Hammo YouTube episode about my scenic flight over Whistler.
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Who is Laura from Lo On The Road?
Laura runs captivating food tours in the enchanting cities of Dublin + Florence, and her travel stories are nothing short of remarkable. From her beginnings in Canada to her adventurous leap into Europe, Laura's first solo trip at age 26 sparked a passion for travel that would change her life forever.
Join us as Laura shares her unique travel experiences, including her time as a nanny in the picturesque streets of Florence. She opens up about the challenges and joys of living abroad, painting a vivid picture of her adventures and the cultural richness that comes with them. This episode is a treasure trove of travel anecdotes highlighting the importance of personal connections. Laura emphasizes how meeting local business owners and immersing oneself in the community can lead to unforgettable experiences + genuine friendships.
This episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible and YouTube. And anywhere else, you get your podcasts!
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