My Dad and David Tennant

ZK7 caught up with the super talented blogger and graphic designer, Poppy (26), who shares her most memorable travel experiences and what travelling has taught her.

Insta: @Iampoppycarter

If you had to choose a famous travel companion, who would it be?

I love David Tennant so I would say him.

Have you every had any holiday drama’s?

I went to Greece with a couple of my girlfriends about two years ago now and we booked an all-inclusive holiday. I know them really well and I have been on holiday with their families before but it was the first time it was just us, as girls.

We were all really excited.

There was a bit of a weird instance getting into the hotel and we started feeling that maybe we hadn’t got the nicest place to stay but we had to make the most of it. So we got into our hotel room and we were all taking showers after having a long day of travelling as we just wanted to relax.

Then one of my friends got into the shower and she was making this weird noise. Oh and lets bear in mind, there was no light working in the bathroom, so it was quite dark but still in the day, so you could still kind of fumble around and see what you were doing.

And we were like we will sort that out later, it’s not a big deal.

Anyway, she starts making some odd noises in the shower and we run in thinking ‘oh no what’s happening’ and she’s like ‘this water is brown! You all had a shower in brown water and no one has noticed.’ We were like ‘oh that’s disgusting.’

So we ended up going down to reception and moving rooms but they said it was from some kind of storm but it wasn’t the nicest experience either way. Then afterwards the hotel staff had to go round and check the water in every room.

Which trip has been your favourite?

This is really hard to narrow down because there are so many.

A few years ago, I visited Valencia with my parents. I am not an only child but at the time my sister could not come with us and holidays were not a regular thing for me growing up. We didn’t really go abroad much, so it was just really nice to spend that quality time with my parents, eating food and relaxing with them.

We had a 6-bedroom Airbnb which was huge and so beautiful.

Also, my Dad is really into his art as well and there was this really famous architect over there who designs loads of the building in Valencia and we got to see all of that.

How did you feel after this trip?

We had a few tricky years when I was growing up as somethings happened. It was nice when I finally sit down as an adult and I feel like I have started to get along with my parents incredibly well now. And it was so nice to have that time with them over food.

My Dad studies a bit of Spanish, so he really enjoyed the trip too, so it was all just really nice.

Which new country would you like to visit next?

I was going to say Thailand because it’s just one of those places I want to try and I want to go somewhere that is not as focused on tourism. But from my research it is becoming that way, so I need to do a bit more research on that.

The other place would be Canada. I would absolutely love to see all the wildlife. I am also into design and I love all the food they sell in all the different packaging as they have a mix.

Has there been an experience which has given you an adrenaline rush?

I am not an adrenaline junkie at all.

The closest thing I can think of is a tower in Portsmouth, called the Spinnaker Tower. At the top there is an observation deck with a glass panel, which you can walk over and that was just enough for me.

It was horrible!

What is the most amazing sight your eyes have ever seen?

When I went to New York City, as part of a secondary school art trip, I was standing in Time Square and I just found that incredible. It’s just like the movies and every time I look back, I just think that was so cool.

It’s like nothing else I have ever experienced!

Do you have any travel essentials? (Apart from your phone, money and passport)

1: A good book - As I love reading

2: My earphones - To go with my phone

3: I love listening to podcasts - So I always have a podcast on the go

4: A bottle of water - I am always carrying water as I am such a thirsty person 

Would you recommend any podcasts?

I love true crime and murder that kind of thing, so maybe not to everyone’s taste.

My favourite would be these two American women who are comedians, so it’s a comedy podcast and they go through stories of different true crime and talk about it and have a laugh. They are not making fun out of the actual crime because the crime is very serious but they are just taking a look at everyone’s perspective.

I think the two women are absolutely amazing. I love them!

What is your favourite book?

For my favourite book, let’s have a think. I love the Curse Workers series by Holly Black. I believe the first book is called White Cat and the second is called Red Glove and it’s set in a magical world. If you have magic and you are a magical person, then it’s against the law to use it and it’s kind of about how those people live their lives when they are not allowed to be who they are.

How did you start your blog?

I was always really into portrait photography and my family are really into art as well, so they helped to facilitate that and then I put up my photos. Different skincare and haircare brands started getting in touch with me and it was really fun!

If you could live abroad for the rest of your life, where would it be?

The one place I have been to where I feel like I could live there was Copenhagen (Denmark).

It is very design centric so there is a lot of what I love there but the actual place is just beautiful.

It is hard to explain, it’s like there are huge buildings but there is still so much space and there are lakes and there’s a lot to do as well. I have never even lived in a city centre but I turned round to my parents afterwards and was like, if I am ever going to move abroad it is going to be to Copenhagen.

My Dad’s friend lives in Copenhagen but he used to live where we are now. We have visited him two or three times, so we get a nice tourist version but also his version, where he shows us around which is lovely.

From the people closest to you, who do you like travelling with the most?

I have gone on a lot of trips with my Dad actually and he loves an adventure, so probably him.

What is your favourite experience with nature?

I used to do girl guides when I was younger and we had to plant 100 trees.

It was to do with global warming and it earned us a badge.

So we were doing that out in some forest, I can’t remember quite where but it was in the South East of the UK and I remember one of our group leaders saying to us everyone has to be really quite and look at that field over there. It was just like time stopped and there was a deer and a baby deer in this foggy field and it was so beautiful.

What has travelling taught you?

I think it’s taught me not to plan.

I used to be someone who would plan. I will go here at this time and then I will do that after. Now, I will roughly say that there are a few places which I would love to go to but I will make my way there and on the way I will find things and I will sit down in a nice café and there is just no rush.

I don’t need to spend every second being busy. I can just slow down and really take in my surroundings.

What do you want to be remembered for?

Just for being kind or nice. Or going out of my way for people.

Insta: @Iampoppycarter