WSGT’s next interview is with lifestyle and travel specialist Zipporah aka “Zippy” Sandler of @Zipporahs and Champagne Living; a website dedicated to showing viewers how to live life to the fullest.
Where was the first place that you traveled that made you think WOW—travel is amazing (think history book come to life or …..)
That would have to be Paris. I left for the city of lights just a few days after leaving a theater company back in 1972 and stayed on for 3 months. I felt immediately at home on the road, traveling alone.
If you had unlimited resources, where would you go and what would you do?
I would slow travel, spending 3-6 months in each spot. I feel like I never really get to immerse myself in a culture or destination if I’m only visiting for under 10 days.
What were you afraid to do and how did you find the courage to overcome it?
My biggest fear is speaking in front of people. It’s funny, because I started my life as an actress & dancer, on the stage professionally, but I was always playing a role. Being myself…RAW is the most difficult thing for me. I still struggle with that. I’ve been asked to speak all over the world, and I immediately go into panic mode. I can do workshops, one on one, etc. but HATE being on a stage speaking.
What apps do you use regularly that make your life easier?
For photography: ProCamera
For currency exchange: XE
For language help: Babble
What place do you wish more people have seen?
Jerez de la Frontera – it’s a very small city in the Alicante region of Spain and one of the most warm and welcoming that I’ve ever experienced.
Best advice you have been given and by whom?
My father taught me to: “Dare to be different” (he was an artist), and my mother taught me that “you can be anything that you want in life, as long as you can read the directions.” Both have served me well, in my 62 years of life.
When were you surprised by the kindness of strangers on a trip?
On my first trip to Paris (see above), I was walking through the Marais. This was BEFORE it was hip, and it was a small Jewish community. I remember eating at Goldberg’s deli on Rue de Rosiers and people were asking me if I was American & if I were Jewish. I was immediately invited into their homes for Sabbath dinner. This was in the days when there were chickens running in the streets, and travelers never ventured into this part of the city.
What inspired you to travel for extended periods of time or live in a new country?
I’m not sure that I was actually inspired. I just felt compelled to experience new people and cultures. It was how I was raised…to always try new things, to break out of the box, and to really see and enjoy life in the moment.
I travel because….
Even though I’ve been blogging for almost nine years, and have been doing twitter parties since the VERY FIRST ONE back in 2008, I know there is so much to learn from my peers.
Former actress turned blogger/journalist, it was a natural progression from lifestyle to travel for this baby boomer writer. After spending most of her life in New England, Zippy has stored her belongings, her husband, and her miniature bull-terrier in South Florida while she travels. When she’s not traveling, she co-owns the premiere company for twitter parties on the web, with clients in the Fortune 500, her parties average between 60 million – 100 million impresssions an hour, which is why brands like P&G, Sprint, and more have been coming to her for her social media expertise for over eight years.
Stay up-to-date with Zippy through her website and social media outlets:
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