Both of my parents are originally from Costa Rica, so when I was young I had the opportunity to visit here with them a handful of times to visit various family members.
My first opportunity to travel with my own motives in mind was when I spent my semester abroad in London, where I was able to travel to ten different countries within Europe during my five months there — which included an unforgettable trip to Italy.
Since then, I have been blessed enough to explore both domestically and internationally, so my passion for travelling has never fleeted. With my desire to travel and passion for sharing experiences with others, being able to work for a company like Audley — and yes it sounds clichéd — is a dream come true.
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Q&A with Roberto
What’s the best local dish you’ve tasted?
The best local dish I had was in Rome, a carbonara, but in its natural form. Although I have had carbonara in the US, it will never compare to a Roman carbonara. When you order a carbonara in the US, you will usually find it with peas or pancetta, but to the Romans, adding additional ingredients and condiments is sacrilege. In Rome, they use guanciale, pork cheek, as opposed to pancetta and it makes all the difference. The browning on the guanciale allows for it to have a certain crisp that you do not find with an American carbonara, and it gives the dish much more flavour.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
On my latest trip to Italy, while in Sorrento, I had the privilege of being able to take a cooking class with a local renown chef in her home. The decor of the home was so welcoming and the aroma of the farm fresh ingredients in the kitchen set the stage for a magical experience. The chef and her daughter led our small group in making homemade pasta and tiramisu, while showing us family pictures and created such a loving environment. Once we finished creating these meals, the mother and daughter served our food at their family table. The experience itself, with the stories provided by them, moved me to tears because they treated us as if we were part of the family as well. At no point did I feel like a client, but rather, a grandkid being coached on making a meal with my grandmother for a holiday meal with my closest loved ones, which made the experience unforgettable.
Your best piece of travel advice?
Bologna has become a little more popular in recent years, but is still somewhat of a hidden gem. For a city that is fairly populated, in no way does it feel that way. It has a long history, beautiful architecture, and is also in relatively close proximity for travelling to and from larger cities like Rome and Florence, in the case that you would like to visit one of those cities only for a day trip.