Dani Blanchette

I’m a photographer, travel blogger, metal-head, and self-proclaimed ‘horrible tourist’ (aka: I don’t carry guidebooks, and I will say yes to just about any stupid or wacky idea, and hate touristy places).

I gave away everything I owned and bought a one-way ticket to Caracas, Venezuela in September 2011. I’ve been down here for almost 7 months now photographing, writing, and going to WAY too many rock shows! And I am loving every second of this!

You can work pretty much where you want to – on the road, do you find it hard to work or do you just have fun and work when you come back home?

At the moment I'm attempting to find work abroad so I can stay longer without having to come home. I somehow have made 3 months worth of money last 7, but I'm down to my last $200 (which luckily goes pretty far in Medellin, Colombia). So now I'm just trying to do more travel writing and photographing. But realistically, I'm flying home in a month or so to start working again so I can come back.

(PS: my other job is being a high-steel concert rigger, basically a roadie that works 50-100ft in the air, so really, it more like getting paid to play on giant steel jungle-gyms.)

Do you feel many people are envious of your lifestyle?

Some tell me they are, but I'm still envious of many other people who have traveled more than me. I'm also envious of my sister who owns a house on beautiful farm land in my home state. And of my brother who is a computer genius, which I am definitely not.

In which countries have people recognised you, even when you thought nobody would?

No one has recognized me. But a few days after moving to Vegas, I was walking around the Paris with a bunch of roadie co-workers (who ranged from 6' to 7'4" tall, I'm 5'2")... people were starring at me 'cause they thought I was famous and the guys around me were my bodyguards. It was pretty awesome.

Which three items would you never travel without?

My camera, sewing kit (my mom is a seamstress... you have no idea how handy my thread and needle have been), safety pins.

Are there any specific souvenirs or other things you collect from the places you go to?

I don't really collect souvenirs, usually because I am poor, somewhat because I'm just going to break it carrying it around, and some because my camera gear is heavy enough. If I decide to buy anything, I do it the day before I leave, but I have my photos. My photos and my new friends are what I care about.

Also, I usually try to bring my mom a rock from any ocean I go to.

Tagged as: United States

Dani (Danielle)Blanchette
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