Introducing Marcus Larsson: Our Guest Instagrammer from Sweden
Hometown: Helsingborg, Sweden.
Occupation: Business analyst.
Favorite destinations: Rome, Austin.
Dying to visit: Iceland, Japan, Australia.
Bizarre travel rituals: People-watching in airports. It's the twilight zone of fashion choices. Where else would you see a man wearing a straw hat, denim shirt and pants, and Crocs?
In-flight relaxation regime: A pair of noise-canceling, in-ear headphones and my iPod filled with my favorite music and a good selection of podcasts.
Always in carry-on: My iPhone and charger, passport and documents, cash, a med-pack, and a change of clothes. I pack it like it's a survival kit. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Concierge or DIY? I strive for DIY, but my OCD loves a set schedule. It's a war of attrition that DIY tends to win in the end.
See it all or take it easy? I try to see all the sights first, especially if I'm in a new place. And after that, just relax and explore on my own in my own time.
Drive or be driven? Drive. Always drive.
Travel hero: A woman I used to work with who has been traveling the world for the better part of the last four to five years. From working as a travel guide in California and Nevada, attending Burning Man, to working with Global Vision International as a volunteer in Nepal and India, helping children in need. She is not only an inspiration for me to travel but also a great person. I'd be lucky to experience a fraction of what she has seen.
Weirdest thing seen on travels: One of the more recent ones was the man who walked around Rome taking photos of nothing but door handles. We all have our passions, I suppose.
My favorite hotel is St Helen's in Dublin because their suites were the definition of luxury and their Italian restaurant, Talavera, started my love affair with Italian cuisine.
I dream about my meal at The Black Cat in Montpellier, France. Best foie gras I've ever had.
Best hotel amenity: Air conditioning.
Favorite childhood travel memory: Driving with the family from Sweden to England through Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Seeing the white cliffs of Dover from the ferry deck is still etched into my memory.
Everywhere I go, I check out the local restaurants and cafes. I enjoy a good meal or two (or three) and I cannot function without caffeine. After that, the music scene. I live and breathe music.
When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by grabbing a map of the city and its public transportation, giving it a quick look to get my bearings, and then heading out and getting around using trial and error.
I always bring home maps. It has become an unintentional collector's item for me.
If I never return to Frankfurt, it'll be too soon because that airport almost drove me insane. Had it not been for my charm (read: persistence) and very limited German I never would've gotten that last stand-by seat out of there.
I travel for the experience.
MORE MARCUS
Twitter: @swedishmarcus
Instagram: @swedishmarcus
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