I grew up lucky enough to travel to amazing destinations across Europe and North America with my family. From this, I knew that I wanted to work in travel in some way.
I fell in love with Canada after a trip there with my family where I traveled on VIA Rail's 'The Canadian' journey from Toronto to Vancouver. On this trip I was able to see the diverse landscape that the country has to offer. From the forests and lakes of Ontario to the prairie lands of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, then into the Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia.
Having also worked as a chef before joining Audley, I've also been interested in the diverse food culture that Canada has, with the likes of Granville Island in Vancouver and Kensington Market in Toronto, being key stops while visiting the cities.
Q&A with Martha
What's the best local dish you've tasted?
Vancouver has a large Asian community and I went to 'Mapo Pancake House' in Yaletown, where I had some of the best Korean food I have ever had. Our favorite dish was the 'crispy thin potato and cheese pancake', which went very quickly — you can never say no to potatoes and cheese.
What's your most vivid travel moment?
My most vivid travel memory was on the Canadian train, heading through the Rockies and just before arriving in Jasper. I was sitting in the viewing car watching the sunrise over the mountains and the beautiful blue lakes as we slowly weaved our way to our destination. It was so peaceful as we all sat with our coffee in awe of the beauty that was passing by outside.
Where would you like to travel next?
I would love to head up to Churchill on the train from Winnipeg to see the polar bears. It’s a two-day venture to get up there and the train is the only land access in or out of Churchill, as there are no roads. I loved my experience on the Canadian, where I got to meet so many amazing people and see some incredible views, so I'm inspired to see more of the country this way.