See the world through local eyes with these top tips from flight attendants

Clara Muiruri has been with Kenya Airways for 12 years. Clara was born, raised and still lives in Nairobi, which she describes as ‘fun, busy and crazy’.

Laura Carballo has been a flight attendant with Air Europa for four years. Though she now lives in Madrid, she returns frequently to her hometown of Valencia to see her family and be among ‘open-minded people in a lovely, sunny city’.

 

Describe one of the treasures of your home city?

Clara: Nairobi National Park is uniquely located right in the heart of the city. When you drive in from the airport, you can spot their giraffes and zebras, and maybe even a lion. You better keep your camera out!

Laura: The Promenade. Valencia is a city that looks towards the beach. There is always good weather, with the temperatures staying between 18 and 40, so you can do anything you want all year. It’s nice to walk along the lengthy seafront, seeing other people enjoying what the city has to offer.

The promenade Explanada, Alicante, Costa Blanca, Valencia, Spain

 

Must-eat dish:

Clara: There are 42 tribes in Nairobi, each with their own specialty, but the Kikiyu signature dish is githeri: beans, maize, potatoes, carrots and cabbage.

Laura: The Neptuna Restaurant is on the beach and serves up the best paella in the world. You must try the arròz a banda!

 

Unique local experience:

Clara: Matatu minibuses. The drivers call you off the street and shove you in. They never follow traffic lights, and people hang off the side. All the tourists always want to try it, but when you’re inside all you want to do is get out; it’s so crazy.

Laura: We have a tradition between March 15^th and 19^th  called Fallas. A century ago, when the seasons changed, people would burn the things they didn’t want to use. Now there’s a specialist professor who creates monuments – like a jungle with animals, or a scene making fun of government ministers. On the night of the 19th, they wear traditional dress and burn it. It’s a fun festival.

 

Symbolic souvenir:

Clara: Masai weaving and beading. Women from the villages make really nice baskets called kiondo, and sandals, and craft amazing beadwork.

Laura: Wicker beach bags and espadrilles, which come from the culture of rice cultivation.

 

Must-see sight:

Clara: Just outside the city is the Karen Blixen Museum, the home of the Danish author who wrote Out of Africa. You can see how she lived, explore her bedroom and her books,and sit down to a tasty meal in the restaurant.

Laura: The City of Arts and Sciences is one of the most famous examples of Santiago Calatrava’s architecture. You can see so much of the city’s history through its buildings, which are dominated by the  Spanish Modernista style. The Mercat Central is particularly impressive.

House of Karen Blixen in Kenya, close to Nairobi