Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Cheryl Della Pietra
More than two decades ago, Cheryl Della Pietra worked as Hunter S. Thompson's editorial assistant. Her job description included late-night partying with the famous author and ensuring that he typed up a page each evening to turn into his publisher. In her lively debut novel, "Gonzo Girl" (Touchstone Hardcover, $24.99), Della Pietra writes about a young Ivy League graduate who will only get paid if her boss, gonzo journalist Walker Reade, completes the book he owes his editor.
Della Pietra's life is a little more sedate these days. "I currently live in Branford, on the Connecticut shoreline, a few miles from where I grew up and a stone's throw from New Haven," says Della Pietra, 45. "We moved back there eight years ago from Brooklyn, when my son was born." For more information on her book, check out Simon & Schuster.com.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. I can't believe I've made it to 45 and never been to Paris. It's kind of dumb. I hope to go this year. And everyone talks about Iceland like there's fairy dust on the streets -- or maybe actual fairies dispensing the dust. So, I'd like to check that out.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. The Out Islands of the Bahamas. I've been to Abaco and Eleuthera. Go to a secluded beach. Take your clothes off. Surf. Swim. Bring sunscreen. Drink a Kalik (beer). Develop a taste for grouper, cracked conch and pineapple.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. I guess this is a bit of a cliche, but it was Walt Disney World. When you're 6, it's hard not to enjoy Disney World, but I remember the plane trip the most. I was dressed in a sundress and matching hat that my mom had sewn, white gloves and patent leather shoes. I miss the days when flying was elegant, instead of a slumber party for amateur alcoholics.
Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
A. Don't feel like you have to do everything in a guidebook. I can have serious overachieving traveler stress, which completely belies the purpose of a vacation. Having a quota -- like one or two touristy things a day -- is a good rule of thumb. I mean, you can't go to New York and not see the Statue of Liberty. But I think you have to ask yourself if you're going to get a new perspective on life by visiting the wax museum. You'll get more out of going to a bar.
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