Through the Crowd: Danika’s Giza Adventure
In this episode, Andrew sits down with Danika Duarte Smith, a dancer, educator, and travel writer, to talk about her unforgettable first trip to Egypt during Eid. While living and teaching in Iraqi Kurdistan, Danika took a week off to explore Cairo, including a chaotic and crowded day at the Giza pyramid complex. From refusing overpriced horse carriage rides to navigating mayhem at the ticket booth, Danika shares how a random act of kindness and a stroke of luck got her and her travel companions through the chaos—and into one of the most iconic ancient sites on Earth.
Guest: Danika Duarte Smith
- Author of One Year and a One Way Ticket, a debut travel memoir
- Founder of danikaduartesmith.com
- Former ballet teacher and language instructor
- Spent three years living and working in Kurdistan, Iraq
Topics Covered:
- Introduction to Danika and her travel background
- Living and working in Kurdistan
- First impressions of Egypt during Eid
- Navigating scams and chaos at the Giza pyramid complex
- Finding help from a stranger in an overwhelming crowd
- Quiet moments of awe behind the Great Pyramid
- A side trip to Luxor and reflections on ancient civilizations
- Teaching ballet and surviving earthquakes in northern Iraq
- The story behind Danika’s first book—and what’s next
Resources and Links:
- Danika’s website: danikaduartesmith.com
- Her debut travel memoir: One Year and a One Way Ticket
Call to Action:
- Check out our website at oneofftravelstories.com
- If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
- Share your favorite travel stories with us on social media using #OneOffTravelStories.
Danika Smith
Author/Dancer
Danika is an author writing to encourage others to fear less, travel more, and live their most authentic life.
Apart from her blog and website Danika’s writing has been published in Go World Travel Magazine. Herstry, and as a competition finalist in Intrepid Times. Her debut travel memoir One Year and a One-Way Ticket is set to release on March 11th, 2025, which recounts how her journey volunteering in Asia and Europe allowed her to redefine happiness and success in life, and how she could find it herself.
Danika is also an avid dancer and teacher who believes we should all embrace our distinct passions in life. Since returning to Toronto after three years teaching in Kurdistan, Iraq, she is focused on publishing her debut book and working on her next memoir which will focus on her experience living in the Middle East.