Laila Stock
Product & Marketing Manager
I am Laila and responsible for product management and marketing at Take Memories. My own Latin America story began with a visit to my sister in Bogotá, extended for weeks through Colombia and Panama – since then, the vibe of the region has not quite let me go. While we at Take Memories have expanded our focus from the Orient to Latin America, I am diving in with full energy into the countries, people, and travel opportunities of this region and transforming the experiences of my colleagues Nils, Luca, and Nele into tours that should inspire you on our website for your next trip.
Colombia has impressed me sustainably with its diversity – historic cities, remote deserts, and unexpectedly paradise-like beaches, all combined in a single tour.
On my bucket list
Galápagos Islands & Costa Rica
At the very top of my own wish list are the Galápagos Islands – the biodiversity has fascinated me since I was a child, and being so close to the animals still excites me today. Just as much, I am drawn to Costa Rica: The tropical landscape, the volcanoes, and the coastline give me a feeling of familiarity like in the Caribbean, but with significantly more depth.
My next trip
Mainly Latin America
A specific travel destination in Latin America is not yet planned, but for the upcoming year, I really hope to travel more intensively through Latin America. When it comes to the destination, I let myself be guided by what develops, as my curiosity goes beyond any country borders – the Galápagos Islands are at the very top of my list, however.
About Laila – How Latin America conquered my heart
My connection to Latin America is still young. When my sister went to Colombia for her studies, I visited her in Bogotá and combined the trip with longer tours through Colombia and Panama. Already in the first few days, the atmosphere of the region grabbed me – a mix of warmth, joy of life, and a scenic diversity that I did not expect.
At Take Memories, I am responsible for product management and marketing, and as we expanded our focus from the Orient to Latin America, I have engaged intensively with the countries, regions, and travel options. I am not only after my own experience: My colleagues Nils, Luca, and Nele know the region even more intensively than I do and bring their own highlights and discoveries from there. My goal is to turn this knowledge and these experiences into inspiration for you together with them – travels that reflect the diversity I could feel in Colombia and Panama myself. That is exactly why I am so looking forward to seeing even more of Latin America with my own eyes in the coming years.
Places that particularly excite me:
Cartagena, Colombia
In Cartagena's old town, it is not the alleys and facades known from movies that impressed me the most – it was the evening atmosphere. Small restaurants with live music, fresh fish directly from the market, and life in the streets until deep into the night. From Cartagena, a detour to the Tatacoa Desert is also worthwhile: canyons and rock formations that have hardly anything in common with the deserts I know.
Panama
In Panama City, a skyline reminiscent of Miami meets a city life that is much more exciting than the first impression suggests. The old town is noticeably more decrepit than, for example, that of Cartagena, but that did not bother me – especially the contact with the people there pleased me. On weekends, whole families are out and about along the promenade, there is almost always some festival or activities. Those who want to escape the hustle and bustle find exactly the peace they are looking for on Panama's beaches – for me, after the days in the city, it felt like a little paradise.