For a kinder world. Vegan for the animals. Vegan for the planet. Vegan for life. Love to all.

Florentine is a vegan life project by Tam Apter. Tam founded FLORENTINE where she writes about vegan life and traveling. Tam is a social communicator and for years she worked in documentary film production. Meatless Movement recently had a chance to chat with her.

Tam told Meatless Movement that she loves exploring and finding places and vegan alternatives, walking and sharing experiences with travelers.

Please tell us more about yourself

Traveler on a mission to share vegan inspiration
Tam – proyectoflorentine

Hi, I am Tam. I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina and I am now based in Tulum, Mexico. I am a writer and I’ve been living as a digital nomad. I created Proyecto Florentine as a traveler to inspire people to explore vegan life.

My journey as a vegan
Tam – proyectoflorentine

My journey started more than 30 years ago during a trip in Southern Chile, where I made the connection between what was in my plate and the animals I met as independent, sentient and unique beings. First I became vegetarian and many years later, vegan.

At that time, in Argentina, not eating meat was difficult to explain. Nowadays, vegan life is really growing all over and it’s slowly becoming mainstream in places where I have lived, such as Tel Aviv and Tulum. Nevertheless, I still find so much disconnection between how people think about animals and what they eat.

Vegan as a way of living
Tam – proyectoflorentine

I think living a vegan life has the power to transform the world and our lives.

I am definitely vegan for the animals. All the other reasons for having a vegan lifestyle also apply to me but animals are the first and main one.

Being vegan is present through all my actions and my decisions. I am interested in vegan life integrally, to raise awareness about food and also cruelty free clothing, design and cosmetics. We could make a silent revolution by what we add or take away from our plates, closets and daily habits. Many times a lack of information leads to a lack of awareness. With little decisions -that collectively are huge- the world can be a kinder place for the animals, the planet and ourselves.

Vegan life
Tam – proyectoflorentine

I find having a vegan lifestyle these days can be easy, creative and healthy. Living vegan can be really on a budget or expensive, it depends on the lifestyle you have. In Mexico, you can have rice and beans, avocados and papayas. You can eat vegan without even ordering a special vegan menu.

About Proyecto Florentine
Tam – proyectoflorentine

I founded Florentine in 2017 while traveling with Alma, my daughter. Again, we understood how challenging it can be to find vegan options while on a long trip, no matter where in the world you are. So we decided to share our vegan findings with other travelers, whether they are visiting tiny towns or big cities.

Vegan travel guides. In late 2017, I started to make vegan travel guides. There I combine what I love most: writing, sharing vegan content and traveling.
This year we have already published the second edition of the Tulum Vegan Guide -together with Reporte Diario Tulum-, and San Cristóbal de las Casas for vegan nomads. You can read them and download them at the Florentine site.
Florentine website. I also share interviews with inspiring persons and projects, content about markets, festivals and the vegan scene around the world. Also, plant-based recipes, alternating between homemade improvisations of vegan chefs and the creations of local restaurants.
Vegan experiences for travelers. I have been organizing vegan experiences for travelers in Buenos Aires. Now I am starting vegan experiences in Tulum with the aim to connect travelers with the local vegan community in town. I love exploring and finding new places and vegan alternatives, walking and sharing experiences.