Curious Traveller

  Yesterday, 1st of August was a very important day for the Romanian Orthodox, the first day of the Virgin Mary's fast. So I decided to go to a monastery, also being Sunday. I have been doing some research of what to do in Arges, one of the Romanian counties, and i found a place i ve never heard of: The Monastery Fortress Negru Voda, the so called "Romanian Meteora". This tiny monastery is one of the oldest Cave monasteries in the country, and it is located on the top of a rock (from here the name) and surrounded by forest. It all seemed easy and very beautiful, so we decided to give it a go and see this place with our own eyes. Jumped in the car, drove from Pitesti to Campulung, stopped for the mass at the Negru Voda Church, continued with a stop at the Namaiesti Church, another monastery in a rock, where we got lucky to touch the Virgin Mary's icon, which is making wishes come true. We felt blessed. I remind you it is August, so it was very hot, already mid-day, so

Polar night, Northern lights, outdoors, chocolate for lunch, brown sweet cheese, hot chocolate and smores by the campfire. These are some of the activities and natural wonders you can experience if you adventure into the Norwegian wilderness in winter. Go experience Friluftsliv or the Scandinavian definition for outdoor activities. However, it stands for outdoor activities which includes an overnight in nature :) Many people avoid Scandinavian countries because of the high costs they come with. A easier way to enjoy a unique holiday in Norway is by doing what the Norwegians do. Book your flight to North Norway, Tromso or Alta. Rent out a pair of cross-country skies, a tent and make sure you have a warm sleeping bag. Fill your bag with food supplies and make sure you have a propane tank. Then adventure into the mountains Norway is very easy to explore by skies, there are ski lines you can follow, or just grab your map and a compase and ski your way into the wilderness. Set up your tent

 Hello guys, It has been a while. Since this Blog is all about honesty, I will being honest, I am gotta tell you the truth. I was all fired up when I first published a blog here. And I was only thinking of what I should be writing next. I was posting everyday. But very soon after, the fire was not burning that bright, and though I still had some drafts ready, about other places I ve been, I just could not put my thoughts together to write something. I was quite busy at work too, trying to learn all the new programmes and studying to pass my tests, so I can start working independently. Also, the company has a very clear policy focusing on individual development, so I have been learning a lot about the soft skills I need for this job. But today something happened. I have been thinking about travelling everyday for the past few months. Though I ve been away for a few weekends, here and there around Romania, I cannot stop dreaming of the day when the our lives will get back to normal. When

(Carina Hofi - https://pixabay.com/ro/photos/bangkok-thailanda-wat-arun-5477405/) I can call myself lucky. Thailand, beside being a country where you can travel on a budget (excluding the flight ticket though), I had friends studying there. So I saved money on accommodation too for several nights. So let me tell you what exactly I did there.  My ex-roomies, from the Netherlands, moved to Thailand for 3 months on an Exchange programme. I was in Norway on my ERASMUS. When I talked to them one evening, we realized we all have holidays in the same time. So there I was, leaving the -25 degrees Northern Norway to see my roomies in Thailand. It was quite an experience. I had no clothes to pack. No shorts, no T-shirts, no bathing suit. So I took my school backpack, put my passport, ticket and money in a pocket, put on some jeans and the thinnest jacket (down-jacket) and left to the airport. It was a shock and I literally could not breath when I got out of the airport in Bangkok during my stop-

(By LNLNLN https://pixabay.com/ro/photos/belvedere-viena-castel-4913058/) We have been talking about city breaks, and I have mentioned some suggestions in the previous blogs. Here is another one: Vienna. The Austrian capital is worth visiting. With a classic vibe, friendly locals, cultural attractions, but also with options for night-parties, this city is just a flight away from the majority of European countries.  I had the pleasure to see this city with locals in a coldish weekend of September. I met these people in Barcelona, when we all lived there, and we decided to meet again, so I paid them a visit. Here is what I did that weekend in Vienna 1. Visit Schonbrunn Palace Maybe the most iconic place in Vienna, Schonbrunn Palace is located in a large park, uphill, overlooking the capital. It is best for a relaxing morning. Just walk around the park, visit the castle, take many picture. You will get to see locals running or biking around, and tourists taking photos. 2. Visit Belvedere

(https://pixabay.com/ro/photos/search/budapest%20at%20night) Budapest, Hungary, is a great destination for a city-break. The city looks stunning both in summer and winter. It is a touristic spot for various reasons: culture, food & wine, spa and thermal bath. If you are looking for a weekend getaway, make sure you search flights to Budapest too. Here is what you can do in Budapest:  1. Take a walking tour You do not necessary have to have a guide. If you prefer more freedom over the itinerary you can look for a private tour, or just do your research in advance and plan your day. You can see the most important sites in about one day. Make sure you add to your visit: Opera house and the Jewish Quarter; Heroes's square and  the National museum. In the afternoon, make your way up to Castle Hill and see the Fisherman's Bastion for a view over the capital. You can take the funicular up here. 2. View Budapest from above Beside the Bastion, there are more spots around the city for

  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Groningen -7.jpg The Netherlands was my second home for about 3 years. I moved there when I was 18. I lived in Friesland, an autonomous region in the Netherlands, located in the North of the country. After about 3 hours in train from Amsterdam you will reach Leeuwarden . This vibrant city was the European Cultural Capital in 2018. If you are looking for a less crowded city, Leeuwarden will be a great stop. It is well linked with many cities worth to visit, but also easy to access from other more popular Dutch destinations. Take a walk in the park, visit it by boat, and wonder at its "Pisa tower" - Oldehove, a leaning tower situated nearby the park. You have a great view from the top. If you ever find yourself in Friesland, go to the port town of Harlingen . You will find no tourist around. You can grab a coffee by the beach, or even go swimming during the warm days. Take an ice-cream to go and walk around the few streets to see this p

  (https://pixy.org/67/) The Hellenic Republic, or as we all know it, Greece, the Land of Gods, is the home of old civilizations. It is the country surrounded by myths, legends and philosophy. Historical sites put it on the map of cultural travellers. Its islands make it the destination for leisure and party tourists. The cuisine attracts the gourmands. Its old Orthodox churches make it the land of pilgrims. No matter what you travel for, in Greece would be a place for you.  In my case, most of my trips to Greece were for summer holidays: relaxing by the pool, explore one or two cities and eat delicious local food. I went on a school trip to Nei Pori , a very youth friendly beach destination. With my family and family-friends I went to Paralia Katerini and Halkidiki , two budget friendly resorts. And my top favourite places I've visited in Hellas: Thessaloniki and Rhodes. I will give you some recommendations of day trips you can do and  some must-see places.  https://commons.wikim

( https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panorama_notturno_di_Verona.jpg ) Oh, Bella Italia. What a country! No matter where you are from, you know it and it is on your bucket list. Italy was the first foreign country I've visited when I was 8 years old. We went to Rome. Luckily I throw a coin in Fontana di Trevi, and I went back later, many times, so I have some recent memories :) (https://fshoq.com/free-photos/p/280/st-peters-basilica-vatican-rome) When it comes to Italy, there is much to be seen and tasted. So here I will mention those places I ve been to. So Rome , the city of 7 hills. Let's start here. It is of course a must-see city, full of history, loud and welcoming. Rome is a great city break destination. Besides the well-known attractions such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon or Fontana di Trevi, Rome has more corners waiting to be visited. Go to the Orange Gardens, up of the Aventine hill for a great view over the city. Hike the Palantine hill to see another Roman Fo

                                (Photo from the plane) Hi folks, Last time, I wrote about hidden gems, which happens to be some of the places I would love to visit. Now, I decided to tell you more about myself, and to take you back with me to the places I've been and I truly recommend. I decided to start with my favourite place, Madeira, also known as the Land of Eternal Spring.  It has been a long-cherished dream of mine to visit this island. Few years back, I finally got my family to go with me for my mom's birthday. I knew I would love it from the first glimpse through the small airplane window. All covered in luxuriant greenery, aggressively hit by the ocean waves, rising to the sky this volcanic island won a special place in my heart. So let me tell you a bit about what you can do and see in Madeira. I am sure you will fall for it too.  I would recommend if you visit Madeira to look for accommodation in Lido . It is well linked to all the attractions, there are many resta

(Guatemala Semuc Champey: https://commons.wikimedia.org/) Thinking of what I should be writing next, I remembered I gave you some examples in my intro blog about some unique places around the world which might get overlooked. This can be a positive thing when you think about visiting them, because you might be one of the few tourists there. Can you imagine the Insta pics you can take? With the whole place for yourself? OMG!!! But anyways, I was thinking would be a great idea to share these with you, so you can add them to your bucket list. So here we go :) I am gonna share with you some hidden gems around the world which you maybe never heard of or maybe you overlooked. Palau - The Pristine Paradise This archipelago of 500 islands is located in the Western Pacific, in Micronesia. It deserves the status of Paradise as it is just like a corner of Eden. While it is for sure already on the bucket list of divers and nature enthusiasts, I consider it must be on yours too. Koror is the island