Andraf's VirtualTourist Home Page
| Page Views: 14,616 | Just keep going by Andraf - last update: Sep 23, 2009 |
A few words about me Hello and welcome to my page. My name is Andreea and I'm a 36-years old Romanian who loves to travel. Why I travel? I travel for the reasons for which most people travel: to experience different cultures, to try new food, to see places of history or nature, to look with new eyes on familiar things, in a word to gain knowledge of the world. But most of all I think what does it for me is going away from home and doing something I don't normallly do. Back when I was working for corporate America, in northern California, I had only 15 days of vacation per year. 10 of those I used to go back to Romania to see my family which only left me with 5 days of vacation to go someplace else. Added to these 5 days were the 9 days of legal holidays which gave me 9 long (3 days) weekends. That meant that most of the time I didn't have time to go anywhere far away, I had to stay in California or the neighbouring states. How did I manage to travel? At least twice a month I used to go on daily trips close to home, north or south of San Francisco. The fact that I left home to go somewhere, even if it was someplace close by, raised my spirits and put me in a good mood. I guess what I love most is to leave home and experience something new. I travel because I need it. If I weren't able to travel my life would be a lot sadder. I know because I tried it. I don't need to go far or to some exotic place to feel happy. Every place has something special about it, something that you can't find anyhere else. In short, I like travel - any kinds of it. It can be by train, by car, by bus, by boat, budget or splurge, city or nature, it doesn't matter. It matters where I'm going but not so much as one might think. What matters for me is to just keep on going.
|
My travel profile When it comes to travel, like I said, I'll take everything that is offered to me. But even though I'm always ready to pack my luggage and go wherever, I have a few preferences of my own. I usually favor "active" travel. I love hiking, walking, exploring. Lying in the sun for seven days is not my kind of fun, but like I said, I'll take it if there's no other trip in sight; I never say no to an occasion to go away. I do go to the beach sometimes, mostly so I can trade my husband Cris into another mountain trip - he loves lying in the sun for seven days. I usually like to travel by train or bus so I can talk to people. I don't like group travel, I'm the independent kind of traveler. I like to taste local food and eat where local people eat, I'm an Anthony Bourdain enthusiast. I like planning and I like to read about the history of the places I visit. I usually tend to pick 2-3 star hotels. I'm not a budget traveler but I'm not the splurge type either. I try to stay within a decent budget. I prefer to spend money on tickets, entrances to attractions etc. and for food rather than accommodation. I'm a culture snob, I like going to the theater, musicals, concerts. I like to take photographs. When I visit a new place what I like most is talking to people.
|
Update I haven't contributed too much to VT in the last 3 years and that's because I've been traveling a lot. I hope to return soon, and start building new pages. Below there's a list of places that I've been to in the last years. If anyone is interested in finding out about these places, please drop me a line and I'll do my best to answer.
2005 Travels
Joshua Tree National Park, CA USA - February 2005
Maui, Hawai'i USA - April 2005
Pinnacles NM, CA USA - May 2005
Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Alcana de Henares, El Escorial, Spain - June 2005
Barcelona, Sitges, Tarragona, Spain - June 2005
Moldova - July 2006 (with Alex, aka RomanianBat)
Ukraine - July 2006 (with Alex, aka RomanianBat)
Cluj, Maramures, Romania - July 2006
Risnov, Bran, Romania - August 2006
Sequioa National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, CA, USA - September 2005
Israel - October 2005
New York, New Jersey - November 2005
Florence, Tuscany, Rome - November 2005
Bucharest, Romania - December 2005
2006 Travels
Buenos Aires, Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, Argentina - February 2006
Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, NV, AZ, USA - March 2006
Prague, Czech Republic - April 2006
Timisoara, Romania - July 2006
Belgrade, Serbia - July 2006
Saint Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, France - July 2006
Sighisoara, Romania - July 2006
Yellowstone, WY, USA - September 2006
Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii - October 2006
Costa Rica - November 2006
2007 Travels
Big Island, Hawai'i - February 2007
Israel - April 2007
Budapest - June 2007
Rhodes - August 2007
Tenerife - September 2007
Amsterdam, Hague, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Munchen - December 2007
2008 Travels
Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn, Bariloche, Puerto Iguazu, Argentina - February 2008
Kaprun, Salzburg, Austria - March 2008
Milan, Italy - July 2008
Zagreb, Krka NP, Zadar, Split. Dubrovnik, Croatia - July 2008
London, UK - October 2008
As of October 2008 I have officially moved back to Bucharest, Romania.
2009 Travels
San Francisco, CA - February 2009
New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Virginia Beach - May 2009
Paris - July 2009
Vienna - September 2009
|
 Andraf's Albums | | | |
|
 Comments for Andraf | | | | |
RoscoeGregg Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:13 UTC
Thanks for your comment. Life is so short keep it upbeat. Happy Trails Randy | giampiero6 Fri Oct 23, 2009 01:42 UTC
I LOVE your ice photo! ;) | iaint Fri Sep 25, 2009 17:16 UTC
Love the motto - is that the Scottish Muir who went to USA & invented national parks? | a_kaffash Wed Aug 12, 2009 22:38 UTC
hope to see you somewhere like in iran:) |
|
|
email me
add as friend
