"Just keep going" Andraf's Profile

A few words about me

Hello and welcome to my page. My name is Andreea and I'm a Romanian girl 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 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.

Take the train

"Ever since childhood, [...] I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it. Those whistles sing bewitchment: railways are irresistible bazaars, snaking along perfectly level no matter what the landscape, improving your mood with speed, and never upsetting your drink. The train can reassure you in awful places - a far cry from the anxious sweats of doom airplanes inspire, or the nauseating gas-sickness of the long distance bus, or the paralysis that afflicts the car passanger. If a train is large and comfortable you don't even need a destination; a corner seat is enough, and you can be one of those travelers who stay in motion, straddling the tracks, and never arrive or feel they ought too ..."

The Great Railway Bazaar - Paul Theroux

Where to next?