Inspiration for Independent Travelers

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From Emotion to Meaning and Return. A Cultural Trip Through Oltenia

The growling of what sounded like a bear made me stop and listen carefully for a few seconds. I looked around me. The forest was young, there wasn't any chance a tree would have been able to withstand my weight. My next thought was that bears can climb trees and I...

No Rhododendrons on the Ciucas Mountain

I was much too tired to remember why I went up there in the first place. The wind through my hair and through my wet clothes was fabulous, a true catalyst for forgetting. For a moment, I had no past. I was only eyes and skin, kissed by wind and sun together. I even...

Wines of Romania: Bringing People Together

Wines of Romania are just like wines of every other place. If you were to experience the best wine country vacations around the world, you'd see that you can find great wines just about everywhere, provided that the climate allows for the vineyards to grow. Romanian...

Arosa, Switzerland – A Chic Ski Resort & the Biggest Icicle I’ve Ever Seen

This is the biggest icicle I've ever seen. I took this photo in Arosa, Switzerland, a mountain resort where it was so cold that my camera froze open. Arosa is a chic mountain town in Swirzerland, where snow can reach impressive thickness. Here you can ski or you can...

Must-See Egypt Tourist Attractions: the Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the Nile Cruise and More

I just finished reading Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. It’s a good book. It made me think about all sorts of things such as life, decisions, accomplishments, goals and values. Gilbert says humans are happier when they anticipate something than when they...

The Moorish Castle of Silves, Portugal

Silves, the former capital of Algarve, is situated in Southern Portugal. This area is known for its production of avocado. Castelo dos Mouros (The Moorish Castle) is a reminiscence from the times when Moors invaded Iberia. I still remember how difficult it was to find...

McDonald’s Advert, Country Style

Mother of the Chocolate Bunny

Jumping Insect – Grasshopper Just Before the Big Leap

How to Feed 100 Hungry Seagulls: One at a Time

Danube Delta – Water, Willows & the Secret Ingredient That Makes Good Fish Soup

What do you do when life takes you by surprise? Do you open yourself and embrace the challenge? Do you shy away and rather stick to the familiar? How do you draw the line between adventure and insane risk? If you wonder how all these relate to the Danube Delta in...

Black Sea Beaches & Resorts in Romania, from Navodari to Vama Veche

Out of all countries neighboring the Black Sea, Romania and Bulgaria are probably the most popular beach destinations. Unfortunately, the season on the Black Sea beaches is much shorter than the season in Greece, Portugal or Spain. The best time to enjoy the Black Sea...

Where to, traveler?

The Roman Baths of Caracalla – Location, Tickets & Reasons To Visit

by Violeta Matei | August 5, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

Baths of Caracalla are the best preserved public bath complexes of ancient Rome. The construction of Baths of Caracalla, then known as Antonine Baths (Thermae Antonianae) was started under the emperor Septimius Severus, in AD 206. The construction of the baths took 10...

Castel Sant’ Angelo in Rome – Hadrian’s Tomb, Repurposed

by Violeta Matei | November 29, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

Do you remember my article about the coffin that tells stories (The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus)? Here's now a full tomb that also tells stories, Hadrian's Mausoleum, better known as Castel Sant' Angelo or Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant Angelo.. Back in the year 135...

Baths of Diocletian in Rome – Finest Ancient Roman Architecture

by Violeta Matei | August 3, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

Built by Emperor Diocletian in 305 AD, on the Viminal Hill, the Baths of Diocletian were the biggest thermal complex in the Ancient Rome, meant to surpass the Baths of Caracalla by being able to accommodate twice as many people at once. Public baths were common during...

Ostia Beach (Lido di Ostia) – A Beach as Close to Rome as You’ll Ever Find

by Violeta Matei | November 21, 2019 | Italy | 2 Comments

If you are in Rome during summer and you want to visit Ostia Antica, consider taking your bathing suit and your flip flops with you. After you finish with the archeological park, go back to the train station and take the train to Ostia Lido Centro to go to the Ostia...

The Last Supper Tickets – How To Choose the Best Milan Tour To See Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper Painting

by Violeta Matei | March 24, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

Most cities in northern Italy are full of historical and cultural landmarks. Unfortunately, when you are on a very short trips such as a weekend city break or a long layover, choosing your activities is hard. This is what happened to me in Milan, when I wanted to see...

Rome Walking Tours Self Guided – Sightseeing without the Crowds

by Violeta Matei | January 15, 2020 | Italy | 0 Comments

Rome has a well-deserved reputation of being overpacked with tourists. While this is true for most tourist objectives such as Fontana di Trevi, The Pantheon and The Vatican, there are lots of places to see in Rome that are off the beaten tourist track. I can give you...

How to Plan Your Next Romantic Getaway in Italy

by Violeta Matei | October 5, 2016 | Italy | 0 Comments

There's a reason Italy is such a popular destination for honeymoons. Of course, everyone knows that the food is incredible and that it's rich with history and full of culture. But after arguably the most romantic day of their life, it's no surprise newlyweds would...

Churches in Rome with Caravaggio Paintings – A Self-Guided Walking Tour for Art Lovers

by Violeta Matei | September 7, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

The three churches in Rome where you can find Caravaggio paintings are Sant' Agostino, San Luigi dei Francesi and Santa Maria Di Popolo. Find out how to visit all three churches in a self-guided tour of historic Rome. The entrance is free, but lighting up the artworks...

6 Best Day Trips from Milan

by Violeta Matei | December 14, 2015 | Italy | 20 Comments

Of course you can shop until you drop. Milano is the perfect destination in Lombardy, northern Italy, for this. There are clothes, shoes and bags for all budgets and tastes. There are hundreds of cathedrals, ruins, monuments and museums. You can spend a full week in...

Ostia Antica, Best Day Trip from Rome – Why Visit & How To Do It

by Violeta Matei | November 19, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

There are so many things to do and see in Rome, that you could easily spend two weeks without getting out of the city. However, should you want to take a day trip from Rome, consider visiting Ostia Antica. There are many good reasons why Ostia Antica is the perfect...

Why Bergamo, Italy, Is Worth More Than A Short Layover

by Violeta Matei | April 3, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

Bergamo, Italy, is home to Orio al Serio, one of the two Milan airports. Known mainly because of being an important flight connection node in Europe, Bergamo deserves a proper visit. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Lombardy. Although chocked-full of...

One Day in Milan – A Self Guided Milan Walking Tour

by Violeta Matei | April 1, 2018 | Italy | 4 Comments

In this article, I share the perfect Milan in one day walking tour I took during one of my trips to Italy. It is the perfect step-by-step Milan travel guide that covers all major tourist landmarks in the city and also allows you to do some shopping by the end of your...

Sforza Castle, Milan, Italy

by Violeta Matei | July 20, 2012 | Italy | 0 Comments

Did you know Northern Italy was home to some beautiful castles? You may have heard about Museo Castelvecchio in Verona, Castello Sabbionara in Avio, or Castel Ronco in Bolzano. These are only a few examples of amazing ancient Italian architecture. A list of these...

A Scenic Northern Italy Itinerary with a Swiss Twist (Four Lakes, Five Towns, Two Countries)

by Violeta Matei | August 17, 2019 | Italy, Switzerland | 0 Comments

My trips took me to Northern Italy more than once, sometimes for business, other times for leisure. I fell in love with the lakes at first sight, so I've been keen on returning ever since. My first encounter with this area took place in Lugano, Switzerland. Although...

Why Visit the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome

by Violeta Matei | October 30, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

The church of San Luigi dei Francesi (Saint Louis of the French) is not only one of the most beautiful churches in Rome, but also home to three paintings by Caravaggio. The beauty of Rome is that you don't have to pay a fortune to visit museums, if you don't want to....

Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus – How To Find This Roman Battle Scene and Why Visit?

by Violeta Matei | October 1, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus can be found in Rome in Palazzo Altemps, which is part of Museo National Romano (The National Museum of Rome). Named after Ludovico Ludovisi, the sarcophagus depicts a battle of Romans and barbarians. It is a memorial of this Rome...

Crypta Balbi – A Glimpse into the Layered Urban Evolution of Rome

by Violeta Matei | January 12, 2020 | Italy | 0 Comments

Crypta Balbi is part of Museo Nationale Romano, together with Palazzo Altemps,The Baths of Diocletian and Palazzo Massimo alle Terme. When you buy your ticket to Crypta Balbi or to any other of these four buildings, you get access to all of them. If this is your first...

Where to Stay in Rome

by Violeta Matei | September 4, 2019 | Italy | 0 Comments

If you've ever visited the charming capital city of Italy before, you probably know by now that seeing the best of Rome involves a lot of walking. Public transport isn't the most reliable of all, so you can easily end up wasting a lot of your precious time waiting for...