I have some confessions to make about my life as a tech traveler and blogger. No these aren't the type of confessions that will make your eyes pop out of your head, rather, these are the type that will make you want to keep reading because they contain detail about travel. My first and main confession is that I am addicted to travel. The thing I love most is waking up in a new city, or a new place in nature, far away from home. I love the energy that I receive, I love the smells, the sounds, the new sights, the feeling is explainable. There is just something so special about being in a foreign land, away from everything that's familiar to you. Not knowing if you'll make it, if you'll have to call for help, or if you'll even get out... that's all a part of being a traveler.
Don't get me wrong, if done right, there is 0 to no chance of something wrong happening, but even that slight 1% chance of having things go wrong is enough to scare some from taking on the risk of leaving their comforts for new lands. For me, the first time I went to Romania, Serbia, and Moldova was probably the time I got addicted to traveling, so my confession number 2 is that Eastern Europe is alot more interesting than you might have been led to believe.
Romania - The Land of Castles and Dracula
My first experience with Romania came when I was planning my honeymoon with my new wife. I didn't want to do what everyone else does and just go to a popular tourist destination like Paris, or London, I wanted something new and raw. In my research of Romania I found that perhaps the biggest threat would be theft (by gypsies) and only in instances where you are not aware. From further research though, I found that Romania's crime rate is much lesser than other parts of Europe. So why the bad name? Well, people who aren't accustomed with something just go by what they've heard (or think they've heard) rather than by actual fact.
Constanta Romania was the destination I set my sights on. I found that the black sea is not heavily populated, and at the same time, full of nice and luxurious (affordable) resorts and hotels. For a quarter of the price I would be spending in the Bahamas, I was able to book a trip to Constanta, and neighboring Mangalia, for a full week of fun in the sun. I was able to see how the locals live in their traditional Romanian costumes, eat traditional Romanian food, and even watch traditional folk dance. It was an experience I would never trade.
Serbia - The Party Never Stops
When you think of Serbia you think of old ruins, buildings in shatters, a population that wants to flee to Western Europe, and mean people. I, however, will dispel all those myths. Serbia is one of the most beautiful and fun places on earth, it is a party-goers dream come true. For instance, every year in Serbia's capital of Belgrade, there is a music festival called Exit, which is one of the most exciting festivals anywhere on earth. The lineups and DJs who perorm there sets rival those of any developed country music festival you've been to.
Party seekers come from all over the world to Belgrade to take part in dancing non-stop for a few days. Yes I said "non-stop" I don't know where they get the energy from, but it's not uncommon to go to sleep, wake up, and see the people you saw dancing last night still going at it. If you're into loud music, and meeting people from all over the world, watching strobe lights, and glow in the dark outfits dance across your path, then I highly recommend you check out Exit music festival in Belgrade, Serbia.
Moldova - A Wine Lovers Paradise
If you love great wine, with or without the cheese, then you might be interested in Eastern Europe's hidden gem of the little country known as Moldova. Moldovians speak a similar language to Romanian, it differs slightly in the accent and the way some words are pronounced. The cultures of Moldova and Romania are also very similar since most of the country at one point was a part of the greater Romania. The country is now split 50/50 Russian speakers, and Moldovan speakers.
Moldova holds the longest wine cellar in all of Europe. You can take driving tours through the cellars and drink enough of the delicious red or white wine until you can no longer stand up. The wine has a unique and distinctive earthy taste from the grapes grown and produced directly inside the country. There is no shortage of wine as they have some of the worlds largest reserves, enough to get everyone in all of Europe feeling good.
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