About me

Hi! I’m Andrea! Welcome to travel taste feel! 

The basic stuff:
I have a “proper” job as a foreign language teacher. I am the proud mother of two teen daughters, live in a relationship, and…have a dog!

And the nice stuff:
I adore chocolate, nights out with friends, I never say no to a good movie, love bright colours, am a night owl, so I looove sleeping late (excepting travels – then I have a strong motivation to wake up early). Every now and then I indulge in a sweet doing nothing mood.

As a small child, I loved stories. I remember one of my favorites wasn’t exactly the classic story. A king with three daughters asks each of them to define the love they bear for their father. The oldest described her love sweet as honey, the second one brought sugar into discussion, while the youngest one (always the prettiest and wittiest) mentioned salt.

Mehmed Pasha Mosque in Istanbul hides many secrets

Upon hearing this, the king got hopping mad and sent her away in the woods (sounds like a horror story in our days, I know). But eventually she found herself a handsome prince and upon their marriage, the youngest princess had herself prepared the king the most mouth-watering courses without adding any pinch of salt.

Moral of the story: Do not judge a book by its cover! Learn to widen your horizons even if it means getting out of your comfort zone. The biggest satisfactions come from exceeding your limits, be it a new language learnt, making new friends, managing things on your own, as well as learning about history in your second youth (my personal case). Hell yes, I just discovered that (hi)story can be a lot of fun if taught properly. And the best way to understand it is to go straight to the places where it happened.

P.S. As a grown-up, I love stories even more.

Trips are like good stories to me.

I love good stories. Or fairy tales. I believe we all do.                            

Trips are like good stories to me. They immerse you in the middle of something new, something you enjoy a lot. Then, you learn about the people in your own story, you taste their favorite food, you live in their houses, and you discover their history. And eventually you create bonds. The best part though, is that you play the leading role in your story. And you can find your own happy ending!

So, traveling is like having a 6th sense, the most complex of all. It comprises all senses, but takes them to a different level. This is probably why I feel that traveling is part of my existence.

You travel, you taste, you feel!

My travel philosophy could be enclosed in these ideas. I am sharing them here to see if our goals click.

  1. Plan and study ahead! Everything! The itinerary, the accommodation, the museums, even the restaurants! It happened to me that, due to last minute planning, I had to take (much) more money out of my pocket for a tourist attraction, or roam around hungry as we had no reservation for a pretty bistro!
  2. Go local! This translates as visit at least one attraction that is less touristy and more popular among locals or, try local markets! Get off the main downtown streets and mingle with the residents! And take an amazing free tour!
  3. Eat local! My motto is to always avoid places crowded with tourists and menus with pictures. They are usually the crest of a touristy place and mediocre dinner! Do a bit of research and find good cozy local eateries. Out of curiosity and respect, try local cuisine and local alcohol! (and keep or …not a reasonable limit)
  4. Life is short and memories last a lifetime. Indulge in one lavish meal per vacation in an exquisite place!
  5. Plan an affordable trip! Mix and match planes, dive deep to find a reasonable accommodation close to a metro station, look for free but meaningful attractions are some ideas that I have in mind when planning.
  6. Although I am crazy about sparkling hotels, I must admit that given my curiosity and impatient persona, I leave the room early in the morning and in most cases, return long after sunset. So, why spend a fortune on a hotel if you don’t take advantage of its fabulous amenities?
  7. There is no better way to take the pulse of a place as when walking and using public transportation (when possible)! It is by far the most winning way to get to know a place and, not to mention, cheapest!
  8. Learn some basic words. They act not just signs of you being nice and open …they can also open new doors and ignite conversations.
  9. Take relevant pictures, and in a normal amount! (I admit I sometimes cross the line here!).
  10. Get out of your comfort zone and discover yourself! Since the blog, I discovered that I could swap my frenzy for city roaming to relaxing in nature! Also, I found out that I prefer the mountain over the sea without any doubt. And that given the right people, I can talk for hours!
  11. Even if you have some bitter travel memories, make room in your heart for the beautiful memories! As they age, all memories turn into precious parts of our lives. And eventually become some of the best conversation topics.
  12. Be deeply grateful for the chance given! For the fact that you are healthy, had the money, possibility, initiative and courage to fulfil your dreams! There are so many people who never got this chance!
Birds in the unique Danube Delta

Hope to meet you soon! Would be very glad if our roads crossed on a journey, or, while getting useful travel advice and budget-friendly travel inspo within the carefully crafted posts!

Love,
Andrea
Traveltastefeel.com