If you’re visiting the UAE, whether it’s to go to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is absolutely worth your time. Especially because it’s free to visit. I went there as part of a semi-spontaneous trip to Dubai after leaving Romania. Because of this, I didn’t have a lot of room to…
I often find that the expectations in my head, brought about by anxiety and uncertainty, are far worse than reality. This applies in both travel and other facets of life. Granted, these situations aren’t always incredibly serious to begin with. I think some of the earliest examples of this in my life, and in the…
If you know Dubai, it shouldn’t surprise you to hear that the UAE is a very diverse region with people from all over the world. As a tourist, you might worry about your ability to get around in the country with regards to language. Luckily, the country’s diversity comes from language just as much as…
It’s October, so there’s no better time to talk about my visit to Bran Castle, the castle that “inspired” Dracula! While it never served as the home of Vlad the Impaler— the source of the stories of vampires and possible inspiration behind Dracula— it is still a very old castle with an important history. Bran…
Nestled amongst the forests in the Bucegi Mountains of Romania is Sinaia, a town named for the large monastery it was built around. This was one of my favorite destinations in Romania, probably in part because it reminds me of my hometown. It’s deep within a forest, and the town itself is also full of…
After my recent trip to Chișinău, Moldova, my travel buddy, Billy, and I returned to Bucharest. But unlike our way in, we didn’t do it by plane. We decided to take the Prietenia (Romanian for Friendship) Train instead. It was a great experience, and one I would highly recommend. But I would also recommend you…
Chișinau (pronounced Kee-shee-no) is the capital of Moldova, a small country situated in Eastern Europe between Ukraine and Romania known for its wine industry! I spent a day there in between my trips to Bucharest and Dubai. In spite of the short time I spent there, I really enjoyed it! Arrival in Chișinau We arrived…
After 6 weeks away from home, I’m overcome with a complete change in my perception of reality. It’s a strange feeling, returning from a trip like that. If you ever moved away for college, you’ve probably experienced something similar. It feels nearly impossible to describe to someone who hasn’t done it. But that won’t stop…
As I’m starting this post, I’m working to pack for my flight to Romania tomorrow. (Today is June 18th.) And in the last few days, I find myself overcome with anxiety and fear about the trip. I’m plunging into the unknown, to a country I’ve never visited before, surrounded by strangers who might not speak…
I haven’t done any international travel in over six months. My last trip was to Ireland and Scotland. But now I’m going to Romania, and I thought I’d talk about how I’m preparing for it! When I traveled to Belize last summer, it was for an archaeology field school. When I visited Ireland, it was…