Voices of Adventure: Rock Climbing with Octavia Drughi - Part Two
In this week's continuation, we delve further into the inspiring journey of Octavia, an adventurous rock climber. She shares insights into Romania's unique climbing scene, a less crowded and underrated gem with picturesque spots that allow climbers to reconnect with nature.
Octavia's international climbing escapades offer tales of both challenge and adventure. From dirtbagging in Leonidio and Frankenjura to volunteering in Geyikbayırı and battling the elements, her experiences have been nothing short of unforgettable. Read on to find out more.
Voices of Adventure: Rock Climbing with Octavia Drughi - Part One
Octavia's journey started amid the Carpathian Mountains, nurtured by nature-loving parents who nurtured an early love for the outdoors. At 12, watching her father ascend rocks gracefully awakened a captivating dream. She made her dad promise to take her climbing, and their shared adventures began at 14. Venturing to a local gym, she embraced new friendships and outdoor heights. Supported by her parents during high school, she bonded with her future climbing partner. Beyond scaling crags, it's a lifelong tale of growth and determination. Curious to delve into the influences shaping Octavia's path? Explore the full blog post for insight into the world of climbing and its life-molding experiences.
Voices of Adventure: Nandor Szotak and the Hungaro Explorer
Meet Nandor: the adventurer who swapped Transylvanian tales for Hawaiian hikes! Delve into his inspiring journey, fusing cultures, embracing challenges, and uncovering the beauty of both nature and life's diverse chapters.
A Test of Strength: The Erőss Zsolt Memorial Hike
Discover the inspiring story of Erőss Zsolt, the Hungarian snow leopard, and his incredible feats in mountaineering. Explore how his passion for adventure, even after losing his leg in an avalanche, continues to inspire. Learn about the commemorative endurance hike in Gyergyó and the breathtaking landscapes of the Romanian mountains. Join the adventure and embrace the beauty of nature.
Discovering Volcán Poás in Costa Rica
Sitting at an elevation of 2,687 meters (8,848 ft), Volcán Poás is an active volcano that has experienced several eruptions in recent years. Due to safety concerns, it has been intermittently closed to the public. To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, you need to book a time slot in advance. Visitors are typically provided with hard hats, and there are concrete shelters available in case of eruption. Read on to find out more about this breathtaking site in Costa Rica.
Voices of Adventure: Jacob “Val“ Myers and the Youngest to Pole Project
Jacob "Val" Myers, a young adventurer hailing from North Carolina in the US, is preparing for an extraordinary journey: becoming the youngest person to reach the South Pole at the age of 25. The record is currently held by a French athlete, Matthieu Tordeur, who accomplished this feat at 27 years old in 2018. Jacob's determination and charitable goals have captivated my interest. Having connected through LinkedIn, I couldn't wait to delve into the intricacies of planning and executing such a world record attempt. Read on to learn more about Jacob and the Youngest to the Pole Project.
Discovering the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica
One of the last destinations I visited during my trip in Costa Rica was the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This place is a favorite and must see among nature enthusiasts and I can say that it completely lives up to its fame. It has a unique and quite recent history. Only 1% of all surviving forests are classified as cloud forests in the world and Monteverde is one of them. Read on to learn more about this amazing adventure destination.
Climbing the Tallest Mountain in Costa Rica - Part 2: The Hike
Cerro Chirripó (Chirripó Peak) is definitely one of the more advanced and challenging hikes that one can do in Costa Rica, but if you are interested in hiking and mountaineering, it is an experience that you shouldn’t miss. There is a great sense of achievement after completing the hike and you meet all kinds of interesting people along the way. It is a unique and special way to experience Costa Rica and is definitely a bucket list worthy trip. Read the article to learn about my experience on the mountain.
Climbing the Tallest Mountain in Costa Rica - Part 1: Preparation
Costa Rica is an amazing country, completely deserving of its name and fame. It is rich in natural resources and activities for people of all interests and abilities. Besides the lighter day-hikes, Costa Rica offers many more challenging opportunities for the adventurous spirits. And looking for such opportunities was when I found out about Cerro Chirripo, the tallest mountain of the country. Towering at 3,820 meters above sea level, it is a challenging hike up 14 kilometers that requires a good level of fitness. Read the article for preparation tips and information on how to organize your hike.
Behind the Lens - A Waterfall Adventure
Costa Rica is a great place for adventure photography. There are many companies offering one breathtaking adventure over the other and it is a bit of a mind-boggling task to make a decision as to where to go and what to do. I set up base in the beach town of Jacó, about an hour and a half drive away from San José. It is a great place to do business as it is bustling with tourism and the main road is just brimming with adventure companies. Read on to learn about an assignment I did for one of the adventure companies.
Dealing With the Travel Blues
Living the life of a digital nomad seems like an ideal life to many, especially since social media is full of pictures of the glamorous facets of this lifestyle. As for myself, it is probably the happiest and most fulfilled I have ever been, but it took hard work and dedication to get here and it is still a work in progress. What people don’t share on social media is that this life comes with its own challenges and difficulties. The better equipped we are to be aware of them and deal with them, the more joyful our lives can be. Read on to learn about my tactics to stay balanced on the road.
Discovering Escazú and the Pico Blanco
I arrived to Costa Rica about a month and a half ago with the aim to climb the highest mountain in the country, Chirripó. I have been hiking and mountaineering quite frequently for the past couple of months, yet I felt that I wanted to train for the Chirripó before I got there. Read on the learn about my trek up Pico Blanco in preparation for Chirripó.
A Dream Trip to Iztaccíhuatl- Popocatépetl National Park
I have always been fascinated by volcanoes and I have tried to get as close as possible to many of them that were in my path during my travels. So when I finally got the opportunity to hike in the Iztaccíhuatl- Popocatépetl National Park, it truly was a dream come true. Read on to learn about my experience and see pictures of this amazing adventure!
Taking the Long Way Home: The Camino de Santiago
There are various reasons why people do the Camino, and I had my own personal motivation. At it’s longest it is a more than 700km trek across the north of Spain, starting in St Jean Pied-de-Port in southern France and ending at Finisterre or Muxia by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a personal preference for anyone to chose the length they want to walk, which can go from a couple of days to more than a month. Read on to learn about my experience on the Camino.
Discover Tepoztlán and the Tepozteco
Tepoztlán is one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos, towns of great historical and anthropological importance. It is set at an altitude of 1640 m-s above sea level, surrounded by mountains which creates a microclimate of pleasant weather all year round. Being just about 80 km-s from Mexico city, it is a favorite weekend destination of many chilangos. Read on to find out about my experience in the town and see some pictures of this beautiful place.
Discovering Chapultepec Park in Mexico City
Even though I have been coming back to Mexico City and the Chapultepec Park for the past 3 years, I still feel that there is an endless source of discoveries waiting for me there. There are often pop-up exhibitions by the entrance of the first sector, special programs during holidays and many many hidden spots that draw me back time and time again. It is definitely one of the must see-s of Mexico City. Read the article to learn more about this wonderful green area.
Discover a Hidden Treasure: The Brady Museum in Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is a city at the south of Mexico City, situated in a great location for it’s proximity to Mexico City and it’s mild climate year-round - the reason why it is also called “the city of eternal spring”. There are many restaurants, cafés and a large artisanal market in the relatively concentrated center of the city. One of the most interesting places I visited in Cuernavaca was the Brady museum. Read on to learn more about it.
A Day Trip to the Transfagarasan Mountain Pass
The Transfagarasan mountain pass is an impressive structure crossing the Southern Carpathians in Romania. It’s easiest to approach from Brasov for anyone travelling in through Bucharest. Brasov is about 1.5-2 hours drive away from Bucharest on a highway, so it’s very easy to reach. From there, there are two options to approach the mountains: through the Southern Route, taking a sharp turn northward at Curtea de Arges or the Northern Route towards Fagaras, taking a sharp turn to the south just after passing the Cartisoara River. Read on to learn more about my trip there.
Photographing The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia
The City of Arts and Sciences is a place that offers something to everyone. I believe it is a really good representation of Valencia as a whole. There is opportunity for education, entertainment, music and theater for children and grownups alike all wrapped in a very pleasing design. Read on to learn about my experience photographing this location.
Discover Valencia
Valencia is the 3rd largest city of Spain, although it only has a population of about 700 thousand people. I choose to visit Valencia because it is and all round an ideal travel destination for many reasons: it is located along the beach of the Mediterranean sea, with a very pleasant climate and an almost constant breeze through the hottest months of summer while also set against the mountains of the Serra Calderona. Read on the learn more about the city.