Screen name: 
Age: 
26
Gender: 
Female
If you must know: 
I'm single
Travel status: 
Traveling now
Hometown: 
Berkeley, CA
Currently in: 
Dubrovnik, Croatia
 
Traveling Next: 
Korcula, Croatia
Favorite places I've been: 
New York, Boston, Washington, DC, New Mexico, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon, Arizona, Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, London, France, Spain, Germany, Prague, Vienna, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, Lisbon, Oahu, Australia

Places I want to go to: 
New Zealand, Colorado, New England, Chicago, Kauai, Maui, Big Island of Hawaii, Scandinavia, more of Mainland China, more of Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, India, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Israel, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Greece (esp the islands), Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Slovakia, more of the UK especially Scotland, more of Italy, more of Spain, more of Portugal, more of France, more of Germany, more of Australia, Hungary, Poland ... is there anywhere I don't want to go?

 
About me: 
I love to wander the world while writing about and photographing my experiences. I grew up speaking and learning multiple languages, a lifestyle that has continued into my adult life. My college strongly encouraged its students to learn about other cultures and to travel abroad, and even after I have graduated I could not put an end to it. I did an internship in London during a summer while I was still in school, and studied abroad in Madrid and Paris the year after I finished. From then on, I was hooked on travel and have been abroad every year since. I have also developed a taste for all sorts of exotic cuisines that I attempt to recreate in my kitchen at home. I try not to bring back any tacky, kitschy souvenirs from my travels, only ones that are practical, consumable and/or useful, such as clothing, food and pottery. My travels have so far taken me to four continents, including a few stints living in Washington, DC, London, Madrid, and Paris. I have a fairly low tolerance for mediocre food. I like meeting new people and am convinced that everyone has a story to tell. My passion is writing and my dream as a travel writer is to introduce others to new lands and cultures they would otherwise be unaware of. I have written for World Hum, Tango Diva, The Travel Channel, Hungry? San Francisco (restaurant guide), Not For Tourists, and soon to be contributor to GrassRoutes Travel guides (a new series of sustainable travel guides).

 
 
 
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by geotraveler | 2008/04/23

Hey Valerie. Thanks for the great tips. Right now, its only Riga for the weekend. I still have my sights on a Baltic road trip in the future.

by geotraveler | 2008/04/21

Hey Valerie

Looks like the bf and I will be in Latvia in 2 weeks. Taking the ferry over from Stockholm. Have you got any recommendations for Riga?
Cheers!

halmmhal's pict...
by halmmhal | 2008/04/01

Hi Valerie
i will be very glad to meet you in Morocco to have a chat and practice my English. i can help since i am Moroccan who lives and works here. you are welcome to explore the country.

by geotraveler | 2008/02/07

Hey Valerie. I would budget more time in Krakow and actually take one away from Warsaw (but thats just my opinion!). Auschwitz is a day trip.
Have fun in Polska!

By Valerie  |  Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina  |  05/03/08  |  Pics: 4

Our tour leader said that Sarajevo would be the highlight of the tour, and for me it truly is. I've never been to a city quite like this before. It's got a bit of Istanbul, a bit of Vienna. I haven't been to Turkey but I have a feeling that the Turkish quarter is pretty close to what I would find...

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By Valerie  |  Location: Serbia and Montenegro  |  04/29/08  |  Pics: 3

To be honest, I haven't always dreamed of visiting the Balkans like I'd dreamed of visiting France, Spain or Australia, or still dream of visiting Argentina and Bali. All those news reports of this region back in the '90s definitely made me weary of this region, the way the Middle East would feel now....

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By Valerie  |  Location: Poland  |  04/20/08  |  Pics: 6

I may have learned my lesson about springtime travel in northern/central Europe - it certainly isn't spring in California or fall in Australia. I've developed a serious cold/sore throat and lost my voice this afternoon, probably due to overexposure to the elements. Tomorrow I'll have a bit of catching...

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