My name is Yulia. By education, I am a medical professional; by profession, a children’s writer and editor; by calling, a passionate traveler. I love cycling and skiing—there’s no better way to clear my mind and feel the fullness of life. I enjoy traveling because it allows me to experience a full range of diverse emotions and sensations. I love photography—it’s one way to share emotions and showcase the beauty of the world. I also enjoy sharing impressions and helping people plan their trips—this makes me feel needed.
My main motto is: “We travel not to escape life, but so life doesn’t escape us.” With a great love for wandering and experience in organizing trips for myself and friends, I offer assistance in planning budget travel across Europe. You can learn more on my website greenvaliza.co.ua.
I wrote this text four years ago, but it’s still relevant today. I really want everyone who has doubts to believe that there are no rules in travel and to feel a bit freer…
«Buckle up, we’re free!
No rules for you or me!»(Max Korzh)
A long time ago, 25 years back, we spent every summer vacationing in Crimea: sun, sea, beach, dinner at little cafés, organized tours, strolls along the promenade—pretty standard. But one day, my husband suggested going to Crimea during the May holidays. Our friends were completely surprised by this decision: what could you possibly do in Crimea off-season? The sea is cold! But we went. And we enjoyed it more than we ever had during the summer. That May in Crimea was absolutely incredible. We walked along empty promenades, lounged on deserted beaches, hiked quiet tourist trails. We climbed Demerdzhi, ascended Ai-Petri via the Taraktash trail, crossed the Devil’s Staircase pass and followed the Baidaro-Kastropol wall to Foros, admired Swallow’s Nest and the Vorontsov Palace without the usual tourist crowds. It turned out that early May is the perfect time for exploring Crimea: it’s already summer-warm, but without the exhausting heat, the grass hasn’t yet been scorched by the southern sun, and everything is in full bloom. We hadn’t even realized this because we were stuck in the usual mindset: you only go to the sea in the summer!
I often come across the opinion that traveling independently is “wrong, scary, expensive,” and so on. Stereotypes about how you should only travel with organized tours, that travel is always expensive, that certain countries aren’t worth visiting, or that budget trips aren’t “real” travel (“if that’s how you travel, better to stay home!”) are all too common.
Someone says, “I dream of traveling, but I can’t afford it.” If you truly dream of traveling, there will always be a way, even with minimal funds. Yes, you may not be staying in five-star hotels, but rather in campgrounds and hostels. Yet the Italian coffee in your cup will smell just as intoxicating, and the Colosseum will lose none of its grandeur… You know, the most interesting encounters and most vivid moments from our travels have been tied to staying in hostels and campgrounds, where people are simple and open, where social barriers and titles don’t get in the way… Remember the story of Paris and sneakers? And in the end, you can always hop on a bike, a kayak, or take a backpack and go hiking around your own region. It’s almost free. But the sensations and emotions can be far stronger than a stay in a five-star hotel.
Break the stereotypes! Everything is possible! You don’t have to do things like everyone else! You can do it exactly the way you want and dream of! You can be free from other people’s opinions! There are no rules! It’s not hard; all it takes is to start, to simply do something different from what is customary: go to the beach in the off-season, grab cheap plane tickets six months in advance, try traveling without luggage, book a hostel, take your first road trip, buy a tent, master cycling, sign up on Couchsurfing, or learn the art of hitchhiking.
Just believe: the most intense experiences don’t always come from the trips that cost a lot of money.
Photos of Ai-Petri and Swallow’s Nest are kindly provided by Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository.
