30 by the age of 30

It took five years, 70+ flights, multiple car, bus and train rides, journeys on a boat, ship and ferry, even the occasional tuk tuk. I traveled with friends, in a couple, or solo. And every single trip was a beautiful adventure. Every new country was a new window to look through, every new culture was an eye opener.

I did not aim for it but I managed to do it. It was not a goal, but it feels like an achievement. One day I woke up and realised – oh, after my next trip I will have been to 30 countries already, while still 30 years old.

1. Bulgaria

There is a story about how God was giving away gifts when creating the Earth: one land he gave majestic snowy mountains with magnificent peaks looking down on the life below. Another got endless beaches with golden sands bathing in crystal blue sea water. A third one was given misty forests full of bird song and fireflies. He gave away lakes and rivers, rare animals and exotic birds, sun and rain, intriguing nature wonders. When he was almost done, he realised – he’d forgotten about Bulgaria! So he took a little piece from every other country and put them all together in the beautiful land we today call Bulgaria.

Some people spend their whole lives without even getting to know their own home. Well, guess what, mine is beautiful. And through discovering more and more about it, I’ve learned more about myself. And how blessed I have been to be born and raised in this little East European paradise. And it deserves to be mentioned here every bit as any other country on this list.

2. Macedonia

This small country with hospitable people and complicated history is often unfairly underrated. Lake Ohrid is definitely one of the must-see landmarks of Macedonia, along with the historical town of Ohrid. I’ve been to the country a couple of times. The last time I visited, we ended up having drinks at our hotel’s lobby with the hotel’s owner and his stuff, who were referring to us as “brothers” and in the end didn’t even allow us to pay for our drinks. The people in this country are kind, warm and hospitable and can’t want to share their home and delicious food with their guests.

3. Greece

I love everything about Greece: the food, the music, the beaches, the breath taking scenery. Even though Greece and Bulgaria share a border and some common history, the residents of these two countries couldn’t be more different. We do, however, also share our love for social outings with friends and noisy gatherings with lots of music and drinks. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been to Greece, but I have no intention of ever stopping visiting this unique country that’s just a drive away.

4. Italy

Italy is history. Italy is culture. Italy is passion. It’s no wonder they say all roads lead to Rome. The eternal city. I felt breathless the first time I saw the Colosseum. I lost myself in the ancient piazza with unique fountains. Unfortunately, I’ve been to Italy only twice and I’ve seen only Milan and Rome. Fortunately, this is fixable. One of my dreams is to spend six months in Italy, road tripping around this amazing land.

5. The Vatican City.

I found myself gaping at the masterpiece the Sistine Chapel is, thinking about Michelangelo and all the days he spent paining one of the most famous pieces of art the world has ever known. The Saint Peter’s Basilica is by far one of the most intricate cathedrals in the world, you can get lost in its details. The Musei Vaticani brought me to different eras, long forgotten but not gone.

6. England

My first solo trip ever was to England, and more specifically to London. And I had a blast. I immediately fell in love with the vibe of the city and I took advantage of everything it had to offer. From visiting museums and the historical sites like the Tower of London, to the riding the London Eye and becoming a part of the interactive experience of the Dungeons. I didn’t miss on the opportunity to go outside of the city and see places like the Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford. And the geek I am, of course I went to the Harry Potter WB tour. But as all my British friends like to point out, England is not just London and London is its own country within the country.

So I came back. And walked the cosy streets of Leeds, took in the unique architecture of the city center of Manchester, enjoyed the view of the iconic bridges of Newcastle.

England is a beautiful place, with its greenery, typical politeness, history, love for sports and a vibrant nightlife. It’s a place I will always keep going to.