Usually I take public transportation, in the form of local ferries and buses, to get from country to country. On only a few occasions have I hired a private driver and this story underscores why…

Here’s how we ended up on a road trip with Romanian hustlers:

I was surprised by all the Mediterranean charm in Romania. But that’s just it really – Romania, with its Latin-based language and attitude, is miles away from its Eastern European neighbors.

Here’re my 7 hot picks when exploring Romania:

With less than 4 months left on my adventure, I’m starting another journey – this one philosophical. I’m turning vegetarian. My goal is to be totally meat-free when I return home at the end of the year.

Here’s why I made the decision and my step-by-step plan of action…