- Please tell us a little about yourself and your blog, Road is Calling.
- Could you explain a little about how you've grown personally through traveling?
- Can you explain shortly how travel has helped you as you've had to leave your home country due to the Russian invasion?
- What's the best off-the-beaten-path place you've traveled to in Turkey?
- What's a place you traveled to in the US that you'd absolutely recommend others visit?
- What's the best road trip in a rental car you've taken?
- How do you end up choosing where to go?
- Do you have some location in which you plan to stay for the winter or will you travel most of the time?
- What's the first place aside from your home you'll take a trip to?
- Do you have any grand adventures planned, perhaps outside of Europe?
- Do you have anything else you would like to tell readers?
Please tell us a little about yourself and your blog, Road is Calling.
I am Anya, from Ukraine but a citizen of the world. I can't imagine my life without travel which, by the way, helped me at some point to fight depression and get over a loss of a loved one.
Precisely because of travel and for the love of travel, I created my blog Road is Calling to help others plan their journeys to lesser-known destinations and learn how to discover our world at a slower pace.
My favorite type of travel is road tripping and I cover a lot of different scenic drives on my blog! I also love to create itineraries for each place I go to, this is why you can find many different routes for various countries, from a few days in Istanbul to a weekend in Qatar, Berlin, or many other destinations.
Precisely because of travel and for the love of travel, I created my blog Road is Calling to help others plan their journeys to lesser-known destinations and learn how to discover our world at a slower pace.
My favorite type of travel is road tripping and I cover a lot of different scenic drives on my blog! I also love to create itineraries for each place I go to, this is why you can find many different routes for various countries, from a few days in Istanbul to a weekend in Qatar, Berlin, or many other destinations.
As you say travel is not about counting countries or Instagram likes, but self-growth instead, could you explain a little about how you've grown personally through traveling?
Thanks to many years of travel and frequent wandering somewhere in the world, I became very broad-minded and tolerant. I started to understand other people better, especially those who come from cultures and countries about which there are many stereotypes.
I also came to terms with the way I see religion and how I perceive spiritual life.
I'm also proud to boldly say that thanks to travel, I learned the history of many countries well. Every time we go to a new place, the first thing I do is learn about its past, prominent figures throughout the old days, and major events. This is the most interesting way for me to learn about the country!
In one word, I study history through travel and today can tell you a ton about the Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, the war in Yugoslavia, Vikings in Scandinavia, and for example why men whip women and throw water on them on Easter day in Slovakia.
I can tell you many interesting stories as travel always helps to learn fascinating facts about others and discover more about myself.
I also came to terms with the way I see religion and how I perceive spiritual life.
I'm also proud to boldly say that thanks to travel, I learned the history of many countries well. Every time we go to a new place, the first thing I do is learn about its past, prominent figures throughout the old days, and major events. This is the most interesting way for me to learn about the country!
In one word, I study history through travel and today can tell you a ton about the Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, the war in Yugoslavia, Vikings in Scandinavia, and for example why men whip women and throw water on them on Easter day in Slovakia.
I can tell you many interesting stories as travel always helps to learn fascinating facts about others and discover more about myself.
If it's not too much of an emotional topic for you, can you explain shortly how travel has helped you as you've had to leave your home country due to the Russian invasion?
As strange as it may sound to some people, travel has really helped me in many ways when I had to make a decision to leave my home country due to the Russian invasion and process the new reality that I needed to change my life again, give up stability and comfort, and possibly lose my home where I grew up and where my family lived.
You see, thanks to my travel lifestyle that I have been leading since 2017, it was easier for me emotionally and physically (compared to many people in Ukraine) to gather my thoughts, pack my suitcases, and leave not knowing what the future is going to look like and if I can ever go back to the city and country where I spent half of my life.
Because of my travel lifestyle, throughout the years I packed my bags so many times and so many times I had to leave my favorite places due to the inability to stay there because of the visa limitation or because they were too expensive for me, due to covid or loss of job, and finally for some personal reasons.
Also, not always travel was all about flowers and rainbows. Many times on the road my life was miserable and often so unpredictable. I had those moments when my husband and I rented a home in a new country but it got flooded and we lost some things and had no place to stay, or for example when my credit card was compromised and I had to block it but stay without any money for days without friends or family and even ability to call anyone.
At some point, I was even robbed by a man who pretended he had a gun, during other times I was harassed and scammed, and last year my husband and I were even attacked by a group of men while traveling around as believed a safe country.
All different things happened and types of experiences took place throughout the years of travel, both positive and negative. Through them, I learned that nothing in life is stable and things can change in the blink of an eye no matter how much money I make and what level of comfort I have.
At the same time, I learned that our world is full of good people and if I stay focused on solving a problem without going into a panic mode, I will be able to find the best solution and in the end I will be okay.
When the war knocked on our door (we actually returned to Kyiv on the 19th of February just a few days before the full-scale invasion), it was a totally new experience that at first wiped out the ability to think straight and perceive the situation with a clear mind. But very soon I could pull myself together and start making decisions without falling apart emotionally.
And then when my family was leaving Ukraine in June, we were able to pack lightly and leave our life behind knowing that even if we lose our home and won't be able to return for a long time, we will never lose our experiences, knowledge, and peace of mind that can help us start everything over.
You see, thanks to my travel lifestyle that I have been leading since 2017, it was easier for me emotionally and physically (compared to many people in Ukraine) to gather my thoughts, pack my suitcases, and leave not knowing what the future is going to look like and if I can ever go back to the city and country where I spent half of my life.
Because of my travel lifestyle, throughout the years I packed my bags so many times and so many times I had to leave my favorite places due to the inability to stay there because of the visa limitation or because they were too expensive for me, due to covid or loss of job, and finally for some personal reasons.
Also, not always travel was all about flowers and rainbows. Many times on the road my life was miserable and often so unpredictable. I had those moments when my husband and I rented a home in a new country but it got flooded and we lost some things and had no place to stay, or for example when my credit card was compromised and I had to block it but stay without any money for days without friends or family and even ability to call anyone.
At some point, I was even robbed by a man who pretended he had a gun, during other times I was harassed and scammed, and last year my husband and I were even attacked by a group of men while traveling around as believed a safe country.
All different things happened and types of experiences took place throughout the years of travel, both positive and negative. Through them, I learned that nothing in life is stable and things can change in the blink of an eye no matter how much money I make and what level of comfort I have.
At the same time, I learned that our world is full of good people and if I stay focused on solving a problem without going into a panic mode, I will be able to find the best solution and in the end I will be okay.
When the war knocked on our door (we actually returned to Kyiv on the 19th of February just a few days before the full-scale invasion), it was a totally new experience that at first wiped out the ability to think straight and perceive the situation with a clear mind. But very soon I could pull myself together and start making decisions without falling apart emotionally.
And then when my family was leaving Ukraine in June, we were able to pack lightly and leave our life behind knowing that even if we lose our home and won't be able to return for a long time, we will never lose our experiences, knowledge, and peace of mind that can help us start everything over.
You've spent a lot of time in Turkey — what's the best off-the-beaten-path place you've traveled to there?
Yes, indeed, I traveled a lot around
Among all places I've been to, my favorite that are also some of the lesser-known ones are the Black Sea region from northern Istanbul to the border with Georgia, mountainous region of Karadeniz, Dalyan with surrounding villages, and Salda Lake.
But the most mysterious part of Turkey which also sits high on my list lays far in the east of the country near the border with Syria and Iran. I am really looking forward to renting a car somewhere in Mardin or Diyarbakir and venturing into the unknown, in that direction which hasn't been discovered much yet.
Among all places I've been to, my favorite that are also some of the lesser-known ones are the Black Sea region from northern Istanbul to the border with Georgia, mountainous region of Karadeniz, Dalyan with surrounding villages, and Salda Lake.
But the most mysterious part of Turkey which also sits high on my list lays far in the east of the country near the border with Syria and Iran. I am really looking forward to renting a car somewhere in Mardin or Diyarbakir and venturing into the unknown, in that direction which hasn't been discovered much yet.
And since you lived in the US for quite some time, what's a place you traveled to there that you'd absolutely recommend others visit?
In the US I visit 46 states out of 50 and got a chance to visit some of the most incredible natural landmarks together with hidden gems. Yet, to be honest, some places just didn't meet my expectations while others surprised so much.
To make my own list of recommended places to visit would be quite a task since I believe the number of beautiful destinations there is endless. But to pick a few places just off the top of my head, I'd definitely recommend a stretch of the road between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, the southern part of Alaska with its incredible drives, the coast of Oregon, and the New England region.
You do need to have a car to be able to travel around those, but renting it pays off every single penny as memories you create from a trip to the States can never vanish.
To make my own list of recommended places to visit would be quite a task since I believe the number of beautiful destinations there is endless. But to pick a few places just off the top of my head, I'd definitely recommend a stretch of the road between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, the southern part of Alaska with its incredible drives, the coast of Oregon, and the New England region.
You do need to have a car to be able to travel around those, but renting it pays off every single penny as memories you create from a trip to the States can never vanish.
And as we're a car rental booking website, we have to ask — what's the best road trip in a rental car you've taken?
One of the most exciting and adventure-filled road trips that I have ever been on has been with you guys actually in Turkey when my husband and I were road tripping in Cappadocia. I remember how much we have been doubting whether to rent a car or not and eventually we did and since that moment couldn't stop renting cars in other regions of Turkey.
Among other favorite road trips, I recall our spectacular drive through Switzerland from east to west through the Alps Mountains, the Dolomite region in Northern Italy, and one of my favorite countries among all - Norway. And I am still looking forward to more road trips in Scandinavia.
Among other favorite road trips, I recall our spectacular drive through Switzerland from east to west through the Alps Mountains, the Dolomite region in Northern Italy, and one of my favorite countries among all - Norway. And I am still looking forward to more road trips in Scandinavia.
How do you end up choosing where to go? As you most, if not all, of the time with your husband, which one of you does most of the planning?
Interestingly, for the most part, I am that person in our relationship who picks up all our travel destinations and does most of our travel planning. The number one reason for this is that traveling is my job and passion, and second, my husband doesn't care much about where to go, haha. The only places he cares about are those where it's cold or much colder.
If he had an opportunity to move and stay somewhere in Norway around the Arctic circle, he'd happily do it without traveling anywhere else. But he doesn't have this option and I am constantly stirring up his desire to travel and try to live in new places around the world. So he is just picking up on my ideas and contentedly joins the planning process.
As for that part of the question on how I end up choosing where to go, I have 3 different categories where I add destinations where we want to travel.
The first category - those destinations that are just interesting for a visit, second - places that are not so interesting to travel to but important for my work (as I write about them and need a personal experience), and third - destinations that fill both criteria, they are interesting for personal travel and give value to work.
In the end, we mainly choose only those countries where we can travel only for work or where we combine leisure time with work.
If he had an opportunity to move and stay somewhere in Norway around the Arctic circle, he'd happily do it without traveling anywhere else. But he doesn't have this option and I am constantly stirring up his desire to travel and try to live in new places around the world. So he is just picking up on my ideas and contentedly joins the planning process.
As for that part of the question on how I end up choosing where to go, I have 3 different categories where I add destinations where we want to travel.
The first category - those destinations that are just interesting for a visit, second - places that are not so interesting to travel to but important for my work (as I write about them and need a personal experience), and third - destinations that fill both criteria, they are interesting for personal travel and give value to work.
In the end, we mainly choose only those countries where we can travel only for work or where we combine leisure time with work.
We've read that since the government has asked citizens not to go back to Ukraine in winter due to the Russian attacks on its infrastructure, you've decided to stay abroad for now. Do you have some location in which you plan to stay for the winter or will you travel most of the time?
To be honest, I am tired of travel. Not so much of travel itself but more of the reasons why we have to travel. I think I am ready to make a base somewhere where we don't need to spend a fortune just to live our daily life but at the same time be in a place where we feel at home.
So far we have already planned our time until mid-January when we go housesitting in Scandinavia and then possibly stay with my extended family in Germany. But after that, no plans yet.
I guess just deep inside we want to believe that the war in Ukraine will be over anytime soon and we will be able to return home. Although if we realistically assess current situation, we understand that this war may continue for much longer and we may need to plan to stay somewhere else not just in winter but spring and possibly summer.
For that exact reason, we are considering an opportunity to possibly move back to Southeast Asia or to (a new for both of us continent) South America. But the nearest future will show it all!
So far we have already planned our time until mid-January when we go housesitting in Scandinavia and then possibly stay with my extended family in Germany. But after that, no plans yet.
I guess just deep inside we want to believe that the war in Ukraine will be over anytime soon and we will be able to return home. Although if we realistically assess current situation, we understand that this war may continue for much longer and we may need to plan to stay somewhere else not just in winter but spring and possibly summer.
For that exact reason, we are considering an opportunity to possibly move back to Southeast Asia or to (a new for both of us continent) South America. But the nearest future will show it all!
Now looking forward to the future, when you're able to return to Ukraine (and hopefully, our readers can travel there to reboot its travel industry), what's the first place aside from your home you'll take a trip to?
When my husband and I returned to Ukraine on the 19th of February just a few days before the full-scale invasion took place, we planned to travel to Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine near the border with Russia which has been heavily bombed and destroyed.
This is the city where my grandma was from, where some of our family lives, where I was spending some of my summers as a child, and just one of the most interesting and bustling cities in Ukraine where I want to return.
Other places that sit high on my list are one of the oldest cities in Ukraine and the entire of Europe Chernihiv (which was also one of the best Ukrainian cities where to live before Russians destroyed it), the Ukrainian seaside, particularly Crimea, Kherson, and Odesa and those towns around Kyiv like Bucha and Irpin where I was going to church and visiting my collegemates.
All of them suffered a lot due to the attacks and invasion but I believe they'll all come back to life and will really flourish after the war is over.
This is the city where my grandma was from, where some of our family lives, where I was spending some of my summers as a child, and just one of the most interesting and bustling cities in Ukraine where I want to return.
Other places that sit high on my list are one of the oldest cities in Ukraine and the entire of Europe Chernihiv (which was also one of the best Ukrainian cities where to live before Russians destroyed it), the Ukrainian seaside, particularly Crimea, Kherson, and Odesa and those towns around Kyiv like Bucha and Irpin where I was going to church and visiting my collegemates.
All of them suffered a lot due to the attacks and invasion but I believe they'll all come back to life and will really flourish after the war is over.
We know that, given the circumstances, it's difficult to plan for the future, but do you have any grand adventures planned, perhaps outside of Europe?
No, not really and we don't really plan anything adventurous for the nearest future. For now, we just plan to find a base where to stay on a more permanent basis to be able to have the routine, work, and travel locally, but nothing major really.
We love to travel slowly and change accommodations frequently but lately, doing it not on our own terms but more because we have to, just became tiring. Hopping through Europe in the late fall and winter and not having a home to return to when we feel like it is not that much fun. Plus, I have one medical condition which requires me to be under a doctor's control and get my blood work done regularly which is difficult to do once there is no base.
The only type of adventure that we want to plan is to move to another continent sometime next year. Arriving in a very different culture always feels exotic and venturesome.
We love to travel slowly and change accommodations frequently but lately, doing it not on our own terms but more because we have to, just became tiring. Hopping through Europe in the late fall and winter and not having a home to return to when we feel like it is not that much fun. Plus, I have one medical condition which requires me to be under a doctor's control and get my blood work done regularly which is difficult to do once there is no base.
The only type of adventure that we want to plan is to move to another continent sometime next year. Arriving in a very different culture always feels exotic and venturesome.
Do you have anything else you would like to tell readers or any optimistic thoughts about the future of travel or life in general?
Latest events in my life taught me many things, including those how to be grateful for even nonsignificant moments and my daily routine. But number one lesson that I learned was that you shouldn't be putting off your dreams and just basic aspirations for a better time because that time may never come.
Do not be afraid to live in the moment, do things you love and fulfill your dreams today whether they are big or small.
Do you feel like going on an adventure and traveling somewhere far? Don't postpone it and plan it now. Do you feel like staying home on your favorite couch and not traveling anywhere at all? Go for it and listen to your heart.
Do things that make you happy and live your life. But with all that you do, don't harm other people and just bring light!
Do not be afraid to live in the moment, do things you love and fulfill your dreams today whether they are big or small.
Do you feel like going on an adventure and traveling somewhere far? Don't postpone it and plan it now. Do you feel like staying home on your favorite couch and not traveling anywhere at all? Go for it and listen to your heart.
Do things that make you happy and live your life. But with all that you do, don't harm other people and just bring light!
