How it all began.

I admit, there were times I didn't like it. It was very hard for me to wake up early in the morning and when dad woke us (my sister and me) up at 5.30 AM when I was 7 or 8 years old, that was far from exciting ..Nevertheless, while hurrying up for the train station, my heart beat faster when I thought about the new and unknown places we were anxious to discover.
Soon enough I realized the huge luck we've had with our parents. Back in those times, the young parents with small children preferred leaving them to the care of the grandparents while they were gone to the seaside or to the mountains. Happily for us, no matter where our parents went, they took us with them.

Of course, we ran through tough moments, both for them and for us.. In the eyes of a 9 year child, a torrential rain with deafening thunders and blinding lightning on the heights of Bucegi mountains has a totally different meaning than for an adult and, although I can still hear those thunders, I'll never forget my father's qualm, qualm which I learned (or inherited ?) and which proved to be very useful on many later occasions.
After some years, waking up early in the morning to go on a trip turned into a unique sensation which I still live with great intensity: preparing the backpack in the evening, taking out from the closet the antique aluminum pot in which the tea and soup were prepared, preparing the clothes for the trip, all of these are part of a ritual I am very attached to: the ritual in which I discover new paths, wild valleys and forests, charming cities, remote villages and, most of the times, nice people.

My dependence on trips in the nature, the passion for the mountains and accessibility of many picturesque places influenced me a lot when I decided where to go to college. Taking into consideration all aspects written above, Brasov proved to be the ideal solution.

There's no doubt about it: during college I lived some of the most interesting experiences. I have met people who showed me isolated and charming places. Even if my specialization (Marketing) was driving me towards an office career, I soon realized that I would have to change something about it.
The decision to become a national tour guide came as a natural consequence of my years-old passion.

During college I had the opportunity to go on trips with many friends from Romania and abroad, especially on mountains, but also in Transylvanian villages and cities. I asked them to describe me as a tour guide, in a few words:

"Do you search for some unusual but attractive holiday ? Thanks to Mircea Gastaldo I had the possibility to experience a Romanian mountain adventure in Fagaras mountains last year that I enjoyed very much. Not only was Mircea a good guide but also an excellent companion which I appreciated even more. You really will not know what does it mean to be bored when you join him! :)"
Stratonova Lenka , Plzen (Czech Republic)

"I think I have enough experience to compare mountains and the service there. Last year I spent 2 weeks in Fagaras which I really enjoyed. But never could that happen without the knowledge of our guide M. Gastaldo who knew very well local situation and nature. I recommend M. Gastaldo as a guide to enjoy the most beautiful places in Romania.
Honza, Plzen (Czech Republic)"

"I have been to Romania many times, though it feels like I have seen nothing , until I met Mircea, he truly knows how to explore in a way that makes you feel special, he reaches very far to make the experience complete. So what ever expectation you have, he will deliver and there is no chance you’ll get disappointed.
Kindly,
Iacob Duch (Copenhagen Denmark) iacob_duch@yahoo.dk"

"In January 2003, I visited Romania for the first time, to visit friends. They arranged for Mircea Gastaldo to show us around Brasov, where he was a student.
He was a lively and interesting guide, who spoke outstandingly good English. He made sure that my visit was enjoyable, memorable and educational. He took us around the city walls, explaining their history, and to the surrounding countryside, to see the town from the hills. I attach two views of Brasov. One, taken by me, shows Mircea with his wife-to-be Maria and my friends, Silviu and Codruta. The other photo, taken by Mircea, shows me with Maria and Codruta. Mircea was very knowledgeable about the town, yet he was sensitive enough to realize when I could take in no more information. He even took time off from his
studies, though I was keen that he should revise for a test the next day. While he did so, we visited the Black Church, my favorite place in Brasov.
Multumesc Mircea !
Michael Buckland (Wargrave, England)"

After I graduated from guides school in Brasov (December 2003), in the spring of 2004 I took the authorization from the Ministry of Tourism which allows me to practice this job.

Thank you for reading this presentation !

For any questions or suggestions please send me an e-mail at mircea.gastaldo@wanderomania.com or dial +40722470081
I will be more than glad to answer your questions!

Updated info regarding accomodation in rural Romanian pensions: www.turistinfo.ro