Elena is part of the ITB team, and we may say she played a big part in shaping our project’s identity. She is most appreciated for her great touring experience, and for being super knowledgeable and exceptionally friendly. We must warn you – that joy of hers is contagious!
I am born and raised in Bucharest. My parents were both born and raised in Bucharest. Proud to represent.
I was at university, studying to become a civil servant, when I needed a part-time job to pay my tuition fees. And a friend of my mom’s told us that they were looking to train and hire guides, young students, fluent in international languages, at the Palace of Parliament, Bucharest’s most famous tourist attraction. That opened the doors for me to a new way to serve my country, to become a tour guide. I love to help travelers discover the rich history of Romania, as I try my best to keep learning and understanding new things about it myself.
The resilience of people in Bucharest, and Romania in general, always impressed me. Just in the last 100 years Bucharest has witnessed bombings, invasions, earthquakes, dictatorships, and a decades-long attack by the communist party to undermine architecture, art, and community. And the fact that locals are still so friendly, so open, so cheerful, feels amazing.
My nephews learning Christmas carols makes my heart burst with joy every year. As so many Romanians go to work abroad, and our family is not an exception, I guess bringing the families together for the holidays is in itself a valuable tradition.
