Adventurer OF The Month:
-Andrea Cvitanovic Mayfield-
1. Tell us a little about yourself. We want to get to know you!
My name is Andrea and I was originally born in Croatia! I have lived in Germany as a child and now reside in the USA. I have been living in Alabama for about 19 years, but I terribly miss Croatia and the rest of the family living there. I just finished my Masters in Nursing for Family Nurse Practitioner, YAY! Traveling is definitely an outlet for me and it humbles me every single time. I love taking photos (of course) when I travel because it is almost like a creative outlet for me, and it allows me to capture that very special moment. I am married to my high school sweetheart and have an adorable Yorkie named Charlie!
2. We love seeing photos of your adventures. How did it all start for you?
It all started for me as a child really, I always traveled with my family especially in the summer back to Croatia from Germany to visit family. I remember the first time I learned to swim in the Adriatic sea as a child and have had an infectious relationship with exploring ever since! I actually abandoned traveling for a few years due to school life and trying to find my own identity. In the last 6 years the travel bug has definitely bit me and I cannot stop wanderlusting of all the places I would like to see.
3. Your trips look incredible. What is your most memorable trip?
That is such a hard questions since each trip has been so memorable for me. To answer the question, I would have to say my time in Dubrovnik, Croatia this past summer. It has always been a dream of mine to go there, even as a child! There seemed to be always something drawing me to Dubrovnik. When I landed at the airport and started the journey to our hotel, I literally had tears in my eyes. Not only was I back in my country, but I was in one of the most scenic and stunning places in the world. I have never been to a place so perfect and so beautiful in every corner. Each lookout was more beautiful than the last and the memories made there were really priceless to me.
4. You capture the world so beautifully. Do you have any tips on taking and editing photos?
I use a Nikon D5500 and I really love it so much! It has all the features of the DSLR but it is not nearly as heavy as most! I just recently purchased a wide-angle lens and it has been the perfect addition to my travel photography! I love to edit my photos in Lightroom and love to keep them nice and bright with lots of exposure and shadows. There is nothing better than a bright photo to brighten up your week.
5. What essential can you not travel without?
Definitely my camera! I carry it around everywhere when I travel. It is the perfect way to beautifully capture a priceless moment while traveling. I tend to take too many photos most of the time, but that’s okay since it is a great way to reminisce on that exact moment.
6. What have you learned along the way, as you’ve explored different places?
I have learned that the world is too big to stay in one place forever. We have so much to learn from other people and cultures, that it would be a shame not to experience it. I have also learned that material possessions really are not that important when you are surrounded by some of the most stunning monuments and places in the world, it really is a humbling experience.
7. Do you have a bucket list of places your still want to explore?
Of course I do! And the list keeps getting bigger and bigger each year! I have been able to mark off quite a few places already, but there are so many more to see. For 2018 I would love to see Greece, Montenegro, and Venice. I also would love to take shorter trips to as many National Parks in the USA that I can!
8. What makes your heart beat? What do you really believe in, stand for, and want to tell others about?
I think for me what really makes my heart beat is that traveling really brings out the best in you. It brings out your adventurous, curious, and humble side. It makes us better individuals at the end of the day and it fills our hearts and minds with so many valuable life lessons. Another thing that makes my heart beat is the Balkan region. Since I am from there, my heart will always lie there. I want to spread the word about the beauty of Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina to other people. The region is too beautiful to be overlooked or missed.
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