Hey there! I’m so glad you’ve made it to this little corner of the internet. Before you dive deeper into the reed beds, channel mazes, and pelican colonies, I figured we should properly introduce ourselves. After all, the best travel experiences—whether virtual or real—start with a good chat.
Who Am I?
I’m Eugen, a local boy from Tulcea, Romania—the official gateway to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. I was born here, grew up here with the muddy waters of the Danube practically running through my backyard, and after some years away chasing careers and city lights.
By day, I’m a web developer and digital consultant. I build things for the internet, help businesses figure out their online presence, and generally speak fluent “tech.” But by night (and early mornings, and pretty much any free moment I can steal), I’m the guy behind Wild Danube Delta.
I’m in my early thirties now, which feels strange to write because in my head I’m still that sixteen-year-old kid staying up way too late to tweak a website about his favorite place on Earth. Some things never change, I guess.
Why This Website Exists (The Short Version)
Wild Danube Delta started way back in 2007 as a highschool kid’s passion project. It was my escape, my creative outlet, and my way of shouting into the void: “Hey world, have you SEEN this place I come from?!”
After years of neglect while I built a career and figured out adulting, I’ve resurrected the site in 2026. It’s better, deeper, and more useful than ever. Think of it as a local friend who knows all the secret spots—digitized.
The Long Version: My Story, Your Context
Look, I know that when you’re planning a trip somewhere—especially somewhere as wild and unique as the Danube Delta—you want to know you can trust the person giving you advice. You don’t want some generated listicle written by someone who’s never smelled the reeds at sunrise. You want real. You want local. You want the stuff that guidebooks miss.
So here’s my story, the unfiltered version.
The Highschool Years (2007-2010)
I built the first version of this site when I was still in highschool. My Romanian was fine, my English was… enthusiastic but questionable. I’d spend weekends out on my uncle’s fishing boat, taking terrible photos with a point-and-shoot camera, then rush home to upload them and write about our adventures.
The internet was different then. Slower. Quieter. But people found the site. Travelers planning Danube Delta trips would email me—actual emails!—asking for advice. I felt like a real expert, even though I was just a kid sharing what I’d grown up with.
The College Years (2010-2014)
I took Wild Danube Delta with me to university in Bucharest. While my classmates were building portfolios for advertising agencies or finance jobs, I was sneakily updating my delta guides between lectures. The site grew. More articles, better photos, actual useful information about accommodation, boat trips, birdwatching spots.
But here’s the thing—I was also building other websites. The affiliate marketing kind. You know the type: “Best Hiking Gear Reviews,” “Top 10 Camping Tents,” generic content designed to rank on Google and make a few bucks. They worked, sort of. But they never had a soul. They were just… websites.
Wild Danube Delta was different. It had my blood in it. Literally—I once cut my hand on a rusty boat hook while researching a fishing spot and got blood on my notebook. True story.
The Real Job Years (2014-2017)
Then came the “real job.” European Funds Consulting. Fancy title, decent money, zero passion. I was helping organizations apply for EU funding, writing grant proposals, attending meetings where we discussed “synergies” and “stakeholder engagement.” It paid the bills, but it slowly killed something in me.
I stopped updating Wild Danube Delta. At first, I told myself it was temporary. Then months turned into years. The affiliate sites? Abandoned too. They withered, dropped off Google’s radar, and eventually their domains expired.
The Pivot (2017-2025)
I realized I was not cut for the consulting world. So I pivoted. Web development had always been there in the background—I’d been tinkering with code since the Dreamweaver days. Now I made it official. I learned properly, built real skills, and started working with clients who actually appreciated what I built.
But Wild Danube Delta stayed dormant. The content was still there, but it was outdated. Photos from 2012. Restaurant recommendations for places that had closed. Boat tour prices that made people laugh (or cry). I’d get the occasional email: “Is this guide still current?” and I’d feel a pang of guilt before hitting delete.
The Resurrection (2026)
Something shifted this year. Maybe it’s turning thirty-something and realizing that life is too short to let the things you love die. Maybe it’s watching my hometown change and wanting to document it properly. Maybe it’s just missing that feeling of building something meaningful.
So I brought it back. Wild Danube Delta, reborn in 2026.
I’ve rewritten some things. Updated the practical info. Taken new photos (with a proper camera this time, not my old point-and-shoot). Added sections I always wanted—detailed birding guides, fishing regulations, conservation updates, cultural context about the Lipovan communities, the works.
And yes, I’ve kept the old stuff too. Some of those 2007-2012 posts are still up, marked as “nostalgia pieces.” They remind me where this all started.
My Promise to You
Here’s what you need to know about the person behind this site:
I’m local. I grew up here. My family is from here. When I tell you the best time to visit the Caraorman forest, it’s not copied from Wikipedia—it’s from decades of personal experience.
I’m independent. No tour operator pays me for positive reviews. No hotel gets special treatment. When I recommend something, it’s because I genuinely think it’s worth your time and money.
I’m current. I live here. I update this site constantly. If a restaurant closes, I know within days. If a new birdwatching hide opens, I’m there with my binoculars.
I’m passionate. This isn’t a content farm. This isn’t someone outsourcing articles to freelancers who’ve never seen the Danube. This is my one true love in the digital world, brought back to life because I couldn’t bear to let it die.
Let’s Connect
This website is a living thing. It grows, changes, and hopefully gets better with time. I’d love for you to be part of that.
Found something useful? Drop me a line. Spotted an error? Please tell me—I’m human, I make mistakes. Planning a trip and want personalized advice? Ask away. I might not reply instantly (I do have client work and, you know, actual boat trips to take), but I read every message.
You can reach me through the contact form, or just dive into the articles and start exploring. The Danube Delta is waiting—and now, so is its website.
Thanks for being here. It means more than you know.
Eugen
Tulcea, Romania
2026