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Romanian Horizons / Casa-de-la-Rau staff and guides  

Our Staff
Where possible we use Romanians who share our love of wildlife and the outdoors, and are experts in their field. They all speak English (some other languages) and many hold PhD's or have substantial research experience. They have the essential qualities of being naturally friendly and good communicators.

Orieta Hulea
Orieta is a Fresh Water Biologist, who carried out her doctorate research on the Ecology of Aquatic Macro-invertebrates in the Danube Delta. She was working as researcher at the Danube Delta National Research Institute in Tulcea, the starting point of the trips into the Danube Delta. She is specialist in freshwater fauna and flora and has a particular interest in nature conservation as she acts as a consultant for non-governmental and governmental organisations. Orieta also speaks English, French and Italian.

Orieta leads groups and reveals to them the natural beauty of the Danube Delta and Macin Mountains . She is an expert on these areas as she was working in the Danube Delta and was born in the Macin area.

Cristina Palici
Cristina is a Marine Biologist who carried out her doctorate research on the ecology of a section of the Black Sea coast. During this time she was employed by the University of Iasi as a researcher and tutor, and acted as assistant co-ordinator for the research and training activities at the University of Iasi Marine Station at Agigea, on the Black Sea coast. She is a specialist in coastal crustaceans from the Black Sea , and also acted as guide to the plant reserve around the Agigea station.

Cristina runs Casa-de-la-Rau, and provides most of the excellent cuisine for our guests. She also leads local walks and acts as Marine Guide for the Black Sea coastal zone.

Paul Riddy
Paul is an educator and researcher who worked for many years in Marine Science, often involving the organization of substantial fieldwork operations. He is also a senior teacher in the Association for Yoga Studies in the UK . Paul is an experienced mountain walker, and it was his exploration of the central Romanian mountains which led him to set up the fledgling Romanian Horizons in 1999. This started with a few centre based walking tours, whilst at the same time establishing a base in Romania in the form of Casa de la Rau (Riverside House).

Paul specialises in leading mountain walks into the Bucegi and near-by mountains, and organises and leads the yoga and walking holidays. He is the co-ordinator of Romanian Horizons, and is predominantly based in the UK .

Birdwatching trips will be leaded by trained ornithologists, familiar with the species identification in a wide range of habitats, and recommended by the Romanian Ornithological Society, the BirdLife Partner in Romania .