About me
Hi, I'm Zane - and I've been uncovering the world since I was 16.
A Latvian in Spain, a professional travel agent, and a traveler always looking for the places that feel real before they feel polished.
It started with a three month exchange program in Italy at the age of 16. Staying with a host family in Cesena, I got my first real taste of what it means to live somewhere rather than just visit it. The daily rhythms of Italian life, the food, the language, the way locals moved through their own city - it was nothing like being a tourist. That experience planted a seed: travel could be so much more than sightseeing.
But the trip that truly rewired how I see the world came later. At 23, I moved to Matera, Italy for six months as a European volunteer. Matera is a breathtaking ancient city carved into rock - a UNESCO World Heritage Site that most people have never heard of. Living there, embedded in local life, I understood for the first time what authentic travel really means. I've been chasing that feeling ever since.
A Latvian in Spain, Somewhere in the World
I'm originally from Latvia and have been living in Valencia, Spain for the past four and a half years - though honestly, "living somewhere" is a loose term when you travel as much as I do.
I've explored almost every corner of Europe, traveled through South and North America, wandered through Japan and Vietnam, and countless places in between. Every trip adds another layer to how I understand people, places and cultures.
I hold a Masters degree in Sustainable Tourism from France, I've worked as a professional travel agent for three years, and I speak five languages fluently - Latvian, English, Spanish, French and Italian. Travel isn't just a passion for me. It's literally my profession and my life.
What Authentic Travel Means to Me
People ask me what I mean by authentic travel. For me it's simple - it's the small details. Less crowds. Seeing how people actually live. Finding places that are absolutely gorgeous but haven't been polished and packaged for mass tourism yet.
It's a hidden village in Portugal where life still revolves around the harvest. It's a street food vendor preparing something extraordinary with no sign above the door. It's a viewpoint with no other tourists in sight, just you and a view that takes your breath away. It's Matera, where I first understood that the most beautiful places are often the ones nobody told you about.
I'm not here to show you the brochure version of the world. I'm here to show you what's behind it.
When I'm Not Traveling
You'll find me hiking the trails around Valencia, attending local concerts and events, or practicing flute - yes, I play flute, which is perhaps the least travel-relevant detail about me but feels important to mention.
My friends describe me as empathetic, honest and adventure-seeking. I'd say that's fairly accurate - though I'd add "perpetually planning the next trip" to that list.
Let's Uncover the World Together
Whether you're planning your first trip to Morocco, looking for the hidden side of Japan, curious about the underrated magic of Latvia and the Baltics, or simply want to travel more intentionally - you're in the right place.
I'm Zane. And this is Travel Uncovered.
Want help planning your next authentic adventure? Get in touch here.