Most important things to know about Danube Delta

Old and new are perfectly mixing in Danube Delta. It is actually the newest land in Europe, but hosts some old antique cities and fortress, e.g. Tulcea or Sulina. Danube Delta is a huge overwhelming surface of soil and water mixing perfectly, but also fighting one against others. Add the fire put often by the locals in Autumn in the reed fields to get better pieces of land and you have all the elements.

Danube Delta is really amazing and impressive through its unbelievable landscapes, rich flora and fauna with many endemic or endangered species. It is the biggest in Europe, if we forget the Volga's, and simultaneously one of the most original, spectacular and richest in the all world. You simply can't neither call it land, is it actually a huge marsh; nor you can't call it water, as all the lakes are covered with vegetation. And this vegetation is so rich, genuine and divers, almost tropical, making it totally unusual for Romania. Call it simply Danube Delta, it is an amazing paradise, half water, half land with a rich network of main arms and small channels. From time to time or in a few places you can find water lilies, if you are lucky enough, or pelicans or other rare species.

Tulcea is one of the best starting places in your Delta discovery trip

Before giving birth to its wonderful Delta, the Danube travels in all Europe almost 4000 km. Its journey starts in Germany, from an unsignificant water source. It goes through many countries and three interesting European Capitals: Vienna, Budapesta and Belgrade. You can cruise the Danube all along, there are a few company offering such tours, but if have not so much time to your disposal, go and see at least the Danube Delta. You can do it on a budget or in style, but you must simply do it, all your efforts will be rewarded beyond your imagination.

Most of the Danube Delta is actually a depression, subject to massive flood in Spring. Totally conventional and for scientific purposes, we make a difference between the river Delta, and the maritim Delta, according to the most influential elements. A demarcation line between these areas is Letea-Caraorman-Crasnicol-Perisor. The depression lies at 0,3 meters bellow the sea level, and is dotted with higher pieces of land, actually fixed or floating islands. On the Letea island the landscape is almost alien, due to the sand dunes gathered by the strong winds and then covered with rich vegetation. Unusual Mediteran species live in perfect harmony with the local oak.

The Letea  forest is one of the best kept protected area inside Danube Delta

The real master of the Danube delta are not the tourists, as you might think, but the birds! More than 300 species, very difficult to name and recognize for a city freak live here all year long or only the half of it. Observe and visit  inside the Danube Delta, which is totally a recognized natural reserve the protected area of the already above mentioned Letea forest, or Rosca-Buhaiova-Hrecisca, and also the notorious nesting or passing areas for the birds.

Pelicans in the Danube Delta are a must see, you are going to find and discover them for sure.

You can reach the Romanian Danube Delta by air, landing in Tulcea, by sea, coming from Constanta, by car in Tulcea etc. Anyway, you must remember: car access is prohibited and almost impossible in mostly all Delta. Whether you arrive by car or by plane in Tulcea, you must make a ship cruise to completely discover and  unveil the secret beauties of the Delta. During the cruise you are going to have an epic wine tasting on the ship, with a few wines from the area.

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A misteryous insulated town on Danube mouth

If you visit the breathtaking Danube Delta, you have so many things to see and to do. Besides the many spectacular views of natural reserves, protected areas, or endemic species, one of the first options is visiting the little town of Sulina, lieing on the arm with the same name, mainly on the right side. It is actually the  easternmost point not only in Romania, but in the all European Union.

In order to judge the works of the Danube, observe in the centre of the town the lighthouse, build at 1850 on the shore. Meanwhile  the Delta has won 1500 meters, it is obvious! The lighthouse has been build at the blossom of the history of Sulina. The port was very important, all the big protecting powers, starting with Austria, were deeply interesting controlling the navigation on the Danube. In the same time has been appointed an European Commision for Danube navigation, which build in Sulina an imposing palace for administrative tasks. This palace is another landmark of the today Sulina.

In Sulina you can bath in the Black sea, as in the Danube River, it is really unique

There are so many things to say about Sulina. Unoficially and unproofed, it might be the oldest human settlement in Romania, dating back from the VIIth century b.C. In the Middle Age starts the written history of Sulina. The Turks started to use first this port, which is simultaneously a river and a sea port! Later, in the XVIIth century, Sulina was an excellent pirate nest. The pirates used ships, but also the forests around the town, to disappear before and after their surprise attacks. A special mention for the legendary Greek pirate Karagounis, who has nerve and was very brave. He died suddenly, and the locals found and buried him respectfully, in the town cemetery. His lost treasure has been not found up to now,and if you are lucky, could also try. His tombstone is only readable  at morning, after wiping it with a wet towel!

When the Sulina's lighthouse has been build 200 years ago, it was on the shore line. Meanwhile the land has won almost 2 kilometers

There are also other prominent personalities  sleeping in the town cemetery, e.g. an English officer with his beloved wife, disappeared in a ship disaster of the XIXth century. After marrying a lower condition women, his parents forced him to leave the house, and he found a place as a ship officer, and his wife followed him disguised. The both receded in a spectacular shipwreck, and their parents build monuments for them. But the bodies have not been found, and the speculators say that they used the opportunity to go away for ever!

The Pirates' cemetery from Sulina

The peak of the recent history of Sulina was between 1860 and 1939, when the port started losing his importance due to the quick development of Constanta. Today the tourism might be a good chance for Sulina, as its excellent wide fine beach stretches along the Danube, as also on the seashore. It is comparable with Vama Veche, the Romanian Capital of the bohemians in the hot season. In the remote corners of the beach there are good conditions for naturalists, please don't disturb them. Sulina can be reach exclusively by water. This huge disavantage turns to be an advantage, as the travelers number rises permanently due to the genuine nature around Sulina ( e.g. the lakes Rosu, Rosulet, Puiu, Lumina as the many creeks and channels)

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Essential tips for discovering the Danube Delta

When it comes to discuss about Danube delta, there are a lot of things to say. The most important thing: more than 90 % from the European animal and vegetable species can be found here. You can make wonderful photography trips in the Delta, you can go fishing and also you can find many other things to do, I am sure you will never be disappointed.

To make an idea about the speed of stretching  Danube Delta: in the time of Moldavian ruler Stefan cel Mare (or Stephen the Great) the fortress Chilia was his possession, and was on shore of the Black Sea, an important  port of it. Nowadays from Chilia to the sea there are 40 km to go (this process happened in 500 years). The result is a convincing 1 kilometer yearly.

The villages and human settlements in Danube Delta are very rare, but they do exist, and you don't need to take all basic foodstuffs

For the car fans and freaks, stop thinking to discover Danube Delta by car. In many places is simply impossible, while in other protected areas banned. Please be reasonable and discover Danube Delta by water from Tulcea, on bigger or smaller ships. On the bigger ones you have the advantages of comfort and ammenities, while the little ones can access the most remote and hidden places. But it is possible combining them, and getting the perfect mix.

For the photo freaks the flying or swimming pelicans make the Delta delightful

Go for the Delta adventure in an appropriate, light, but comfortable suit, don't need to be fancy or fashionable there. Don't forget or neglect a raincoat, a cap or a hat, a wind coat.

The mosquitos are showing after 19 hours in summer, and it is wise and advisable to get a shelter before.Take with you creams and solutions against stitches, but also some antidotes against digestive diseases (the nearest hospital is many kilometers away, only in Tulcea, and is not easy reachable!)

Typical architecture for the houses in Danube Delta, based on the local resources

Listen and follow carefully all the advises and recommendations of the locals about dangerous areas, weather conditions, best places for fishing. Don't dare to dream about swimming in the river, unless you are a professional skilled swimmer, because the streams, the mood near the shores and the hidden rocks or wrecks are serious risks.

In the protected areas you need a special authorization for visiting, which is issued by the Natural Reserve Danube Delta Authority from Tulcea. If your visit is granted, and you have the permit, you need to respect some normal elementary regulations (no parking, no open fires, keep silence and don't break the trees).

A sunrise in the Danube Delta is a major compensation for all the risks you must take for reaching  this  fantastic area

There are some villages in the Danube Delta, as you can see on the map, nevertheless they are rarely and the food comes by water ( Danube Delta is one of the poorest inhabited European areas). Nevertheless, you don't need to take with you so much food, you will be able to find something in the groceries from these villages.) Vegetables are not easy to find, also the cheese, or replacing pelicula for your camera. Not to forget, tobacco and alcohol are very good for bargaining with the locals.

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Romania for honeymooners

Unfortunately, Romania is not seen as a destination for for honeymoon. It is not right, it is not correct, and it is not true, and I will explain why. Please,reconsider your approach seeing Romania as an important destination  for your honeymoon.

Maybe you'd like to be bride in the Romanian popular dress, which is very rare and exotic even among the Romanian brides nowadays

First of all, you can make your wedding here, in an orthodox church, goes so deep inside! It is touching indeed, and lasts 2 hours. For the non-orthodox would be a problem, they need prior to baptise, which is a separate ceremony, and is practically impossible to have both in the same day! But doing this you will feel yourself filled (remember from the Greek, orthodoxia=right religion!) and doing this you will have a perfect balance between mind, body and saw!

I wish you to have such a huge wedding as the daughter of the Romanian President Traian Basescu (here in the churc, during the religious ceremony)

After the religious marriage, or even prior, bag you pardon, you need the civil ceremony, when the Mayor shall pronounce you man and wife for the rest of your lives, no matter how long it seems nowadays! At evening, the feast, lasting all night long, because all the friends and relatives would like to take part and celebrate! Be sure to order more sorts of wine, in big amounts. Be sure to dance a lot, having a good orchestra, and be sure to have a wonderful time. It is unforgettable for the bride and the gloom, an important day of their lives.

Honeymoon on wine tasting, why not? Romania's many vineyards will facilitate a long exciting trip

After that you might need a day for rest, and afterwards you need some privacy, find a place for your own! The gloom must be a wine afficionado, I am very sure; and if the bride shares the same passion, we can have wine tasting a milestone for your original honeymoon. In this wonderful season, a long Autumn, I am going to organize special wine tasting of Muscat Ottonel and Feteasca Neagra in vineyards, staying there in the manors! Remember that Feteasca from Romanian means young girl wine, and make distinction from babeasca (old maid wine). I am going to spare you during the honeymoon from Babeasca, you won't get any drop.

An isolated cabin in the mountains is a good option for honeymooners

Another possibility is going in an isolated chalet in the mountains, where you can get all the intimacy you need. Keep writing there in your book of souvenirs for the latter years, make short walks. You are a small piece in a puzzle, which is your Earth and the Universe. Most important, stay in peace and harmony with the Universe, maybe you will experience even tantra!

Travelling on a ship on honeymoon is like a dream coming true

Also recommendable for honeymoon in Autumn: a trip in Danube Delta, starting from Tulcea, of course. Very relaxing and romantic indeed to discover other living creatures of the Universe. And from time to time you can go back in your heated cabin, under the deck!

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Tulcea, the turning plate of Danube Delta

Danube delta is an amazing huge teritory transforming itself from day to day, due to the deposits brought by the River. Danube Delta is one of the favorite targets of the tourists and travelers in Romania, so you can't miss it. Danube Delta has a particular charm, a few of the tourists stay here for the rest of their lives.

Tulcea is more than anything else the turning plate towards Danube Delta, and consequently a touristic port

There are many possibilities for visiting Danube Delta, shorter or longer, according to the time and budget you have for it. Most important, all these trips in Danube Delta starts and ends in Tulcea. The city of Tulcea hosts even the administration of Natural Reserve Danube Delta.

Very important for locals, as also for visitors: Tulcea has many flowers

But Tulcea is itself a nice city to see, and a nice place to live too. It hosts nowadays 100 000 inhabitants, which are busy in fishing, tourism, navigation etc. The city lies on seven hills, similar to Rome and Iasi, and was existing already in antic times, under name of Aegyssus (Greek colony from the VIIth b.C.). Further came the Romans, Bulgarians and Turks. During Middle Age after destruction due to migrations the city has been deserted for 1 century.

Tulcea by night is very picturesque, relaxing and spectacular. Also very safe.

There are many hotels and restaurants in Tulcea. At night in summer you can walk on the promenade along the Danube and eat quietly on one of the many restaurants (some of them are on ships, and if you are a fish freak, as I do, could be the paradise for you. Ask in restaurant Aegyssus about fish bechamel sauce, and you'll be delighted.

Wine tasting in Macin, 30 km away from Tulcea

From Tulcea you can make trips not only on water, but also on land, e.g short trips to the vineyards from Niculitel and Murfatlar, where you will take part to long wine tastings for sure (there are some special sorts of wine to be found exclusively in these exquisite locations, more details on place).

If you are an art freak, The Art Museum from Tulcea is the right place for you.

During the Day in Tulcea, waiting for the ships, you still have many things to do and have no time to sleep. Check the Art Museum, or The History Museum of Danube Delta and you will not be disappointed, I bet, but you only need a few hours for anyone of it.In the Delta Museum you will find an excellent organized aquarium among others artefacts, as the Delta was an issue for all the European powers, due to the possibility to control all the trade on the River. In the Art Museum you will find surprisingly much masterpieces of Romanian and foreign painters.

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Danube Delta cruise and wine tasting on the ship

Really hard to speak to someone about Danube Delta, as you must see it, in order to understand it.
But, let's try, I need your attention and I hope to be not very abstract. Maybe you know already something about Danube, having its sources in Germany,Donaueschingen, where it is only a very little brook! Afterwards, it grows and grows, receiving many rivers and going through a few of Capitals like Vienna, Budapest and Belgrad. Bucharest and Sofia are also not far away from the longest European river, after Volga (Volga has also a Delta, but Danube Delta is bigger and better preserved).

Typical view from the Danube Delta, a virgin natural paradise

Danube Delta with its 5000 sqkm is a nature miracle and paradise. The river brings with mood and the soil in  Delta is permanently forming and disappearing. There are floating islands (plaur) and the exactly place where the river goes into the sea is unknown, it changes every moment.

Danube Delta means 6000 square kilometers, 90 % in Romania. Observe on the map the three arms Chilia, Sf Gheorghe, Sulina. Not far from here the vineyards from Murfatlar and Niculitel (not visible on the map). But they are there, don't be anxious seeing only water.

On the forementioned surface of 6000 sqkm live only 12000 people (4000 in Sulina, a port to the Black Sea) resulting an average density of 2 people on square kilometer, the lowest in all Europe. All these people living in some villages like Crisan, Maliuc, Mila 23  (none is bigger than 500 people) are mainly fishermen and gain very difficult access to the sanitary network. Most of them are Lipovans, former Russian refugees after the Lenin's Revolution, and there are many legends about their alcohol addiction.

This local fishermen is probably Lipovan, speaks  Russian and drinks  a lot of spirits

You can imagine, there is no other possibility to see Delta than by ship. I will propose you a full day cruise starting from Tulcea to Sulina, and back, with little incursions on the little channels, which is the most important and picturesque thing here (most probably, we must descend from the big ship and go further by little boats) . It will be a quite relaxing day ( if not stormy) turning in an unforgettable event. On the ship, during lunch, a surprise: wine tasting with the best Romanian wines (5 sortiments and a good meal). Man, we will have a good time. The wine selection is personal and I will only reveal on place!

No way not to love Delta. Some tourists even settled here for the rest of their lifes

But maybe I should be more specific: transfer from and to Bucharest Airport, 2 nights in a 3 *** hotel in Tulcea, Delta Cruise with wine tasting compose a strong package costing only 300 Euros; for booking in September you are going to receive a discount of 5 %.

Danube Delta has a rich history, as it was a strategic position for controlling navigation and commerce on the river. You will be amazed of the strange beauty of the town Sulina. I can tell you much more about the history, climates and ecosystems from Danube Delta, but this remains open fort the trip! For bookings mail at dorugiu@gmx.net

A wind mill in Delta, another pearl you must see

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