The wine road from Focsani

It is an unbelievable wonderful weather at this moment in Focsani, and I must prepare the new spring season. It is very easy at 10 degrees Celsius and I am very optimist about it. For the wine addicted, I will renew the offer from former year, starting with the convincing Big Romania Wine Tour, a success program.

The trip along the Wine Road starts in Focsani

The Vrancea district, whose residence is in Focsani, is very well renowned for its huge neverending vineyards, one of the most important regional landmarks. It is actually the biggest surface of vineyards among other Romanian districts, as one of the biggest wine production. Unfortunately, other regional vineyards like Murfatlar or Cotnari, enjoy a better marketing and selling policy, but Vrancea never gives up! The vineyards are shared between more or medium sized farms, and thus everybody wins!The many and spectacular wine tastings on the way will delight you for sure, if you understand all about this fascinating branch and area.

Spectacular barracks in Odobesti

In the Wine land there are many wine roads, I personally selected one variant. We start from Focsani and travel up to Andreiasu, through Odobesti-Vartescoiu-Brosteni-Mera-Reghiu. From the many vineyards from the area we can select a few for tastings, but we could select much more. The trip is not very long, lasting a day, even if you ride the bike instead driving. Leave the town of Focsani through its Cotesti neighborhood, and discover first the village of Campineanca. Its existence is tighten with the Romanian Unification from 1859, when Wallachia united with Moldavia. The border was in this area and after is disappearance, the guardians from the both sides took the decision of setting this village. There are three churches in Campineanca, and in the center you can discover a small monuments for the people who falled during WWI.

Please observe the barrels/bariques, every household has many of them in Odobesti and on the Wine road.

Almost without notice you got the village of Unirea(Patesti), outskirt of Odobesti. please notice the vineyards stretching all over the horizon, and proof again manner and patience, before the wine tasting from Odobesti, in the Dyonyssos caves. Unirea was for the first time mentioned in a written document at 1684. Everything in the area is tighten to wine, which is the main occupations of the locals. They simply love the wine, enjoy life, and can speak uninterrupted about their fantastic product. Two important local sorts are Sarba and Galbena (Yellow), they are unique here and you can't find them anywhere else. Don't forget to ask about them, even by the tasting. Or rather don't, the host will be able to speak for hours about.

Magura Hill is the highest in Romania

Very close to Odobesti (10 km away) is the highest hill in Romania. Magura Odobestilor is rather a mountain through its altitude of 100 meters, but a hill through its structure and neighborhood. Climbing it is not very difficult, but requires skills and training, and last a few hours. Once on the top, the perfect reward: excellent panoramic viewto 10-20 kilometers. You can imagine the strategic importance of this point for military observation during the heavy fights from the WWI given in the neighborhood! On another hill, next to the town of Odobesti, namely Sarba, have been found pottery fragments from the La Tene culture (200 b.C). Already during Middle Age Odobesti has been known as a leading vineyard in Moldavia. An interesting place is the Cross Church, founded by the traders' guild.

Very close to Odobesti is the village Vartescoiu, another one dedicated to the wine, with many farms and caves. Nowadays it became an outskirt of Odobesti and simply lives in its shadow. On the same way, discover a similar village, Faraoanele, whose name has a wonderful legend. When the Turks were ruling Moldavia, and the collectors came gathering the debts, in Faraoanele no one could give much due a dramatic water shortage. Very disappointed, yet upset, they found two wonderful young girls, having the saving idea to send the girls to the sultan's khareem. But all the locals protested, and the two girls escaped somehow. The both girls' name was Oana, and in Romanian the village name means "No Oana".

A few kilometers further discover the village Mera with its old fortified monastery. From now on the roads are not easy accessible and not practicable after heavy rains. But the landscapes are more spectacular and genuine. Notice in Andreiasu the "Living Fire", caused by a gas emanation, which permanently burns. There are possible many itineraries in these area, but only possible as walking tours.

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Exploring caves in Romania

Romania has a wide offer for adventurers, and an important issue for these freaks would be the caves (speology is nevertheless a Romanian discovery, thinking to Emil Racovita, one of his pioneers).

Muntii Apuseni, or the Romanian Western carpathians,  are build in a soft lime stone, which made possible an intensive water erosion resulting in many cute caves.

The best area for visiting caves in Romania is the the Western Carpathians (Muntii Apuseni) due to their soft limestone structure. One of the possible ways is leaving Oradea in Direction Deva, turning right to Remetea, and then driving to Meziad, our first target. The Meziad cave is waiting for you for visiting everyday between 9 and 17 hours, less on Mondays. Count on a little entrance fee and enjoy the 5 km long galleries of Meziad cave, discovered in 1849 by a local climber, and was among the first in Romania opened for its fantastic touristic potential. Observe carefully stalactites, stalagmites and the remainings of prehistoric bears sheltering here.

Pestera Ursilor (The Bears Cave) is very spectacular and you can't miss it.

Afterwards follow the way to Lacul Ursu. Beware if it is raining, this way is no more accessible. Lacul Ursu ( The bear lake) is a wonderful lake with a very strange form in the middle of mountains, promising adventures to every step. The lake is also famous among fishermen, and the trout captured here is very tasty. Leaving the lake to south you go through Valea Iadului (The hell valley) which is really very nice and cute, but bears this name on unknown matter. 6 km away from Lacul Ursu you must be able to find and see a water falls, namely Iadolina; if not, you are on the wrong way. Very close, Stana de Vale, a resort for winter and ski, which can act a little disappointing, despite its superb position at 1100 meters altitude. The offer on hotels is not so rich, as also the possibilities of skiing are not brillant.

Please, don't try to do that, is only for skilled trained climber

Very close, The  Monastery  of the Saints Peter and Paul, one of the newest in Romania. It lacks on any possibility of lodging, but is a good starting and orientation point for the many walking trips you can try in the neighborhood. A path leads to Pietroasa, 14 km away direction  south when you can't miss the wooden church from the XVIIth century. From there, very easy and quick to the last targets, Pestera Ursilor (The Bears' Cave) and Pestera Magura. Magura is opened mainly for specialists and experts coming in organized groups, but Pestera Ursilor is worth to a visit and your attention. You can do there a guided tour lasting 1 hour which will delight you, as the cave is very special and spectacular with many stactites, stalagmites, holes and rocks. In some areas looks like a future city, as imagined in Hollywood. Not very big and discovered by accident, has many skeletons of an extincted species of bear.

Skiing in Arieseni, on the beginners' slope

After coming back on the highway turn please left to Lunca, following the indicator to Turda. Within short time you can reach Baita, one of the oldest mining areas in Romania. Already during the Middle Age silver and copper have been gained here, but very famous became this place during the communist era: during the 50' years of the XXth century thousands of miners and soldiers exploited 30 000 tonnes of Uranium, which has been entirely send to the Soviet Union. Radiations are still an issue among the former and retired miners! Beyond the Pass Vartop you can find Arieseni, after a pleasant downhill. Arieseni is an other becoming ski resort in birth state. Amazing in Arieseni, a very unusual church from the XVIIIth century, which is not specially beautiful, but striking.

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Portile de Fier, a savage part of Romania

The Danube River flows through all Europe 2800 km, crossing 3 capitals and 6 countries and ends its adventurous travel through a wonderful Delta. When the Danube crosses the Carpathians and constitutes the border between Romania and actually Serbia has the ugliest, most dangerous face.

His majesty The Danube in Cazane

Before 1972 when the big dam of Portile de Fier was raised the navigation was barely possible, but even today it is not easy, despite the building of the second dam (Portile de Fier II). In the area, 100 km long, the Danube crosses a few gorges offering a savage landscape.  You can make rafting on the lakes, on the Danube, or you can climb the mountains feeling a Robinson Crusoe.

The impressive monument of the dacia ruler, King Decebal, who fought against the Romans and is nowadays a national symbol of courage and patriotism

Portile de Fier means Iron Gates, translated from Romanian. Amazingly, all the other people in the area, and all the navigators, have the same designation for this region. With a ship, you pass first through the Gorge of Golubac (14 km long), and you can see from the former Serbian city of Golubac only nine towers emerging from the water. Further, the Gospodin Gorge, 15 km long and 220 meters wide, followed by a gorge called Cazanele Dunarii, which is 19 km long and 150 meters wide. The surrounding rocks are very abrupt, 700 meters high, and there is no possibility to come on any shore. You will notice here Tabula Traiana, an antic Roman monument, build to remember the Roman highway to Dacia . On the Romanian shore, on behalf of Iosif constantin Dragan, wealthy businessman, has been carved a huge statue of the Dacian king Decebal, who dared to fight against the Romans, and is today a model of patriotism (no Romanian city without a Decebal street). 12  sculptors have been busy 12 years working at that monumental statue, and they even wrote "Facet Dragan" . After, the former city of Orsova,overflowed and removed on a new location.

The picturesque Island of ada kaleh, overflowed after the building of the dam

In this region was also the Island Ada-Kaleh, for centuries a pirates nest and a Turkish enclave. Some of its buildings have been removed to Island of Simian, but the people refused to reset, and fled in Dobrogea (another region of Romania with an important Turkish minority) or Turkey. This the most evocative, if not hurting, lost due to the Dam of Portile de Fier, and there are plans and intentions to build Ada Kaleh again from scratch.

Not far, there is Drobeta Turnu Severin, an industrial town, hosting The Museum of Iron Gates and the amazing water tower (1904). In Drobeta are still visible two foot of the former Roman bridge on the Danube, which facilitated the displacement of Roman divisions.

Portile de Fier is really a paradise for nature and mountain freak, for rafters and adventurers, historians and environmentalists.

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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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Must see in Romania: Craiova

The city of Craiova is doubtless a regional Capital of Oltenia, Romanian province. Which is maybe the most Romanian provinces of all, and the Romanians from this province are much more passionate and hot blooded, comparing with other provinces, like Transilvania and Moldavia.

Downtown of Craiova at night, with spectacular fountain and the monumental City Hall. Also spectacular in daylight. and a magnetic target for a long walk, among locals and tourists

The people of Oltenia have something special, you can't get in other parts of the country. They are very proud, they are very patriots and have a special sense of humor, and all these things make them a favorite subject of the popular jokes. They speak quickly and ue a special form of past Tense, making them so easy to recognize. Oltenia and Craiova gave some distinguished personalities to the Romanian and  Universal history. 

Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave) was first a ban of Craiova, and after Ruler of all Wallachia. He even succeed unifying for the first time all the Romanian countries (Wallachia, Moldavia and Transilvania)

In Middle Age the province of Oltenia has been ruled by the Craiovescu family, from Craiova of course. They hold the title of bans, and were entitles to make coins with their faces (and today, ban in Romanian means money!).Earlier, in the antic Roman times, on these places has been settled the fortress of Pelendava, due to the excellent regional position, to the middle of the way between mountains and Danube.

St Dumitru Church is a brillant example of Architecture

Today, is really a pleasure living in Craiova, and an event to visit it. The local park is one of the most beautiful Romaniawide, while the Art Museum one of the richest. Besides, you have so many things to do in Craiova: e.g a long walk in the Downtown, admiring the old Architecture (e.g. Madona Dudu church, City Hall, National college, the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave, a Romanian national hero. You can find also a leading Romanian National Theatre, and if you are lucky you can even get a show of Tudor Gheorghe, very well known and beloved Romanian Composer and Singer. Tudor Gheorghe is an amazing one man show, holding a full hall in his hand for hours.

From Craiova you can make shorter or longer trips in the neighborhood. Visit Targu Jiu and trive on Transalpina, offering you a unique panorama of the mountains, and reach Transilvania and Sibiu. A special mention for Ranca, a winter resort, where you can ski. Another possible short trip, also in the mountains, is Petrosani and Valea Jiului. If you are not a mountain freak, bag you pardon: go in the opposite direction, to the Danube, in the port of Calafat. And if you are in the mood to combine the mountain and the water, look for Drobeta Turnu Severin and Portile de Fier (Iron Gates), which offer memorable landscapes. Very near is also the vineyard from Segarcea, where we can organize wine tasting.

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Must see in Romania: Sibiu

Maybe not the biggest, but one of the nicest and most important cities not only in Romania, but in the all Europe, Sibiu was elected 2007 (together with Luxemburg) the European Cultural Capital, thus becoming even more popular as a tourist destination

Panoramic view of Downtown Sibiu; far behind, the peak Moldoveanu, Romanian highest, a favorite target for the trekkers

Sibiu has a rich history. It lies on Cibin River, and the Roman fortress in the area was called Castrum Cibinensis, but the first human settlements go back to the Halstatt age. In the XIIth century Sibiu (German Hermannstadt, Hungarian Nagyszeben) appears for the first time in a written document. After a massive German colonisation promoted by the Hungarians, Sibiu became a flourishing city, with 19 guilds, everyone of it having its own tower (not all preserved up to today). The German architecture is still present in the Downtown (divided in Upper Town and the literally Downtown), you will feel transported in Middle Age, somewhere in Germania or Austria!

The City Hall of Sibiu and the Bruckental Museum

The numerous German population was a majority, observed already to the first census after Reunification with Romania, from 1918. But during the WWII the German population decreased, and nowadays only counts 3 % of the total population. In the Ceausescu time, the communist regime promoted the Emmigration, the Germans were the best ware for Ceausescu export. Today, the Romanian population deeply regrets the lacking of germans and warmly welcomes they back. Amazingly, the Mayor of Sibiu is the repesentative of this minority ( Klaus Johannis is very beloved, competent, and was reelected more times).

Group of Norwegian tourists and guide Kjell Hagbarts in Downtown Sibiu

Due to its status as European Capital of Culture, Sibiu experienced a boom in building sector. Toghether with the German investments, results in a very prosperous city. Really a place to visit, and even one to live (according Forbes!). Don't miss Sibiu while in Romania!

Crama Sibiul vechi offers traditional Romanian meals

There is no time to boring in Sibiu, there are so many things to do. Walk in the Centre, from Piata Mica through Piata Huet to Piata Mare, observe the wonderful City Hall, fresh redecorated, of course. If you are an art  and culture freak, don't miss the Bruckenthal Museum, near City Hall. Walk further, near Hotel Imparatul Romanilor, the city's most atractive place to spend the night(s). Further, on Nicolae Balcescu Street, you find a lot of cafes and fancy boutiques, it is the city's most chic and expensive one. And if you are tired, I can recommend a Romanian restaurant checked by myself, with a group of Norwegian tourists, Crama Sibiul Vechi, offering traditional menu, while the waiters wear traditional suit!

If you have more time to spend in Sibiu, visit also the Museum Astra of rural civilization. If you are lucky enough, you will meet couples wedding in the church, or other folkloric festivals.

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Enter Romania, visiting Arad

If you come by car to Romania from West there are big chances that the first city you meet is whether Arad or Oradea. Meeting anyone of them means an excellent publicity for Romania, they are nice, clean, peaceful, and very similar in many directions, but with a little advantage for Arad.

I you enter Romania coming from the West, and the first important city you meet is Arad, you may have an excellent first impression about this country

Arad lies in a plain and proudly counts 150000 inhabitants (20 % Hungarians) is a major target for foreign investments and enjoys a certain prosperity (the Romanian president Traian Basescu is the Godfather of the Mayor of Arad, only one of the possible explanations). Amazing in Arad is the Center, on Bulevardul Revolutiei, when you can see many old buildings, Secession style, like the City Hall, Catholic Cathedral and even the Railway station. Also a monumental Orthodox Church still in building state.

The magnificent Evangelic church from Arad, buid in Secession style, on the place of the former  fortress of Arad. Nowadays, Arad is among the few cities from Transilvania which haven't a fortress anymore.

Amazing in Arad is the evolution of the population: in 1712 when Hungarians beat the Turks, conquering the city, 60 % of the population was Romanian. In 1918 Arad and the rest of Transilvania unified with Romania, and the last known census from the Habsburgic times, namely from 1912, counts more than 70 % Hungarians. Strange, isn't it?

On the nice peaceful Bulevardul Revolutiei I have been honored to be the guest of Hotel Continental Forum Arad, the city's biggest and best, with a group of happy tourists from Norway from PR Norge, on behalf of Karpaten Tourism. Next day I was supposed to leave very early, at 6: 30, but through the devoted work of Mr Dumitru from the kitchen I did not leave the hotel hungry!

Very particular for Arad, comparing with other cities from Transilvania, it has no fortress. It was a fortress for sure, build after the Mongol invasion from the 13th century, but meanwhile totally destroyed. On the place of the fortress you will find the magnificent Evangelic Church. But there are strong compensations, and only 30 km away in Minis there is a vineyard specialized in Reds, specially Merlot!

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Must see in Romania: Cluj-Napoca

Cluj-Napoca has been for years the official capital of Transilvania, a province in the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Today, not so officially anymore, this city enjoys the same status.

The Orthodox Cathedral of Cluj-Napoca, with the Monument of Avram Iancu, a Romanian hero

Discovering Cluj-Napoca from any direction is an event for your eyes. You come from the mountains, and you see from distance the city, in a depression. You will admire it at once and fall in it, wishing to know everything possible about this city, one of Romania's most beautiful . Comparing it with Bucharest with its eclectic architecture is in the clear advantage of Cluj-Napoca (German Klausenburg, Hungarian Koloszvar). In the centre, Cluj Napoaca acts very Central European, similar maybe to Budapest.

The Hotel Continenta, also known as New York Palace, is an architecture jewel in the centre of Cluj-Napoaca

Cluj-Napoca has a huge scientific and cultural potential. The actual leader of the Romanian Academy is born in Cluj-Napoca and made here his researches. Cluj-Napoca, also known simply as Cluj, is the main target of the foreign investors in Romania, after Bucharest. There are plans to develop Cluj Napoca to the unbelievable level of 20 Millions inhabitants within next 50 years. The people in Cluj Napoca (nowadays 20 % Hungarians) are usually high educated, very serious, respecting there words. It is not very easy becoming friend with these people, but once you have their confidence, be sure to receive a dinner invitation, where you will able to enjoy palinca (plum made strong brandy), good wines and sarmalute. Despite the cosmopolite aspect of the city, the people don't forget their roots and traditions.

City Hall from Cluj-Napoca is another monument of architecture

Entering Cluj-Napoca you will notice first the most modern buildings from the last 20 years, some ruinated industrial factories from Ceausescu time and even the communist blocks which the inhabitants dream to leave (but of course, not all of them can afford to do it). Going further, deeper in the city's heart, you will discover the amazing center, with the Catholic Cathedral (St Michael's Church), hotels and restaurants, cafes and museums. Visiting it during the peak hours with a group of Swiss tourists from Twerenbold on behalf of Karpaten Turism was very nice, but I couldn't organize a lunch because all the restaurants were overcrowded. That means a big city indeed.

The Catholic Cathedral of Cluj-Napoca

Special mention for the riding statue of Matthias Corvinus, former ruler of Transilvania. The Hungarians say he was Hungarian, but the Romanian say also he was Romanian, or at least to have a Romanian origin. Not so important anymore, the mutual relations start to improve.

The Synagogue of Cluj-Napoca is an historic building, but Jews are unfortunately not anymore to find in Cluj-Napoca

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City breaks in Romania: Oradea

Very proud of itself, Oradea (Nagyvarad in Hungarian, Grosswardein in German) waits unpatiently and very happy his guests.

Oradea, the River Crisul Repede and the Downtown

You can reach Oradea coming from Hungary, through the charming puszta, or from Arad, but I can propose you a much better and more picturesque way. Namely, come from Cluj Napoca, cross the mountains, and don't miss the source of the River Crisul Repede. Further, to west, after the mountains come the hills, and very soon after the hills also end and the plain starts, you can see the majestic Oradea. The city emerges in the plain, and acts very confident and even very relaxing when coming from this direction! Really hard to explain this strange feeling, I please other visitors, or even locals, to tell me if they experienced the same feeling when entering Oradea. Very amazing for me, I always felt in Oradea excellent, like at home.

The interesting Synagogue from Oradea. Unfortunatelly, through massive deportation during WWII, the Jewish minority almost perished

Oradea is divided in tho halves by the River Crisul Repede. Inhabited from the antique by the Dacs and Romans (her Latin name is Varadinum), it is for the first time mentioned in the XIth century, and completely destroyed by the Mongol invasion of 1241. Rebuild, has gained in prosperity and local importance. The Turks also ruled the city between 1660-1692, followed by Hungarians, and Austrian Habsburg. In 1918 Oradea became part of Romania, which it enjoys up today, almost 100 years ago. Shortly, during WWII, Hitler gave North Transilvania (including Oradea) to Hungary, which ment a condamnation for the strong Jewish minority of Oradea (in 1944 about 25000 Jewish have been deported to the concentration camps! Today there is no more a jewish minority in Oradea, unfortunately).

Oradea, the River Crisul Repede, and the Hotel Continental Forum, the city's best and biggest.

Today, the Hungarian population of Oradea is about a quarter of the total, and sometimes appear again tensions between these people, set up mainly by silly extremists existing on both sides. Nevertheless, Oradea is a very peaceful city, with many mixed marriages and bilingv children, but living at high speed.

There is an old city in Oradea (baroc style from the end of XIXth century), and also a Medieval citadel. Look for History Museum (former Bishop residence), City Hall, Catholic Cathedral, The Black Eagle Palace. Walk in the Downtown and enjoy the people, the city, the weather, everything. Nice city, wonderful life.. Not far, in Felix, you can find thermal baths and follow longer or shorter  treatments, according to needs and budgets. I wish you not to use this opportunity, but keep in mind, who knows!

Some good words about my personel experiences in Oradea hotels. First, I met a Norwegian group on behalf of Karpaten Tourism, who was lead by Kjell Hagbarts and drove by Oivind, at Ramada Hotel. Gyury, Restaurant manager, cooked miraculously within minutes, a refreshing meal for my hungry tired tourists. Btw, he is Hungarian, speaks Romanian, and I have the honor to be among his friends ever since. And another experience, with a Swiss group, staying in Hotel Continental Forum, the city's biggest and best! Which honored allright his **** with the only mention, that the room cards lost easily their magnetic field!

Really a nice city, worths a visit. Contact me for any possible question about Oradea, feel free to do it.

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The leading travel agency in the today Romania

As I have a good experience in presenting Romania to the foreigners, I wanna share with you, as you must take a profit from this experience of mine.

Karpaten (German for Carpathians) made a good choice of the best Romanian  hotels. 

Before 1989, in the Ceausescu time, the Romanian tourism reached some peaks, which seemed long time to be untouchable. The centralized economy facilitate low prices, and in the early 70ties Romania was really booming. After the dissolution of the communist power , on one hand the prices rose, and on the other hand  the centralized structure perished. As an immediate result, the foreign tourists fled away, there are many good  destinations in the world, and the travel industry is very competitive. I personally have been working as a travel guide and travel director in the communist times and a few years after. Since 1998 it was such a deep crisis in this branch, that I had only a few groups.

Going on the Romanian Blackseacoast is an event, booking through Karpaten  is even very cheap.

But meanwhile Romania made excellent progresses in the field, and the real professionals started to emerge. Despite the very insignificant state promotion, private owned companies, hotels,travel  agencies appeared, and many of them already vanished. During all these long and difficult years one agency managed to keep and even enlarge its portfolio of clients. Karpaten Turism is in my opinion the most reliable private travel agency in the today Romania, judging based on more factors, but before all the personal experience. Being a tour guide in Romania at Karpaten is a big pleasure and a deep honor, and even an impulse for better work. I always felt an excellent support from the incoming department (Catalina Halauca and Madalina Leu) and the programs I made for this company were simply fantastic at very reasonable prices. The tourists (a group fromNorwa y, a froup from Swiss) have been mesmerized by the program (don't forget my personal contribution, please!) and pledged me to come again.

But in the mountains too Karpaten offers dream packages

I am very happy having found this company, which is Romania's best for incoming, as I can serve better the interests of the tourists. They have good contracts, after days of negotiations, and excellent prices. They managed to set up a good structure for incoming tourism who proudly stays next to the achievements of the Ceausescu regime, but in a very different manner, due to high level and quality of the people working in this company.

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The Romanian Way of life

The most difficult thing for me, as a native Romanian living in Romania with many contacts abroad, is to speak about this country named Romania. I confess, I like this country, I love these people. If you ask me "why" I will strive to give you a reasonable decent answer. Other times, depending on my disposition, I don't love so much Romania anymore, but on the contrary.

A Romanian house to the countryside is traditionally very closed and very intimate; everyone strives to do all what he needs by himself

So, I can't rely on my my opinions. Shall I believe what the strangers I know would say, Romania is a piece of heaven. Again, some expats living in Romania have very good words about it. One important thing making Romanian so huge different comparing to other nations is the half of the population living to the countryside. They help each other, are very solidary and unit, but keep a strong intimacy inside their courtyard. And every house must be almost independent, doing all they need by themselves. Very healthy, they are totally against fast food. And this Romanian food smells and tastes otherwise comparing with everything you want!

A wedding is a perfect opportunity for three days feasting, even if not all brides are EBA, the daughter of the Romanian President Traian Basescu

 For the Romanians the food belongs rather to fabulous, than to normally physiologic needs. During the communist times there were often shortages to the basic aliments, and nevertheless appeared a lot of cooking books. It was maybe a form of resistance through culture, or a sort of black humor. The food is near humor, a major peak of Romanian survival technique. The food precedes and causes sex in a ritual way, also being able to transcend the all day in an unearthly mystical experience.

Right pairing the wine and the food is an art, but you know already a lot from it. Keep practising and search the best Romanian wines.

The big party meal once started, nothing and no one can stop it, this is the Romanian way of life! And when the right wine comes, it is really an event. The good feasts (e.g. weddings) used to last three days long with exquisite food, good wines and dancing, of course. Nowadays, this tradition goes on and Christmas and Eastern the hospitals are full of people having sick of the alimentary excess. I invite you to discover this way of life, it is worth your attention.

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Vrancea county, the paradise of the wine afficionados

I have a lot to tell you about the Vrancea County, lying on the arch of the Romanians Carpathians. There are a lot of myths and legends concerning this unique place, a lot of history and a lot of things to be discovered by you.

This is Vrancea County, with its legends and its wines! 

First of all, the district of Vrancea proudly counts 350 000 inhabitants ( also, not so many, counting also the surface of 5000 sqkm. Results an average of 70 people on sqkm). The relief of the district is a miniature copy of Romania, it is very well balanced between mountain, hills and plains (everyone contributes with 1/3). The soil is very fertile, making from Vrancea one of the most important agriculture area of Romania. With a very special mention for the hills of Vrancea, hosting the country's widest vineyard.

The vineyards are a major richness of Vrancea, and its economy relies on it

In Medium Age, the Moldavian Ruler Stephen the Great (a living legend in Romania), during one of his many battles against the Turks, fled and refugiated in Vrancea County. Here found a a helpful mother, Baba Vrancioaia, which gave all her seven sons to fight back and hit the enemies. Stephen ( 1457-1504) took the offer seriously, took the young sons and fought back. Returning triumphant, he showed his gratitude, saying : "There are seven mountains in Vrancea, and you are seven sons. Let this mountains be yours for ever, and everyone from you shall take one!".

The legendary Medium Age Ruler Stephen The Great is living even today in the popular tradition

The legend doesn't say anymore about the hills of Vrancea, which are much more attractive to me due to the huge vineyards. The economy of the district mainly relies on wine, there are many vineyards and many producers, very proud  of their wines, and very temperamental when it comes to them. There are little, medium and big producers, and everyone is happy receiving guests for tasting, harvesting and other occasions. In Focsani, Panciu, Odobesti are to find bigger companies for processing wines. My tip: go for a tasting first to a medium producer, and afterwards to a big one, in order to compare it. The medium one is friendlier, but the big one has more sorts of wine. And never forget the posibility to go wild on harvesting, which has just begun.

Wine tastings in Vrancea are not very expensive, but highly reommendable

Also in Medium Age is good to know, that there were 3 Romanian countries: Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia (The Romanian Country). The Vrancea County was on the intersection of all these provinces. The border between Moldavia and Wallachia was even in Focsani, and because if this fact we had two Focsani towns, one in Moldavia and one in Wallachia. This artificial border could not resist, it was maybe comparable with the situation of Berlin after WWII. When in 1859 Moldavia and Wallachia unified, there were some voices asking Focsani to be the Capital of the new founded Romania, but Bucharest was finally preferred. Now Bucharest hosts 2 Millions people, and Focsani is a province town with 70 000 inhabitants. This is history, but I can't help myself figuring the town Focsani where I live as the Romanian Capital!

There are many sorts of noble excellent wines in Vrancea, and is not an easy task to choice the best of them. The women would choice without any doubt The Champagne from Panciu as the best Romanian Wine. They could also prefer a desert wine, a Muscat Ottonel from Cotesti. But what would choice the males?

Well, many of them would prefer a red wine, e.g. Babeasca (The Old Maid wine), which is a rich, tasty, halfdry Red, recommended for accompanying meat and hunt. The Babeasca from Odobesti 2005 is really one of the Best Romanian Wines.

I have so many to tell you about the Vrancea County,its myths and legends, its wines, but I will spare your time for now. Maybe I will continue in a future post. Meanwhile, I wait for your comments and reservations.

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