How to explore Romania like a pro

I can give you now another major reason for visiting Romania: we have a freshly elected President, whose name is Klaus Iohannis. he is a Romanian German, e.g a member of a minority counting 1 % of the population. We can prove hereby that in Romania the democracy works efficiently, and hope also that the emigrated Romanian Germans could come back.

The wonderful city of Brasov is waiting for you very friendly

If you want to know Romania like a pro, start please from the Capital Bucharest, you can surely fly there. Bucharest will charm and spell you with its strong temper and tough personality. Counting 2,3 Millions people, Bucharest is one of the major cities of the European community, and also a spectacular one. Once known as the Little Paris, due to our strong affinities with the French culture, Bucharest is the sixth biggest city of the E.U., a little bit bigger than Budapest and Vienna. Don't miss it, it is a must, a good start for any visit in Romania.

Danube Delta is a natural endless paradise

Further you can continue your trip to Romania with one of the major big cities like Constanta, Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara or Craiova in order to get a fine picture of the urban life in Romania. Another recommendation would be the cities of Sibiu/Hermannstadt or Brasov/Kronstadt. In the first of it Klaus Iohannis started his political career, leading it for 12 years as a Mayor. We all hope that within 12 years Romania will look the way that Sibiu looks today. It is really a major task and responsability for Mr. Klaus Iohannis.

Downtown Bucharest with a statue of Dracula and the ruins of Middle age court

But further you must discover the deep eternal Romania. You must go therefore to the countryside, where today still lives a half of the Romanian population. Don't expect that all the village in Romania will spoil you with modern ammenities, but the friendliness of the locals will compensate it, making the difference. You will notice here the natural way of life and the well kept traditions, some of them are simply turning to unique events.

Discover the eternal fascinating Romania and its wonderful people to the countryside

These are the highlights of people and land from Romania. Further you can explore like a pro some very interesting cultural sites, Romania is one of the best culture destination you can find on Earth. Visit for example the painted monasteries of Moldavia, or the peasant' fortified churches  of Transivania. Visit also The Danube Delta and the Black Sea coast, or take a walk in the Carpathian mountains. Visit a vineyard and taste some wine (it is a wine country for sure) or an orchard.After a few days you will probably experience a strange feeling, between love, gratitude and belonging.

The Bucharest Triumph Arch has a Paris model and is one of the major reason for calling Bucharest "The Little Paris"

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Epic monasteries by Bucharest

Supposing you are in Bucharest for a few days. You met the wonderful city with its hotels, restaurants, squares, monuments, museums etc. You are also sick on clubbing and dating,partying and drinking, you are not in the mood, or not so young anymore.

Now you need a relaxing day, only for yourself, which should also mean some action and is also supposed to  enrich yourself, from a spiritual point of view. Sending you again to a few orthodox monasteries does not mean that I wanna convert you. I respect very much other religions and beliefs, and the Romanian are also open minded and tolerant. Only stupid people are extremist and not able to understand the next of them embracing other convictions. I will propose you three monasteries very close to Bucharest. The selection is totally personal, based on my personal knowledge and experiences I had in the Romanian capital.

The huge Victory square mirrors all the city of Bucharest through the style mix of neighboring buildings

But, first of all, before leaving the proud city of Bucharest, please go to the Victory Square/Piata Victoriei where this tour starts. The Victory Square is a little miniature copy of the big city, and mirrors its eclectic, but charming mix of architecture styles. Please find and observe on one side the Residence of the Romanian Government, build at 1937, which looks over the all country with a strong disciplining eye. Nowadays the doubtless master there is the young unexperienced Victor Ponta, but this situation could change very quickly. Nomine odiosa, as the old  Latins used to say, and I only mention this already unpopular name just to remember him to stop being arrogant and self sufficient. on another side there are three museums one next to other. The oldest is Natural History Museum, named Grigore Antipa, its founder. It dates back from the XIXth museum. Last, but not least, on a side of the Square there are relatively new blocks of flat, 30-40 years old.

The Cernica monastery, by Bucharest, is a peace island, very close to the overcrowded  city

But let's finally leave the city, forgetting it, despite its secret magnetism. Drive first towards Constanta, and sop after only a few kilometers (or miles, o.k., I am a tolerant Romanian) and discover the Cernica Monastery, a place where many inhabitants of Bucharest go very often and are very happy doing that. Its picturesque position might be an explanation, there is an island of joy and peace, and has a lake next to it. Cernica is, of course, the name of his founder, in the first decades of the XVIIth century, namely the Governor Stirbei Cernica. There are actually three churches inside the monastery, which have been build successively during the XVIIIth century.

The caldarusani monastery might be almost impossible to pronounce, but is really wonderful and spectacular.

Not far away (nevertheless remember to be in an overcrowded big city, strangled by traffic jams), you may discover an older but nicer monastery, namely Caldarusani. Bag you pardon for the impossible pronouncing and orthoepy  of this Romanian word, name it as you wish if is easier and more convenient to you. Just don't forget to visit it, it is your time worth.

Last, but not least, The Comana Monastery, 30 km away from Bucharest. According the local legends, it has been build by the ruling prince Vlad The Splinter, also known as Dracula (due to Bram Stoker is the most notorious Romanian all times!). New archaeological diggings and discoveries have totally confirmed this legend! Nevertheless, stop dreaming to find something very spectacular tighten to Dracula in this monastery, there are other places living on the myth!

Comana Monastery was build by Vlad Tepes, according a  verified  local legend

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