Romania for foodies

Whether if you are a food addicted, or a wine afficionado, you will find excellent places in Romania where you can feed your small guilty addictions.

To better find the local flavors, keep in mind that sometimes the Romanian monasteries offer rooms for stay (not very comfy, for sure). If they invite to the dinner, don't dare to say no, it is an unique experience.

The Romanian kitchen has suffered successive strong influences from the neighboring countries and discovering them means already a multicultural side to your Romanian travel. Amazing how this very tolerant people managed to adopt and assimilate all these strange influences, but simultaneously achieved to keep a total particular touch. Because the proudly Romanians are really different comparing to their neighbors! Discover during your travel to Romania the taste and flavor of German, Hungarian, Russian, Turkish and French or international haut cuisine.

Miercurea Ciuc, in Szekely land, offer total special tastes and flavors

But you are supposed to discover the Romanian dishes, this is the really the ground, the first letter of the alphabet only after that you will we able to feel the subtle influence of the foreign dishes and kitchens.  So, find first a Romanian restaurant, there are still a plenty of such restaurants in Bucharest, Iasi, Craiova and other Romanian cities and towns. It is possible to make the difference between the very popular restaurants, which are very cheap and usually have a fantastic daily offer ( called "meniul zilei", my tip: never miss it if you are on a budget!). It consists on two or three courses meal which costs approximately unbelievable 4 Euro! Add please a glass of the house wine ("vinul casei") for 1 Euro and you are again prepared for new major adventures and challenges in Romania.

I must accept, you already learned some Romanian words. It is very useful for your survival in Romania. Romanian is really easy for the people who speak or understand French, Italian or Spanish (we have many things in common with these people, love and respect them a lot, being also descendants of the same almighty Roman empire! It should by all means not to understand that we don't love or respect other people, even on the contrary: the Romanians are perfect hosts with a natural born hospitality and friendship).

An exquisite Romanian luxury restaurant

The second category of Romanian restaurants are the more exquisite ones, which are not so cheap any more, are very seldom to be find to the countryside or in small towns. Very probably, they also offer excellent folklore shows with interesting songs and dances. Even if you don't understand the language, despite your practice and knowledge, you will be able to understand a lot and will be mesmerized about it!

A few specific Romanian dishes: vegetable soups, or even trip soup for the next day of the all night parties (sour and spicy for sure); mititei (similar with the Turkish cevap-cici); meat rolls with corn mush. Add please a glass of strong local wine (I would recommend a red variety, e.g. a Merlot!). It should be all by now, will come back with other spicy details!

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The Romanian Dracula  Tour

The historic truth served as a base for a well known novel of Bram Stoker . There was a Wallachian ruler called Vlad Tepes (The Impaler) who was a very cruel man, his favorite execution method being the impalement. He hated the Turks and strongly fought against them, being celebrate as an athlete of Christianity and being supported even by the Pope.

Vlad Tepes The Impaler, also called Dracula, was cruel, severe, but right and fair, according to Romanian myths and legends

He had no trust in the local influent big boyars, who betrayed his father. These categories of enemies of Vlad Tepes gave him the unhappy opportunities to execute many of them. In the Romanian myths and legends, Vlad Tepes has been portrayed as a right, but severe ruler. His opened mass executions freightened even the big Sultan Mehmet II The Conqueror, coming to Wallachia to cash his tribute or kill Vlad Tepes. So, Mehmet II lost his temper and gone back, when seeing terrible scenes of impaled Turks ( a slow difficult death).

Starting from this truth, Bram Stroker's Novel made from Dracula a world symbol of horror, which is a terrible mistification. But we shall also marketing the Dracula legacy! And I gathered in this Romanian Dracula Tour everything which can remember the life and rule of Vlad Tepes Impaler.

Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad Tepes, and a well preserved medieval fortress

Day 1 Sighisoara in Transilvania is the birth place of Vlad Tepes The Impaler. The town of Sighisoara is even nowadays a very well preserved medieval fortress, and many buildings look in the same way they did a few centuries ago, during Tepes childhood. Stay a day there, walk and look the traces of Dracula. Wine tasting in Jidvei possible, and even probable.

The Bran Castle has many in common with Dracula  and makes a good marketing and publicity for it

Day 2 Travel to Cabana Fantanele, a mountain chalet, where Dracula used to refugiate, and Bran Castle, where you can find a torture room and the genuine atmosphere of the old times. You are supposed to eat a lot of garlic during all the day, in order to keep the Devil away (The Romanian Dracula originates from Dracu, or Devil). Not recommended for people with heart diseases, and only possible with a prescription from you Physician.

The Monastery of Snagov  hosts, according the legend,  the tomb  of Dracula

Day 3 Travel to Bucharest and visit the Monastery of Snagov, where according to the legend Vlad Tepes the Impaler was buried. This is again a mistification, he lies most probably in Comana monastery! Besides, you can visit other nice places in Bucharest or one of its wine tasting rooms.
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Romania survival course

It is not easy to survive in Romania. That shall not mean to be scared for your life, not at all (Romania is still a  safe country for the visitors, excepting some areas). But don't forget that the most of Romanian don't earn more than 250 Euros, which can make them very eager and skilful in finding new methods of making some extra money.

Don't wanna be racist, but when you meet these Romanian gipsies  you must be very careful

1. First of all, avoid overcrowded places, or overcrowded means of transportation. They make the perfect heaven for the pickpocketers. If you are in a such a place which crowds after your coming, you must be very suspicious and careful. Protect carefully your jewels, cameras, pockets and bags. Call the police, if necessary.

Always ask permission when taking photos of these people

2.On the streets and in buses or trains avoid the ladies with wide flower dresses and their companions. Don't give money to the beggars if thus occurs the slightest possibility for anyone to see the location of your wallet.

3.Don't wear jewellery or cameras on sight. If you  feel that someone is pinching you, be sure that is another searching in your pockets or bag. Be very carefully under these situation, as often they have sharp blades cutting your bags, and you can be hurt.

4.Avoid visiting unfortunated neighborhoods, e.g. the Bucharest quarter of Ferentari. Such places are really dangerous at night.

The quarter Ferentari from Bucharest is very poor and very dangerous, specially at night

5.I know that you love wine, I do too. Mostly of Romanians also do, it is a wine country after all. But avoid suspicious persons coming to you and inviting themselves to drink something from your bottle (with the more refined variant of inviting you to drink! But most probably, this won't happen!

6.Don't exchange money on the streets, by unauthorized persons. You won't get the promised course, as you will receive only magazines cuts.

7.When taking money from a bancomat with your card, beware if doubtful persons are near you. Also notice any suspicious apparel near you, as this can be a camera registering your pin.

Beware of suspicious people or devices watching you while  taking money from your card  to a  bancomat.

8. The Romanians are glad to receive guests. But usually you must try to set a corect price for the both sides, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.

9.Avoid using cabs, and specially unregistered cabs. Once in a taxi ask about the price, and ask the taxi driver to start the registering machine.

10.Try to learn some Romanian words. The people here are very sensitive to such courteousness. 

If I forget something, escuse me  please, there is no intention in it. If, by chance, you found another method or matter, which upset you, tell me it at once, as everyone should be aware of it!

I hope you will be not the victim of such easy tricks, especially now when you are good informed

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