Former Romanian capitals

Romania as a success story celebrates this year 100 years from the Unification, which is actually our national day. But our history goes far beyond and is really troubled and interesting, no doubt.

Campulung, the first Capital of Wallachia

I won't go in the details, which are not very relevant for the today tourist. The today tourist must see something, taste a special food and have a place to sleep. We have plenty of them, and many travel agencies offer more or less outstanding travel to Romania.

I would go further and send you outside from the beatten path mentioning something about our former Capitals. Briefly speaking, during Middle Age, there were three Romanian countries, known as Wallachia, Moldavia and Transilvania. The today Capital, Bucharest, is rather a new city, grounded during the XVth Century. And of course we had our regional Capitals before Bucharest. In Wallachia we had Curtea de Arges, Campulung and Targoviste; in Moldavia Suceava and Jassy; and in Transilvania/Siebenburgen Alba Iulia and Medias.

The city of Campulung at 1900

Oops, I hope is not too detailed and still interesting, don't wanna bore you with unnecessary knowledge. All of these former Capitals are today rather little towns, which are nevertheless worth to a visit. You can still discover within their ancient walls the arrogance and pride, and imagine the ceremonial of the Court. Brave wariors, beautiful ladies, and a lot of people on the streets, really a golden brilliant age.

Happy Romanians celebrating the national day, 1st December

Any of these old cities would be glad if you visit them. They have a lot to show you, e.g. wonderful pieces of architecture, maybe something of their modern life. I will try to introduce you all these cities and release travel guides for every one, which is not an easy task!

Read more »

Romania for Beginners and Greenhorns

In any aspect must be a first time, and Romania is not an exception. Your first time in Romania must be totally special, unbelievable, sensational. I would dedicate this report to all the people who really love and care about Romania, whether Romania or foreigners, but the target are the people who dare to dream about visiting Romania.

Urban life in Bucharest, Romania

Romania is special, and the Romanian are broadly speaking very special. We are proud, very proud, about our beloved country which is not among the richest countries in Europe or in the all world, and we strive to preserve our standards. More than anything we love to describe Romania and its legends to you, dear visitor coming for the first time in Romania.

If you visit the Danube Delta, please preserve and protect it

Romania and the Romanians are not easy predictable, e.g. the fall of Ceausescu or the election of Klaus Iohannis as Romanian President (he is Romanian, born here as a member of the German minority). You should be aware, dear Beginner and Greenhorn in Romania: despite your thoroughful documentation, the reality is much more interesting comparing with what you might have read.

Sensations in Romania: Dracula legends and the follow of its traces.

Further, you bust have read dear firstimer in Romania about our natural wonders and parks. The Carpathian Mountains  in Romania host some fantastic forest, unbelievable well preserved. And within these forests you are going to find the last significant European populations of bears, wolwes, lynxes or chamois, which former dictator Ceausescu used to hunt. No joking, due to these populations Ceausescu became one of the most renowned hunters worldwide.

In some parts of the country, these traditional ports are still belonging to the daily life

Don't need to mention anything more about Danube Delta. It is for sure a natural paradise familiar to you, neverending source of crazy unbelievable stories and legends. Imagine the locals, which are sometimes totally away from the civilization we love so much, without to suffer. They live very lonely and isolated and are unbeatable fishermen with a respectable knowledge. Really unforgettable if you eat a simply fish soup in the Danube Delta cooked by one of these local masters!

In some places Romania is an opened book, you must only look carefully around (Fortress of Prejmer/Tartlau)

Dear beginner and greenhorn in Romania, you are not supposed to be a nature freak or a lonely wolf if you pay us your honorable visit, but on the contrary. Please remember that we have an intense urban life in Bucharest, our capital, or other big cities, with plenty of museums or architecture monuments. You can also go shopping in Romania, follow Dracula traces and legends or stay in a good hotels. We also have some exquisite wines and an interesting kitchen with different influences you must guess!

Happy foreigner tourists in Romania (Brasov/Kronstadt)

Remember one thing, dear visitor: most important than anything in Romania are the Romanians themselves. They will love you, spoil you, pamper you and if you feel the same you will surely come the second and third time in this blessed country. 

Read more »

Best family destinations in Romania

Depending on the size of your beloved family, Romania could be the ideal choice for a family vacation, but you are supposed to remember and keep in mind a few tips and tricks about the right planning.

If you are young loving couple without children and you are the adventurer type, you could find your secret happiness in the Carpathians, no doubt! Besides the interesting Ice Hotel from Balea at an impressive height of 2000 metres, you can find other interesting destinations, e.g some remote chalets, where no intruder could disturb you. Only the forest animals could provide you some entertainment while you can think to the meaning of life, ruling the same life like 100 years ago at least.

Constanta is charming in winter and irresistible in summer as family destination

If you are not the lonely adventurer mentioned above you still a few interesting destinations, depending of your schedule. Coming in summer you have the fantastic Romanian coast of the Black Sea. Mamaia is a name you should remember. Close to Constanta and very easy accessible from its airport ( there are many charters in the season for sure), Mamaia has developed lately as the sexiest destinations on the Romanian coast. If you come in winter and are a fan of the season sports, e.g. ski, you have totally other choices, starting with Poiana Brasov.

Coming in spring or autumn, you can make a very promising, and also rewarding choice: a cultural tour, bookable over Lidl or Karpaten (or even by myself, having good contacts at these companies). It is for sure a very colored tour due to the Romanian forests, offering a fantastic landscape and a good portion of the culture of this unique people!

Bucovina is a perfect cxultural destination, but not only that!

If you have one or more children I would propose you Bucovina. The people here are very friendly and very careful with children, as they also use to have more than or two children. The nature and the landscapes are breathtaking, you can have a very active vacation climbing mountains. For the culture addicted don't miss the churches with painted walls. The nature freaks should at any price enjoy the fantastic  Danube Delta with its infinite wild life. It is almost unreal having such genuine landscape in this century and on this overcrowded earth. Please think to the environment and protect further.

And the story goes on. I still have a plenty of fantastic places in Romania, if you still have the time to follow me! Asta la vista.

Read more »

The history of the Romanian Germans

Myths and legends about the Germans from Romania

I must confess, I like and love Germans, as the most of people in Romania also do. They have been for centuries very esteemed and beloved, being a sort of people who had major contributions to the culture and civilization in Romania.

German Made Architecture in Sibiu/Hermannstadt, still having today a German Mayor

They have been very orderly, hard working  and industrious, they build hospitals, schools, museums etc and we, the Romanians, would like to say "Danke!" /Thank you! Comparing to them, the Romanians seem to have a better sense of humor, as they are oriented to enjoying life, while the Germans are hard workers and the last to understand a joke! But nowadays this cliche does not apply anymore, my German tourists understand a joke better, deeper and more sweeping than I do myself!

The Black Church from Brasov is one of the most impressive in Romania

The Germans came to Transilvania during  the XIth century brought by the Hungarian King Geza I, who aimed to secure the boundary. For almost 1000 years they did not only defense and securing the boundaries, but also developed cities like Brasov/Kronstadt or Sibiu/Hermannstadt. They made business, they build houses in an easy to recognize style. But the history has been very ruthless to the Germans during the 20th century. After the WWII the Romanian Germans have been deported to Romania or Russia. Many of them did not come back.

Old Habsburgic Uniforms to the guards from Alba Iulia

Besides, after a catastrophic economic policy of Ceausescu, he simply bought a good part of the German experts to the Western Germany. It was a major success of the Romanian economy during the communist time! After the dissolution of the communist regime and the fall of Ceausescu, all the economy collapsed and almost all of the remaining Germans took the decision to emigrate in the reunified Germany (it was obviously the only possible option, not only the best one).

Another example of K.u.K architecture, in Suceava

But nowadays we need another Geza to bring our Germans back! The Romanian economy started to move, the country is stable, it is possible to make businesses here. Best prerequisites to come in Romania. Some of the Germans who left Romania really come back. The life is cheaper, and the environment better than in the Western Europe. The city of Sibiu still has a German Mayor, Klaus Johannis, and this is maybe the best guarantee for the returning Germans.

Myself, as a travel guide, never forget in my trips to mention all these things about the history of the Germans and their contribution to the local culture and civilization. And all the Romanians feel the same, we love our Germans. And nowadays, we call sometimes one Romanian as "The German", being the most beautiful compliment: he is the best in his area!

Read more »

Top 10 most interesting small towns in Romania

Knowing Romania from inside, but also through the avid eyes of foreign tourists I am working with, gives me the happy occasion to be able making such classification and rankings. I take the chance for the possible mistakes, I must repeat: this is my personal opinion, and I am waiting for yours, if you have one!

 First of all, let's set up the basics. A town is a settlement of no more than 100 000 inhabitants. And a nice time, worth to your visit, time and money is simply a nice town. You can recognize it as you enter and see it. Might be very well kept, with very friendly people or with something really special, e.g. historic buildings, picturesque position or fantastic neighborhood. Many of the Romanian small towns have been destroyed during the communist time due to the forced industrialization policy.

After all this long, but necessary introduction, here you are! Please find bellow my favs among the Romanian small towns.

1. Sighisoara is maybe the most historic and touristic Romanian town, with an amazing Medium Age fortress, which is really unique as still inhabited. The many medieval festivals, street parties and budgets or exquisite hotels make this town a perfect winning choice for any occasion.

From this Suceava fortress, Stefan cel Mare ruled over the all Moldavia

2.Suceava. Make the right difference please between downtown and the industrial area, please. Don't miss the railway station, it is one century old, big, interesting and totally functional at today standards. Don't miss the Medieval fortress, where the legendary Stephen The Great had his headquarter, and try to figure the life in the Royal court! Around, in the neighboring area, on a 50 km range you can find the fantastic painted monasteries, an UNESCO protected heritage.

Tulcea port is the town's main hub, as all the town day or night life turns around.

3.Tulcea. Or translated in English. the gate to the Danube Delta. Maybe the town is not so spectacular, despite intense night life on the docks, but has many hotels, and is the bast place for discovering the breathtaking Danube Delta, Europe's youngest land!

4.Alba Iulia. It means a lot from any point of vue. The new town is charming, but the fortress is overwhelming. Alba Iulia has been for decade the Capital of Transylvania. At 1784 three Romanian leaders of an liberating uprise have been drawn on wheel. Further, during a huge popular assembly of 1918 the Romanian representatives decided and sealed the Unification with Romania. This is nowadays our National day, and is celebrated yearly in Alba Iulia at 1. of December.

Drobeta Turnu Severin is nice, well kept and bears a Historic charge

5. Drobeta Turnu Severin. Drobeta is the ancient Roman name. Here, at 100 a.C the Romans build a bridge, crossed the river and fought with the local Dacians, which had no chance but fought heroic and desperately! The Dacian King Decebal commited suicide, rather than falling alive prisonner to the Romans. Through the interesting mixing of those 2 people emerged the Romanian people and language.

Satu Mare and one of its many interesting architecture monuments

6.Satu Mare. Charming town, very close to the Hungarian border, with many wonderful historical buildings and museums.

Piatra Neamt, viewed from the Mountain Pietricica

7.Piatra Neamt. Very picturesque town, at the hems of Mountain Pietricica. Even on the Mountain Pietricica you can stay on the terrace of restaurant Popasul Gospodinelor, and enjoy the fantastic view. Not far, a few significant monasteries (Agapia, Secu, Bistrita), many hiking trails or the amazing Bicaz gorges, near lacul Rosu.

Read more »

The weirdest museums in Romania

Romania is a country like any other, and the Romanians normal European people like any others. Or not actually? Among my compatriots there are for sure a few ones who are above, or bellow the average, but it is still normally.

Collecting strange things is not a Romanian invention, and the people just do it, maybe aiming to be different compared to the neighbors. When other weird people find the collection interesting enough, to spend money for watching them, we can set up a museum. There are enough weird museums in the all world, and you might know them better than I do. Limiting to Romania, I made a personal selection, allow me to present it.

The Watch and clock  museum from Ploiesti is unique in Romania

A Museum of clocks and watches became one of the landmarks of the city Ploiesti. A clock, or watch, measures something doesn't exist for real, we can't feel with our senses. Similar museums are only a few in the all world, and its exhibited artifacts are very precious. His grounder Nicolae Simache, has been for decades the Director of the Ploiesti History Museum. An attraction to watches or clocks, a strong special one, hit me, and probably even you (no offence, please). Professor Simache was very special, and succeeded to follow his weird collecting mania, but we didn't!

The Railway Museum is interesting, educative,  and the guides fabulous!

Another museum I love is in the Capital Bucharest, next to its central railway station (Gara de Nord) and you can figure already what is all about. I am trying to tell you about The Railway Museum. You can see there magnificent steam locomotives, which are indeed spectacular ready to go, just in case, after almost 160 years of history. Very spectacular, epic and encyclopedic are the museum guides and curators, telling you unbelievable stories about there exhibited artifacts. Still wonder what was true in all of them, but I really enjoyed it!

The Pharmacy museum in Sibiu is actually a department of Bruckental museum

You can find in Romania even a Pharmacy museum, actually a department of the notorious Bruckental Museum from Sibiu/Hermannstadt. It is opened in a special chosen location, a better one is simply impossible: the oldest drugstore on the territory of today Romania, opened in 1644. If you are a history freak, and you are a little sick of conventional History museums, dotted all around Romania, in every city being a district residence, this pharmacy Museum (actually a a Museum of the History of Pharmaceutics in Romania) could be the right thing for you.

A very slow, yet unsignificant museum, but maybe the most attractive, is the Amber Museum, opened in Colti/District Buzau. The amber has been exploited here up to 1945, and you can see many strange forms to your delight. If you are lucky enough, you still can find by the locals wonderful pieces of amber, which they are still able to collect in secret places. My tip: if the museum is closed, search the key to the mayor, please!

Read more »