How to behave in Romania correctly if you are a stranger tourist

Visiting  Romania must run smoothly and gently, it is a wonderful country with interesting people. Whether you come privately, or over a renowned travel agency, you should remember a few things  while you are in Romania.

Another happy friendly Romanian, as we all are

First of all, the people are really fantastic. If you are going to behave yourself in the right way, most of them will be prepared to give all their clothes, literally. Please don't understand wrong, I mean hereby that you can count of them as on your best friends. Nevertheless, check your bills in the restaurants, following the outside patterns some of them will try to charge you with a thick tip!

We are a happy wine country, see here some of my tourists during a wine taste. They all learned to say "Noroc"(cheers!)

Besides, even in this country when the people have an excellent behavior and none incidents against foreign tourists have been reported, you may not go alone in a few suburbs (e.g. Ferentari in Bucharest is very poor and dangerous). If a policeman will dare to stop you, you are supposed to be polite and pacient, which shall not mean showing him your purse or giving him your credit card number.

It is usually here to kiss the hand of a woman, and if you do that, all the Romanian ladies will be watching you much more interested than if you don't. It is a flavor of our culture. If you will be able to speak a few Romanian words, all of us will love for ever! Besides, the love may not be bought, you don't need to give tips bigger than 10 % (an average Romanian wins monthly between 300 and 400 Euros, no more).

Impressive:90 % of the Romanians are Orthodox, and you should take your time and visit one of the selected churches or monasteries, which are really masterpieces

Speak to the people, they are friendly and will answer gladly to any of your question. They are ready to help you at any moment, as they are proud of their identity and are very glad that you came here. In the restaurants, as in other places, rely on the waiters, asking them what is the best dish to order and how to pair it with the right wine (we are a wine country, but you won't be thirsty if you are a beer addicted). Never forget to say "hello" or "good bye", but is advisable to stay away from any discussion concerning politics.

The horse waggons are still largely in use in the Romanian agriculture, maybe you have the opportunity to take part to a special race!

In many places the best offers are hidden under the incomprehensible notion "meniul zilei". As you pronounciation in Romanian is probably not yet the most accurate possible, take a local (maybe a travel guide) in order to grab this offer.

On the market, you must handle a lot, pretending the wished goods are not so good or you don't need them at any price. Here is again better to receive help from a skilled local.

Otherwise, be sure to visit a fabulous country with a rich history, which is a very safe travel destination

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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 Fascinating Story of the Romanian Jews

The history of the Jews in Romania

There are unfortunately very few Jews living today in Romania. After the Holocaust, many of them fled to to the forming Israel and contributed decisively to its consolidation

Main street from Focsani, similar to other Romanian towns and cities, was full of Jewish stores

During his last years in power, the Jews have been for Ceausescu one of the best export hits, after a long series of economical mistakes. But neither Ceausescu, nor the most of the Romanian people were anti-Semite. The Romanian are tolerant, and many of the Jews  living here enjoyed this hospitality of the Romanian people. In exchange, the Jews contributed a lot to the wealth of some cities, towns and villages in Romania (e.g. Oradea, Sibiu etc). Bucharest has had a huge Jew quarter, which is still to be seen today.

The Coral Temple of Bucharest is the country's biggest sinagogue, liein in the Jewish Neighborhood

Between the WWI and the WWII almost every single town in Romania had a main street with fancy shops, and most of them were owned by the Jews. It is said, that all the clients entering a Jewish store ought to buy something, even on credit, as the wares have been good and the shopkeeper very skilled in attracting and convincing the clients.

Many doctors, scientists and intellectuals have been Jews. It has been said "one Jews, Two Romanians" in the radical circles of Romanian nationalist (we had for sure, there are silly people everywhere. Mention Garda de Fier/Iron Guard, or Ion Antonescu etc.)

The Sinagogue of Brasov, one of the many in Romania

The Jews came in Romania from many places of the world. When Bucovina stand under Austrian occupation, many Jews from Galitia were invited here. Other sources: Russia etc.

During the WWII and Holocaust the Romanians had a part of guilty about the Holocaust and mass deportations, with the excuses of foreign pressures. But many people neglected the orders, and tried to help the oppressed Jews (e.g. Raoul Sorban from Cluj Napoca). We regret nowadays the lack of the Jews in the Romanian villages and cities, and would like having them back.

The famous Restaurant Pescarus from Bucharest, an excellent relaxing place

More than 10 % of Israeli population speak Romanian. These people still love Romania, remembering the nice things of their stay here. Many of them still visit Romania regularly, have friends, connections etc (maybe some of them are becoming investors). It is very touching speaking to these people, I had this opportunity during a Romanian folcloric show in restaurant Pescarus. The Tour guide left Tulcea when she was two years old, but she is still able to speak Romanian!

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