How to better understand Romania and the Romanians

How to better understand Romania and the Romanians

Yes, we are different, comparing to our neighbors, and we are very proud about. No one can take a Romanian as an Hungarian or a Bulgarian, or a Russian. We love all these people, but we are proud Romanian!

Romania is a very Orthodoxe country indeed. Most of the churches are simply earthbreathing masterpieces, e.g. Stavropoleos above

Entering Romania from a neighboring country, any one has  suddenly a revelation. The language is totally different, and also the people. Totally amazing, the Romanian language is a Roman one, close to French, Italian or Spanish. We feel all these mentioned countries with Roman languages, and specially France, as our older sister. By miracle and by a happy hazard, the Romanians succeeded to keep this Roman language despite the Slavian neighbors. And we are confident to keep further for ever in this crazy world. Most of the Romanian cities have a copy of the wolf nourishing its cubes, very similar with the original in Rome! And any Romanian city has a Decebal and Traian street, our heroic ancestors.

Bucharest may not forget being the Capital of a rural country.  The Museum of the Romanian Peasant is one of its best leading museums

The simple truth is, that the almighty God was very generous to Romania, we are very grateful for this! 90% of the population are Orthodox, and the half are going regularly to the church. That keeps us together, and that's why in many parts of Romania the society seems to be still in order. Fertile plains, high mountain peeks, many richness in the soil- how not to be proud and thankful for that?

Besides, we, the people, the proud simple Romanians, make this country so nice, rich and attractive. Most of the Romanians are normal people, friendly and always ready to help you, if you need. They are also charming, flexible and diplomat. All kind of privacies taught them to solve every problem, by improvisations if necessary. I won't dare to say that my compatriots are the best people worldwide, but we are not far from that, despite the negative publicity targeted toward us sometimes! And all these fantastic people are very open, ready to receive guests and give them all the best.

Any travel to Romania becomes without the slightest intention  a fantastic trip in the Ceausescu communist era, due specially to the monumental Parliament palace

After almost 50 years of living in this country, I must quit trying to understand the Romanians. I think it is simply impossible, they are rather sensitive and emotional, than reasonable. Simply love or hate them, but I am sure that is practically impossible hating them!

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Romania and Bulgaria in the same trip

There are many things in common between Romania and Bulgaria, but also a few differences. There are many mutual influences, making both sides richer from this culture clash.

We are neighbors after all,  even good neighbors. Due to the common history, and troubles, there are Bulgarians living in Romania ( all of them are perfect gardeners, have big nose and large neck!) and also Romanians living in Bulgaria (I don't know what say the Bulgarians about us, but I would like to find out). Even the European Union treats us exactly in the same way, we are on the black list, among the poorest countries of the Union.

Enthusiasthic German Tourists in the Village museum from Bucharest

There are major differences of culture, the Romanian language is a Latin one, using the Latin Alphabet, while the Bulgarian is Slavic and they use the Cyrillic Alphabet (nevertheless, we are both Orthodox, and the church rituals are very similar!). We have had both for more than 40 years a communist dictatorship, our leaders Ceausescu and Zhivkov were close friends.We killed Ceausescu, the Bulgarians emprisonned Zhivkov, but released him (apparently no one goes in prison on Bulgaria).

An excellent marine restaurant in Dalboka, Bulgaria, near a marine farm. Simply impossible to find something similar in Romania

In the both countries there are a city named Targoviste, and a village called Arbanassi!

In the communist times, was practically impossible to visit both countries during the same vacation. Even today it is not so easy, very few travel agencies can do this! Karpaten is one of them, and I ruled a trip organized by this agency in Romania and Bulgaria. I am still trying to remain unbiased, and must accept: Bulgaria is also a nice country, with spectacular landscapes. The people are also normal and friendly, just like the Romanians. As a plus for my beloved Romania: the streets are a little better!

A good Romanian Folcloric show in Restaurant Pescarus/Bucharest

Impossible to understand in Bulgaria:totally different to any civilized country, the guests are supposed to pay for the Internet. And the Bulgarians are not flexible enough to hear and follow any advices. An exception is the excellent hotel Kalina Palace from Trijavna, and the fantastic administrator Lena Ivanova.

Also important and very good to know: the money exchange is not all right in a few places in Bulgaria (on the beaches of Goldstrand e.g.). Maybe  the appropriate legislation simply lucks, but the results are very bad for the image of Bulgaria worldwide.

Will try to complete my comparison, but now I am waiting for your positions and opinions.

There are not many agencies offering during the same trip Romania and Bulgaria, and I am able to recommend you the best, must simply contact me or Karpaten/ A Vista.

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