Iconic landscapes in the Romanian Carpathians

Leaving Piatra Neamt towards Transilvania offers the good possibility to drive on the Highway 12 C, to Gheorheni, and further to Sighisoara or Brasov. Thus you go through an important Romanian National Park, called The Hasmas Nature Reserve, based on the neighboring mountains, also called the Hasmas Mountains.

It is not an easy way, if you reckon riding the bikes along, but also not impossible. Neither by car is not much easier, on certain parts of the way the street is very narrow, causing very often traffic jams. But the beauty of the landscape in The Bicaz Gorges / Cheile Bicazului makes you surely to forget any unpleasant things, as they are simply fantastic!

The impressive Bicaz Gorges,or  Bicaz canyon

I think the Americans would name it Bicaz Canyon. Call it anything you want, it is amazing and iconic. A small river, namely Bicaz, dug in the soft lime rocks one of the most impressive gorges in Romania. You are going to love these gorges from the first sight for sure. There are good possibilities to climb the mountains all around, watching the highway from the top of the rocks is simply breathtaking, but only recommended and permitted to skilled tourists. The beginners have other many possibilities.

Even in the mountains you  can find bargains and good shopping possibilities

A good idea to discover and conquer the Hasmas mountains is lodging in Lacu Rosu/Red Lake,  a resort on your way, with many hotels and cabins. A main attraction of the Red Lake is even the lake, born through a land slide in the XIXth century. The water is very cold, and deep, also full of trees trunks!  Also, not the best conditions for swimming, but you can take a boat. On the terraces you can enjoy afterwards a glass of beer or wine, and you can make shopping, there are many craftsmen in the area exhibiting their works.There is a wonderful legend about forming of Red Lake/Lacul Rosu. according this legend, a young beautiful girl has been kidnapped and raped by a local outlaw. She, very ashamed, has been crying for 1 day long, and implored the mounting, who finally accepted to let the rocks fall onto the bandit. That's why the falled mountain is called The Killer! Its colour is really reddish, due to the iron oxydes and the red rocks mirroring in the lake!If you are a mathematics or statistics freaks, note some numbers: altitude 983 meters, surface 13 hectars/26 acres, maximum depth 12,5 meters; extent 3 km, length 3 km, and a total volume of 680000 cubic meters. From the lake starts its journey the river Bicaz, but other  small rivers are tributary to the lake. The have been dammed, in order to prevent the lake from collecting mood, which could destroy it. You can fish in the lake, as any other visitor is entitled to do it. You can catch trouts, up to 1,5 kg, and you must notice the two distinct species: the lake trout has black point, while the river trout coming from the tributary rivers has red points.

The little but persistent Bicaz River starts its journey in the Red Lake/Lacul Rosu,  born through  a landslide. Nevertheless, there is a wonderful legend about it!

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Essential tips for discovering the Danube Delta

When it comes to discuss about Danube delta, there are a lot of things to say. The most important thing: more than 90 % from the European animal and vegetable species can be found here. You can make wonderful photography trips in the Delta, you can go fishing and also you can find many other things to do, I am sure you will never be disappointed.

To make an idea about the speed of stretching  Danube Delta: in the time of Moldavian ruler Stefan cel Mare (or Stephen the Great) the fortress Chilia was his possession, and was on shore of the Black Sea, an important  port of it. Nowadays from Chilia to the sea there are 40 km to go (this process happened in 500 years). The result is a convincing 1 kilometer yearly.

The villages and human settlements in Danube Delta are very rare, but they do exist, and you don't need to take all basic foodstuffs

For the car fans and freaks, stop thinking to discover Danube Delta by car. In many places is simply impossible, while in other protected areas banned. Please be reasonable and discover Danube Delta by water from Tulcea, on bigger or smaller ships. On the bigger ones you have the advantages of comfort and ammenities, while the little ones can access the most remote and hidden places. But it is possible combining them, and getting the perfect mix.

For the photo freaks the flying or swimming pelicans make the Delta delightful

Go for the Delta adventure in an appropriate, light, but comfortable suit, don't need to be fancy or fashionable there. Don't forget or neglect a raincoat, a cap or a hat, a wind coat.

The mosquitos are showing after 19 hours in summer, and it is wise and advisable to get a shelter before.Take with you creams and solutions against stitches, but also some antidotes against digestive diseases (the nearest hospital is many kilometers away, only in Tulcea, and is not easy reachable!)

Typical architecture for the houses in Danube Delta, based on the local resources

Listen and follow carefully all the advises and recommendations of the locals about dangerous areas, weather conditions, best places for fishing. Don't dare to dream about swimming in the river, unless you are a professional skilled swimmer, because the streams, the mood near the shores and the hidden rocks or wrecks are serious risks.

In the protected areas you need a special authorization for visiting, which is issued by the Natural Reserve Danube Delta Authority from Tulcea. If your visit is granted, and you have the permit, you need to respect some normal elementary regulations (no parking, no open fires, keep silence and don't break the trees).

A sunrise in the Danube Delta is a major compensation for all the risks you must take for reaching  this  fantastic area

There are some villages in the Danube Delta, as you can see on the map, nevertheless they are rarely and the food comes by water ( Danube Delta is one of the poorest inhabited European areas). Nevertheless, you don't need to take with you so much food, you will be able to find something in the groceries from these villages.) Vegetables are not easy to find, also the cheese, or replacing pelicula for your camera. Not to forget, tobacco and alcohol are very good for bargaining with the locals.

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Braila, the sleeping beauty

Braila is an interesting wonderful city in the south eastern Romania, on of the most important Danube ports in Romania.

An example of brillant old architecture in Downtown Braila, where you can see the glory of the past

After the dissolution of communist power in 1989 Braila falled in a deep recession, and the economic decline is still progressing today. Nevertheless, there are many things to see in Braila. Consider only the simple fact that 100 years ago Braila was one of the most important ports in Romania, which is not anymore, due to ascension of the marine port of Constanta. Visiting Braila in the Downtown one can feel doubtless the past prosperity of the city. Special mention for the cereals trader having their base in Braila, 100 years ago. Mainly Greeks, they were wealthy indeed, and you can see still an interesting Greek orthodox church build by this community.

You might love better the modern Braila, with its amazing fountains from the Civic Center

Very interesting in the history of Braila: during Middle Age has been ruled by the Turks for 400 years, and the legendary Romanian ruler of Moldavia, namely Stephen The Great, set it on fire in 1470. Braila still counts today 130000 inhabitants and during the communist times was an important industrial center. But all this industry was obsolete and decayed almost totally after the fall of communism. Legendary in Braila: it was an important big factory for manufacturing creamy biscuits, under name of Eugenia. I had an aunt working there, and every time when visiting she brought us special biscuits, with many cream, much more than usually. Braila is an important transit point for the tourists going to Tulcea and Danube Delta (Danube crossing only possible by ship, towards Macin and Tulcea).

Braila at the peak of its glory at the end of the XIXth century; back in the ground is the Greek church

Fascinating in Braila was always the mix of populations, ethnic groups and minorities (Greeks, Turks, Romanians, Bulgarians and even Jews add a little to the cosmopolitan spirit of this city). Braila is known for its wonderful girls, and for the dangerous underworld ( totally avoid at night some quarters with bad reputation like Brailita and Chercea!).

This is also Braila, in its most spectacular aspect: the enlighted fountain from the Civic center at night

Visit in Braila first the downtown, and then the modern center with interesting fountains. Visit the Art Museums, and the most interesting city's churches: the Greek church and the  St. Michael church ( which was 150 years away a mosque, transformed in a church. looking carefully you can still discover some hidden signs of the oriental art, e,g arabesques on the ceiling). Don't miss a walk  on the Danube cliff which is very relaxing.

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