http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Romania en-us Tue, 01 Dec 09 13:11:20 +0000 Tue, 01 Dec 09 13:11:20 +0000 Well I now have another country to add to my list of places I have visited. I spent 2 weeks in Romania working. And I do mean working. During those 2 weeks I had about 120 hours worth of billable time Needless to say I was exhausted when I got home But I did have some fun over the weekend. So here are my impressions and thoughts of Cluj.The city is an interesting mixture of oldtime buildin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Transilvania/Cluj/Cluj-Napoca/blog-456257.html Hi folksGreetings from Budapest. I know I said that I probably wouldn't do another blog entry before I returned to the States but I felt that I would forget some stuff by that point so here ya go. And here are some pics for you httpwww.flickr.comphotos8870546N03collections I finally got around to organizing my pics by country enjoy After Bulgaria I made my way through Romania vis http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/blog-454465.html It was a stunning ride from the tranquility of Sinaia to Bucharest slightly later than planned due to train delays but arrived before lunchtime at gare du Nord the main terminus. Watch your pockets as usual and after a 5 minute stroll out the right exit bedde down in hotel Elizeu for some water food and getting settled. Meeting up againa fetr this break we headed to town to see the President http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/blog-443266.html The trip from Sibiu to Brasov was impressive. We left to a cool morning with sun emerging across the mountains jutting into the sky like a knife. It became misty as we approached the mountains in the private mini bus in search of the glacial lake known as 'Balea'. The ascent through pine forest gave way to barren tussock land then rock following a series of switchbacks that had an amazing view http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Transilvania/blog-443014.html A few photos of Budapest and Bucharest...It's only taken me an hour and a half to upload these probably a new record Enjoy xo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-441324.html The break in Debrecen for 3 hours was deserved as the rest of the afternoon was spent travelling across country by rail and then minibus to our final destination at Sighetu Marmatiei. This small town is only 2km from the Ukraine border and beyond which is some 'no mans land' being forbidden to cross. Debrecen Hungary has several impressive buildings but only worth a short stop to do internet http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/blog-441311.html Last night we left Budapest and took a night train to Brasov Romania. I didn't expect things to be so different here but they really are. The night train was alright kind of cramped but the bunk beds were better than any of the hostels we've stayed at. Jessica and I were watching a movie on her minicomputer when the cabin door flung open and a train attendant sharply demanded something in anot http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Transilvania/Brasov/Brasov/blog-440506.html We found this cute little beach town on the border of Bulgaria and Romania called Vama Veche. After being inundated with offers of sub standard accommodation that were much more expensive than Bulgaria we found the perfect place. Vama Veche is a tiny place a few dirt roads and the main road through the town. Its full of hippies with dreadlocks and contrastingly flashy people in expensive cars wh http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Transilvania/blog-439819.html Just 90 minutes away from Tulcea lies the small town of Sulina. 90 minutes by fast hydrofoil down one of the Danubersquos many arms double that if you take a slow boat. The scenery isnrsquot that much to write home about though so we recommend speedIn Sulina we were met from the boat by a guy offering us a room in a pension just 5 minutes walk from the jetty and apparently 8 minutes walk http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Dobrogea/Tulcea/Sulina/blog-438232.html From Constanta it took us just 2 hours by maxitaxi to reach Tulcea. That was despite the police pulling the bus over and detaining us for 10 minutes or so. We donrsquot know what the problem was but we suspect it is part of a drive to get unsafe buses off the road. If thatrsquos the case we canrsquot really complain.The bus station is on the edge of town on the banks of the River Danube wel http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Dobrogea/Tulcea/blog-438226.html The end of an amazing experience. It has been absolutely incredible to see young and middleaged people trying their best and making the most of the intensive course I offered at the Central Library here in Pitesti. Everybody was friendly proactive and very studious. They seemed to really enjoy themselves on the course and it was a delight to run this training for a month. Learning and developin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Arges/PITESTI/blog-437983.html Getting to Constanta seemed so straight forward. Get the bus to Varna walk 10 minutes to the bus station get the bus to Constanta cross the border from one EU country to another get off in Constanta find hostel. Well it wasn't quite that simple The bus from the village where we were staying arrived in Varna 15 minutes after the Constanta bus left. The solution was to cadge a lift off one of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Dobrogea/Constanta/Constanta/blog-437541.html Until a few weeks ago we had been riding through countries so massive that border crossings when they so seldom happened seemed interestingly quirky at worst. When we met with our dear friends in the Crimean we knew that one way or the other we would be crossing several international boundaries in only a few days. We thought this quite irksome as Julie and JP had to be in Bucharest for a flig http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Transilvania/Brasov/blog-436782.html As part of a work trip I was able to spend a day running around Bucharest to have a look at a few bits and pieces. I was lucky enough to be staying at one of the nicest hotels so started the day with a swim in the stunning bean shaped pool before heading out on a tour it was a very hot day.First we went to the square where it all kicked off back in 1989 revolutionary square. Old Nicolas and his http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-436572.html A while ago I cooked up a great plan to keep myself busy and active and at the same time do something that feels good and worthwhile. The idea of 'volunteer work' is unfortunately unknown in my country. I was lucky enough to work in a country where 'volunteer work ' is a job in itself where people are dedicated and eager to do volunteer work where the little spare time you get you go down to a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Arges/PITESTI/blog-434267.html Varna to Bucharest was an absolute missionI went to the train station in the day to get a seat reservation for the 10pm train. I was told by two people this wasn't necessary so went on my merry way to the beach.However when I came back at 9 I tried to get on and was told I did in fact need a reservation... However as it is during high season all of these had gone as Romanians and Bulgarians h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Transilvania/Brasov/Brasov/blog-432346.html Way back in the 80's Steph as a little girl in love with gymnastics watched a movie called Nadia about the famous Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. So when we first moved to Europe and made our hit list of 'mustsee' countries Steph put Romania on out of a Dracula curiosity I seconded it. I've been to Bucharest a bunch of times for work and since this time I was going on a ThursdayFriday i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Transilvania/Brasov/Brasov/blog-431682.html Hi guysWell we are still in Romania and getting over a tummy bug. About 5 days ago I started with the squits and tummy cramps and the day after Scott started too. We are still suffering and it is not great when we are wild camping. We are slowly getting better and can only put it down to the green slim in the water container so we have got new bottlesscott....I personally think its the beer http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/Oltenitei/blog-431287.html Everything around me is GREEN I LOVE GREEN It is summer and everything around me is green. It's good to be alive and to enjoy nature and life with the lovedones. To enjoy the blue sky the simple life and the outdoors. That is of course til weekend ends and I hop in my car and head back to Pitesti. Where things are not green where it is boiling hot and there's no shade to offer you shelter http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Dambovita/Gaesti/blog-430504.html My parents live in a small town and I visit them frequently. I grew up here. I remember how badly I wanted to escape this small town and couldn't wait to get out of highschool so I could move to a big city and feel free. I thought freedom meant leaving this little town. Now after so may years I love coming back here. I simply love it. It's true when they say 'There's no other place like home'. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Dambovita/Gaesti/blog-430501.html