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Published: August 7th 2023
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If you are considering a trip to Europe, a place that will surprisingly enhance your travel experiences, Romania is the place. I visited my Baltimore Ravens/Annapolis buddy, Dirty Pat and Mrs. Pat when they were in Bucharest doing a yearlong sabbatical in 2019. I spent an enjoyable week there. MSN Explore says:
Bucharest is often overlooked as a tourist destination. It's one of the largest cities in the European Union and is growing in popularity with travelers seeking out unique experiences and a destination that's still relatively low in traffic. Bucharest was once nicknamed "Little Paris," and the area has been inhabited for over 2,000 years. It's far removed from the highland mountains that characterize the center of the nation, providing a different kind of experience compared to the rest of Romania.
Romania is a former republic of the Soviet Union, sporting a vibrant history of Communist government, revolution, and the interplay between these political features. Bucharest isn't a particularly dangerous place to visit, but travelers exploring Calea Victoriei (Bucharest's historic main street) will want to keep an eye on their surroundings. There's a notable presence of opportunistic criminals looking to separate unsuspecting tourists from their wallets, purses, and other
belongings. There are also reports of fake taxi scams that take extra-long routes to hike up the costs on unsuspecting tourists.
From Savotuer:
Home of the fabled legends of "Dracula," Romania is a destination that combines affordability, culture, and historical significance. This 238,397 km2 (92,046 sq mi) country also boasts an incredible landscape with the famed Carpathian Mountains carving out the legendary Transylvania region of Romania, where medieval castles and historic towns glorify the scenery.
Historic cities such as Sibiu and Brasov dot the Transylvanian landscape and offer much to discover. In fact, the city of Sibiu was named the European Capital of Culture in 2007, and it is no surprise why when you walk down its cobbled-stone streets and famous squares.
When it comes to price, Romania is one of the cheapest countries in the European Union. At the time of writing, 1 USD equals about 4.19 Romanian lei (RON).
Budget
travelers can find cheap hotels and hostels for under $10 USD a night. A meal at a
cheap restaurant costs about $5 USD. Transportation is also convenient and affordable in Romania, with trains and long-distance buses connecting all the major cities.
Bucharest is also home
to the richest man in Romania. Do you remember "Count Dracula" otherwise known as Ion Tiriac, doubles partner of bad boy Ilie Nastase? He owns just about everything in Romania, from car dealerships, to travel agencies, to tennis clubs.
We did a number of touristy but culturally rich activities, including a day trip to Brasov to visit Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), a walking tour of historical Bucharest, a visit to Ceausescu's villa, many fine meals and wines from Romania, a visit to the prototype of the famous Seinfeld "Soup Nazi" shop, and getting kicked out of an Uber in the middle of the street. An added bonus was watching a play, done completely in Romanian with an English version of an Elvis song.
For those of you who enjoy the outdoor cafe' life, Bucharest is becoming like most metro European cities. Lots of coffee and dessert places! Romanian wines were surprisingly good and inexpensive. Both good and bad, there are many remnants of the Soviet era, including sterile office buildings, wide boulevards for May Day parades, and some rather depressing apartment buildings. But slowly and surely, Romania is leaving behind their Soviet occupation and mentality, and embracing more western culture. Capitalism is no longer a dirty word. But the best part of my visit to Dirty Pat was meeting my new hero, Katy, the world traveler. As you may recall, she travels the world 365 days a year. She works as a translator and does most of her business online. After we met her in Bucharest, she went to many other places, like Kiev, the Trans-Siberian Railway, Mongolia, China, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and a visit with me in San Francisco. I do not know for sure if I will or can return. But I can tell you that it is definitely one of Europe's hidden gems.
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