Blogs from Romania, Europe - page 102

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Europe » Romania October 15th 2004

In October 2004, I took a solo trip to Romania. When I told my friend Per (who is himself half-Romanian and whose family still owns land there) that I was going to Romania he asked me if I knew just what the hell I was doing going to Romania. The answer was yes.......but as I was to find out later, also no. Romania was surprising in some ways and disappointing in others. Surprising that it was so beautiful and has so much potential. Disappointing in that there is still a lot of poverty and pollution and that the people aren't really overly warm and cuddly (though I guess I might be a bit dour myself if my country had spent the last 45 years under a harsh communist dictatorship). The food was also really, really bad... ... read more
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Europe » Romania September 25th 2004

I spent 4 days in Bucharest. Interesting place? Although just becoming part of the European Union, it looked like it was stuck in the 1920s. Just 15 minutes outside of the capital, there are people burning garbage in a can, old women with thatched sweepers cleaning up leaves, horse drawn buggies with produce... I stayed in the Sofitel, not far from the airport and arrived on a Thursday and stayed the weekend. My only business was on Friday outside of the city. I managed to pickup some kind of viral sinus infection when I was there that lasted six weeks. Food and Beer? FANTASTIC! and CHEAP! Becks 16.9oz. beers were 0.75-1.00 US Dollars! Have a look at the greek salad and lamb chops I had with 2 beers and 2 glasses of a Transylvanian Sauvagnon Blanc. ... read more
Different twist on urban renewal
Lunch on Sunday

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Harghita » Praid February 17th 2004

Salt in small amounts is needed to maintain the body's health, about 2.5 g a day. The salt mine in Parajd produces around 600 tonnes of salt per day, enough to provide 240 million people with their dietary requirements. Parajd is a small industrial town about a one hour bus journey from Hargitafurdo; after 3 days skiing and a lot of falling a rest day sounded really appealing. The bus arrived and was filled by everyone who wanted a rest - not a seat spare. The heating on the coach was turned off after discovering that it pumped in exhaust fumes. Everyone sat with coats, hoping that the driver would refrain from using the air-horn (how useful can a horn on the inside of the coach be?) every time another vehicle appeared. Parajd was not a ... read more
The surface
Salt Sculpture
Subterranean Chapel

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Harghita » Harghita Bai February 16th 2004

I never imagined that I would be travelling overnight on a bus with 40 Hungarians drinking palinka on my way to go skiing in Transylvania. But on Friday 13th February 2004 that is where I found myself. The journey (Budapest - Transylvania) was actually quite easy, I’m pretty good at sleeping on buses and other assorted forms of transport, especially when my senses have been dulled by schnapps. Transylvania. My image of Transylvania before visiting was ripped out of countless horror films, wolves and bears at the edge of every road, hiding amoungst the trees with evil gleaming eyes. The only thing that would keep the wolves and bears back was that the guy driving the horse and sleigh would in fact be a vampire and was planning on feasting on fresh blood later. Bears and ... read more
The Slopes
Csipeka
Cheap Beer

Europe » Romania August 20th 2001

Deciding that it was time to take a brief break from the corporate world and go do some good, I volunteered at the Hand of Help (a Romanian owned and ran) orphanage. I went by myself and didn't know anyone there, however 2 there were bilingual which helped me in communicating. The 122 children in the Botosoni orphanage where I stayed seemed amazingly well adjusted, spirited, comfortable and confident. Most have parents, but who are unable to provide for them. While in awe of how happy these kids seemed, it didn't take me long to realize that it is these children who are the fortunte ones, compared to most Romanian children (especially those who live in the 800+ government orphanages and the tens of thousands living in the sewers of Bucharest). Romania went from having ... read more
Orphanage & Medical/Dental buildings of Hand Of Help
Girls Of The Hand Of Help Orphanage
Villager Making Hay-Stacks For Upcoming Winter

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Mures » Sighisoara July 8th 2001

8 DE JULIO DE 2001 LATINO EXPRESS Rumanía es una excepción en los Balcanes. Es el país construido sobre los reinos latinos (pueblos romanizados) de Valaquia, Moldavia, Transilvania y otros menores, que sobrevivieron, escapando a las zonas montañosas de los Cárpatos, a las invasiones eslavas. Como signo común de identidad tienen la reivindicación de su romanidad y de una lengua romance, la única que sobrevive en el Este. Por eso decidieron nombrarse România, así como Bolivia y Colombia tomaron los nombres de Bolívar y Colón. En español, a alguien no le dio la gana aceptar su idea y por eso decimos, abusivamente, Rumanía, con U. Lo que no impide algunas confusiones: este verano terminó sus estudios una boliviana que un día encontró que había una beca que, quién sabe por qué, nadie pedía a pesar de ... read more
Muralla de Sighisoara
"El Empalador"
Sighisoara. Torre del reloj

Europe » Romania May 11th 1996

On the bus on way to Romania, we swapped horror stories. Sensing the mood, our Globus Tour Director promptly reminded us of the story of Count Dracula. Not the Hollywood version, but the Transylvanian version. Bran Castle in Transylvania, built in the mid 1300s, is the legendary home of the Count of Dracula. By the time we reached Bucuresti, our hairs stood on edge and we were all ready to scream at moment's notice. The Hotel Bucuresti fuelled the grim mood , what with its old world interiors, heavy gold and burgundy drapes, wide windows framed by yards and yards of mothball-smelling curtains. My bednight table held a lamp which must have seen better times. Or maybe, I am simply an imbecile with no appreciation of old world charm. But how do you deal with a ... read more
Village Museum
Another "borrowed" photo!
This is the one I took!

Europe » Romania » Muntenia » Ilfov » Snagov July 29th 1975

A tour bus ride though the Romanian countryside and forests brought us to Snagov and its famous monastery. The monastery is located on an island in Lake Snagov. This necessitated taking a tour boat to the island. The monastery itself is small, but of a decidedly Eastern European design, with four distinctive towers. It was built in the fifteenth century, replacing earlier structures dating back to the 11th century. Legend has it Vlad III, the Impaler (or Vlad Dracula = son of Vlad Dracul), is buried here, but no one knows for certain. From Snagov, our drive through the Romanian countryside continued to Sinaia. Sinaia, located in the Carpathian Mountains, was a quaint town. The buildings displayed a blending of German and Carpathian architectural styles, giving the whole place a fairytale quality. Siania is noted as ... read more
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Villa Carola
Sinaia

Europe » Romania » Muntenia » Bucharest » Centru Civic July 28th 1975

Another Aeroflot flight, aboard a Tuploev 134, brought us from Moscow to Bucharest and the beginning of travels though the Eastern Bloc countries. I primarily recall walking in a pleasant park in Bucharest, though we did see the Curtea Veche (Old Court) and many of the historic churches of the city, including the Old Court Church and the Metropolitan Church. Both had been royal churches. We stayed at the Hotel Bucharest InterContinental, opened only in 1971 and the tallest structure in Bucharest by far. It was located across from the university and afforded a view all over the city.... read more
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