Black Church - Brasov

Black Church

     Brasov, with a population of over 300,000 inhabitans, is situated in the central -eastern Romania.Once, Brasov was a fortress.From that fortress remains The White Tower, The Graft Bastion, Ecaterina gate and many others .Brasov is an important industrial center, cultural and buisnnes center.Due to the many historical and artisic monunment, he is one of the most important tourist centers of the country.For the first time, Brasov was attested in 1234 and now is currently among the moste picturesque regions of Transylvania, which enjoys a rich heritage that consist of historical and arhitectural monuments.In the old center of Brasov you can find one of the most impressive historical monuments in the country, which was raised by the Transylvanian Saxons in the late fourteenth century.
     This monument is the Black Church which was documentary mentioned in 1377.In 1689, a fire caused major damage and the interior of the church was particularly affected.The restauration has lasted about 100 years and they changed the original appearence of the building.In that time, the church roof was replaced with a height of 20 m.

Council Square

Not far away from the center of Brasov are preserved old houses and the dome of the roman catholic church designed by Joseph Carl Lamasch in the eighteenth century.In the center you can find too Council Square which is probably the best known and most visited place in the city.It is frequented by both tourists and locals as place for relaxing and meetings.Always here there are several cultural and artistic events, fairs, outdoor concert or theme fairs.

Peles Castle - Sinaia, Brasov

     Peles Castle is considered one of the most beautiful castle in all Europe.In 1873,when prince Carol of Hohenzollern - Sigmarigen (who came to his throne in Romania in 1866) began the construction of Peles Castle in Sinaia (44 km from Brasov). The place chosen by the prince to his castle was wild, but picturesque.

     The architecture of this magnificent building was made by german Wilhelm Doderer . Peles Castle exterior architectural features are specific to German renaissance style - sharp profiles, irregularly shaped, asymmetry bodies, decorative elements. The Castle has more than 160 rooms.The Castle was the royal summer residence (until 1947) and today is an open museum for tourist.Here you can see collections of paintings, sculptures, armors, carpets, furniture and tapestries. Carol s successor to the throne ,king Ferdinand,intended to use Peles Castle too as a summer residence.He believed that this Castle was too impressive and big. So, he decided to build another one, smaller -Pelisor Castle only with 70 rooms.

Curtea de Arges Monastery

Curtea de Arges Monastery

     As history tells, Curtea de Arges Monastery is one of the oldest settlements.You can find this monastery in county Arges , in Romania.
This monastery has a legend behind, Manole's legend. The legend begins when Neagoe Basarab(1512-1517) put in charge Manole to build the most beautiful monastery possible.He and the other manufactures have started to build the monastery, only they had a small problem. Everything previously built during the day was in vain, because when the night was falling the building collapse.They after day, they tried to raise the building but they weren't lucky.The same thing was happening.One day, Manole had a dream, a dream that would help him to finish the construction.In his dream, someone told him that the walls will hold only if the workers will build on the foundation the first women they will meet.Manole told the other about the dream he had, and with all the pain in their soul, they decided to do as they were told.They swore they will keep the secret, because the first women to be seen, could be one of their loved ones. Ana,( Manole's wife), like the others worker's wife was coming everyday to bring food to her husband.The second day Manole prayed to God to  something to prevent Ana to come that day with food.God heard him and that day began to rain.But Ana's love for Manole was too big, and she was the only one of the wife that come to bring Manole's food.Being unable to do anything at this point, Manole was forced to take the plan to it ends. He did not said anything about this to Ana, only he took her and put her in the foundation.At first Anna thought that Manole was doing her a joke and  said to him to stop because she was in pain.Even if it hurt him doing this to Ana, Manole did not stop and buried her alive in the South wall.Did I forgot to say that Ana was pregnant? Poor Ana...and her baby.But the man in Manole's dream was right: the building remained standing.

The wall where Ana was built in it

       When the construction was nearly finished, Neagoe asked Manole and the other if they will be able to build a more beautiful monastery than this one.They answered with the wrong word YES .Because of this, Neagoe took the scaffolding foundation, and left them on the roof with no possibility of going down.Beeing stuck there, they tried to built wings from pieces of wood to be able to go down, but they failed.They all died, when they tried to fly.The legend says that in the place where they die appeared a fountain.

DANUBE DELTA - a dream destination

     The Danube Delta is the second largest river delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta.It is a natural paradise, which lies at the mouth of the Danube into the Black sea, where the river ends its 2860 km journey from her source , the Black Forest Mountains in Germany.It has an area of 4178 km of which 82% belongs to Romanian territory and the rest of 18% belong to Ukraine.

     The starting point for an adventure in Danube Delta is usually Tulcea, a little old city.Not far away from Tulcea you will find a small city called Sulina.You can go on cruise from Tulcea to Sulina, during which visitors can admire the protected reserves and explore the natural beauty.You can reach them it crosses the narrow channel, passing islets covered with reeds and near forests, in places where the pelicans gather to catch fish

     The vegetation is represented mainly by giant reed-ponds -reaching 6m high, which is the main wealth of the Delta.Delta also called "Bird Paradise" is visited by over 300 species of birds,of which 70 are from China, India, Egypt

     You want to live an amazing experience? Do not go on a hotel in Tulcea or in other city,I recommended to accommodate you on a floating hotel.It's different,it's unique and it's relaxing.It is almost impossible to get to the Delta and did not try to fish at least once.The aquatic fauna includes 160 species of fish, 75 species of fresh water fish, 70 species of crabs, snails and clams, microscopic animals and species of deep water.

     Let me give you some tips...When you will get on the boat be sure that you have a wind jacket because when the night falls, you will feel a little more than cold.One thing that bothers me when I go there, is the fact, that are many insects in summer, so if you are sensitive of insect bite, make sure to have with you a solution against those enemies..believe me.It is good also to have a bottle of drinking water with you because many trips with boat can takes some hours.(don't drink water from the channels).Don't forget the sunglasses, the sun protection cream...

  

Things to see in Romania - Part TWO - The Palace of the Parliament

The Palace of the Parliament - one of the most controversial building in Romania

      This is another thing that you must not miss when you come to visit Romania.According to the Guinness Book of World Records , "The Palace is the world's largest civilian administrative building , most expensive administrative building, and heaviest building."

     The story of the building begins in 1984, when a team of 100 architects and 20.000 workers, were brought from all over the country to design the House Of Republic (this was the First name ; but the romanian people called it the House of People; after the Chamber of Deputies moved in here they name it the Palace of the Parliament in 1994).

    Who orders this monumental construction?None other than Nicolae Ceausescu.But too bad that Nicolae was not able to see with his own eyes the entire building finished, because he died in 1989, four years after the construction began. When he died, the construction was completed only 70%.

     The Palace of the Parliament has a rectangular shape, with impressive dimensions :270 meters long and 245 wide.The building has 12 floors, four levels and an underground nuclear bunker ( Ceausescu wanted to make a secret subway line to be linked to Bucharest subway ). The height reaches 86 meters and the foundation up to 92 meters deep.The total area is around 330.000 square meters.Inside you will find 1100 rooms : 440 house offices, dozens of conference rooms, the largest being those between 1.000 m and 1.500 m each. It has the two halls with over 2.000 m , two meetings room with a capacity of 1.200 seats and, respectively of 850 seats.The largest room is the Hall of Union, which has huge sliding roof that can enters even a helicopter.The room carpet is 14 tons and was weaving right there.

      For the construction ,they used only romanian materials, but they had to improvised when they ran out of them.The materials used where 5.500 tons of cement, 200 thousand square meters of glass, 3.500 square meters of leather, 7000 tons of steel, a thousand tons of basalt and 20.000 tons of sand.

      For the construction ,they used only romanian materials, but they had to improvised when they ran out of them.The materials used where 5.500 tons of cement, 200 thousand square meters of glass, 3.500 square meters of leather, 7000 tons of steel, a thousand tons of basalt and 20.000 tons of sand.

      In an attempt to complete the construction of this Palace, after N.Ceausescu's death, huge sums were spent ,but so far the building is not fully functional

      I must say that we are proud with this magnificent construction that Ceausescu has made it possible.

       

Things to see in Romania - Part ONE - Dracula's origins

     Let me tell you a few things about my country. Romania is a wonderful country. We have beautiful mountains , great sea - Marea Neagra and a great history to tell. Must add that we have beautiful girls, too? And this is one of the Romanian attraction ...a lot of guys are coming to Romania just to meet girls and have fun.Romania offers a gallery of clubs where the fun is the maximum...but let's start in order.

     Let me ask you something. What do you know about Romania? I know that some of you will tell me that you know about Nicolae Ceausescu ( Romania's communist leader from 1965 to 1989) or Nadia Comaneci (a Romanian gymnast,the first gymnast which was awarded with a perfect score of 10 in a Olympic gymnastic event) or Higher Hag (great former Romanian football player), but I am sure that all you will say me that you heard about DRACULA.That's right , you may not know many things about Romania , but you all heard about Count Dracula from Transylvania who is known for the cruel punishments he imposed on his enemies.By visiting his castle, Bran Castle in Bran (Brasov, Bucharest) you can relieve his moments .Now the castle is a museum open for tourists .If you come to visit Romania , you must go to visit this wonderful castle.This character inspired many authors to write books, many producers to make movies about him, etc.

Vlad the Impaler known as Dracula

     Who is Dracula? His real name is Vlad the Impaler.His father was prince of the one  Romanian province( three in total).One day in 1442 his father , had to give two of  his sons(among them Vlad) as hostages to Sultan Murad II (ottoman enemy) , for political reasons.He was held hostage for six years and his brother until 1462.The interesting fact is, that after he find out about the dead of his father (killed by a group of people who wanted his crown), he decided to return in Romania, and become prince in Wallachia.The first thing he did was to punish those who were guilty of his father's death.For that, he arrested all the boyar families and order  the elders being impaled, and forced the other to walk 100 kilometers to Poienari, where they were forced to build a fortress And so began the series of his punishments that made him famous.Vlad's favorite punishment was impaled ,from which the nickname Vlad The Impaler. According to detractors from Transylvania, her order that those who kill, still or do other bad things , must be hanged, burned, nailed, buried alive,decapitated.

     There are many stories about him.Once he left a golden cup in center of Targoviste, cup that could be used for thirsty travelers.That cup should remain in place.According to the story during his reign, the cup was very rarely used and never was stolen.

     Another story said that once Vlad has stagged a robbery(a bag with 50 coins)of a nobleman.When the nobleman was face to face with Vlad , he told him that someone robbed a bag with 100 coins. Because he lied to Vlad, he was impaled.

Travel medical insurance

    Two days ago  I saw a question on Internet about Romania that said „Is save to travel in Romania?”People wake up!!!It s more than safe!!The romanian peoples are very hospitaier, great people with big heart.We love the tourist! We ain t eat you!I know that  Romania s  image has suffered a little because the action of romanian, gipsy or not, in France , Italy and Spain...but who doesn't t have gipsies? They are part of our society too..but if one made a mistake...that doesn't t means that all are equally!!!

     While we are talking about safety , let me tell you that you will need a medical insurance for travel.From the time our country s accession to the European Union, The Member States of the travel medical insurance is not compulsory, but remains recommened.You never know what happens.. from minor flu to an accident...or something like this.For that reason is better to have the health insurance.Based on this insurance you can get health care services (consultation, diagnosis, treatment) in case of emergency.The number for Romania s emergency center is 112.Don t hesitate to call because they have english speaking operator

I want to be a tourist in Romania

         The first thing  you must do when you decide to come in Romania is to find out if you need visa or not to visit this country. If you are a U.S. citizen do not bother to read this post...Also many countries that belong to European Community  do not need visa, but with exception .Here, in the link bellow you can find a List of the countries whose nationals need visa to enter Romania. If you can't find your country in the list means that you don't need visa . However, just to be sure check the The list of the countries whose nationals are exempted from the Romanian visa requirement .  Now , after you find out if you need visa or not, the next step that you must do is to go to request the visa from the Romanian Consulate / Embassy in your country.Now that you passed the hardest part , you should make your reservation for hotel. This cannot be so complicate because these days the Internet is full of online site where you can book a room only in two minutes.And finally the last step, if you come by    plane you must reserved it before, and if you come by car... you must think in how much money you will need for the fuel... only if you come by bicycle..just kidding . If you did all this stuff , if you want to explore new areas , come in this adventure and see how it feels to be a tourist in Romania.

                                          WELCOME TO ROMANIA.