I missed getting this update out last week! Nothing like stating the obvious, right? Well, I have a good excuse. I was in the process of traveling between Romania and Poland and when I left you last I had just been to Rome.
So, fast forward to Romania! This trip was a FAM (a familiarization trip for travel advisors) hosted by our advocacy agency ASTA. Our tour included Bucharest, Sibiu, Sibiel, Sighisoara and Bran.
I found Romania to be unique, interesting, and beautiful. I’m a history buff and remember watching the fall of Nicolai Ceausescu, the communist dictator who was in power from 1965 – 1989, made the country even more interesting to me. We had a wonderful walking tour of the city – learning about the history from the very beginning ’till today. Later, we toured the the Ceausescu family residence, the Spring Palace. We enjoyed the local food, traditions and viewing the Eastern Orthodox churches of the city. Surprisingly, many still stand. Hotels are comfortable and clean and English is widely spoken.
We were also fortunate enough to stumble across a market showcasing artisans that had beautiful handmade goods at the Muzeul National – a fabulous open air museum that houses the buildings from the various parts of Romania and showcases traditional village life as it has been lived for hundreds of years. As we traveled Northwest to Sibiu we saw more incredible churches including the Cozia Monastery, built in 1388 and beautiful countryside, including great views of the Carpathian Mountains. It was like stepping back in time – in a good way.
The city of Sibiu could not be more beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour and time there. Cobblestone streets, a local market and lovely historic buildings – it was the perfect place to sit and enjoy a coffee and watch the goings on in the square. We then headed to Sibiel where we were treated to a traditional lunch at a sheep herder’s pension along with local entertainment and education about this important culture in Romania.
Next up, the town of Sighisoara – where I felt like I had been dropped onto the set of Shrek! This is one of Europe’s oldest and best preserved medieval fortresses, with houses more than 300 years old that are still inhabited. It is also the place where “Vlad the Impaler” lived at one time.
Our stay in the city of Brasov and visit to the Peles Royal Palace in Sinaia was a highlight of the trip. Peles is stunning and well worth the time to go see. A Neo- Renaissance castle in the Carpathian Mountains, it is situated on the medieval route linking Tansylvania and Wallachi and was built between 1873 and 1914 for King Carol I. Our final stop was a quick visit to Bran Castle, more commonly known as Dracula’s Castle because it fits Bram Stoker’s description as the home of the mythical Dracula.
I’d love to go back to Romania! I think there is great potential in this country to enjoy authentic experiences that you won’t find in most of more modern Europe and it’s very affordable. Hiking or horseback riding in the Carpathian mountains or some time at the Black Sea will be on my agenda next!
As always, I’m only a phone call away! Let’s plan your trip.
