Most romantic destination in Romania for Valentine's day

If you bet, that I am going to send you in Romania on Valentine, you won! Why? Because I love this country, and because is a wonderful thing for you, as a guest. And don't bother if you haven't any partner, you can go on your own!

The glamorous Cazino from Sinaia is one of my suggestions on Valentine's day

Traveling to Romania on Valentine's Day might be tricky, only because in Romania on that time is very cold, but you won't sleep under the stars. I would select the best destinations, the romantic ones.
First of all, I will propose you to go on the seaside, in Constanta. The spell of the sea in winter is much easier to hear and see, as there are no the crowds of tourists. Besides, Constanta has also some amazing attractions, like theatre, museums and mall, offering a complete entertainment. I suggest to lodge at Malibu hotel, next to Mamaia resort, a noble place where everybody will spoil you! A romantic evening in one of the leading restaurants of the downtown, maybe Cazino, will complete your moment of glory!

The wonderful city of Oradea and it charming downtown

Very different from Constanta, and also far away (1000 km away) is Oradea. It is not so big, but  really seducing in the Old city. Staying in Continental hotel from Oradea means a lot, and the friendly staff will not disturb you unnecessary. So, please, pay all the attention to your partner, and have a wonderful vacations, good to remember and describe to friends or nephews! The creamy cauliflower soup can make the difference, I guess it to be an excellent and tasty  aphrodisiaque! You can then forget, neglect and cancel the schedule for the evening, stay to your partner.

The city of Iasi is doubtless a Romanian cultural Capital. Besides, offers excellent entertainment and shopping opportunities

If you are the type of lover desperately searching for intimacy and insulation, I will recommend you a small cabin in Sinaia. Very peaceful there, almost unbelievable, unless you are on week-ends. You can ski, and have a glass of boiled wine on the slope, just to raise you fantasies,  in case you might need! As a small break, you can visit the Peles castle, which is an amazing art museum, and have a walk in the city, maybe with a dinner in Restaurant Casino, the most stylish and iconic in the area (restaurant Casino organized a glamour New year party, on a theme of Hollywood from 1930, btw).

Another interesting target for lovers is no doubt the city of Iasi, or Jassy. It has many museums, but also a tremendous downtown, with excellent malls and shopping or entertainment opportunities. I suggest in Iasi the hotel Moldova, with an excellent report between price and value. The restaurant is also enjoyable, for your romantic evening and foreplay, possible with meat rolls and a glass (or more) from the local red wine "Bull blood" or the "Bear power"! You won't sleep any minute all night long, I swear, as I already experienced!

Whatever you choice, have a happy Valentine's day and may your secret wishes come true. If you decide coming to Romania, let me know about it, and book at least one week before, as overbooking is probably, and even possible!

Epic short  trips from Suceava, inside the Romanian Bucovina

If you stay for a few days in the city of Suceava with the main goal to discover the amazing painted monasteries of Bucovina, you can find other places worth a visit.

Discover in Suceava The Armenian Church Hagigadar and observe the architectural differences comparing to an orthodox one: the form is rectangular, and there are no less than three different altars, which is normally for the Armenians. On St Mary's day the people climb the hill where this monastery lie and go three times around, all on their knees. The reward is also consistent, the most ardent wish shall hereby come true!

Not far from Suceava, and thus easy accessible even by bike, are many interesting places! If you leave Suceava for Dragomirna, after visiting the monastery, observe the genuine beech forest around Dragomirna. It is more than 90 % genuine and natural, hosting some animal species (deer, boar, fox, wolf, rabit, savage cat etc. If you are lucky enough, you can also hear a wonderful concert, without paying any tickets, when nightingales and other birds will gather your interest. The trees are old, between 90 and 110 years, and the forest huge, about 200 accres. Drive further towards Siret, and meet in the village Patrauti the church and the natural reserve Quercetum de la Crujana.This forest is much smaller, about 60 accres, but still very impressive. It consists mainly on oak, with a similar rich fauna with the same species.

In Calafindesti, not the forests, but the meadows are the main target. Usually we don't pay much attention to the meadows, but please do an exception  here in Calafindesti. You will observe here for sure the rarely Ligularia Siberica (rare in Romania for sure, and even endemic, in Russia and Siberia is common).  The Ligularia Siberica is here at its south west boundary, and you won't see it in any other place in Romania. Other rare or endemic species are still to be seen in Calafindesti!

Next is the town of Siret and the Ukrainean border. Siret is actually one of the oldest towns in Moldavia, being the first Capital of the Moldavia during Middle Age. At 1388 Siret lost this privilege, and the Capital moved in Suceava. During the Austrian occupation of the XVIIth and XIXth century the town played only trade and crafts functions. Very important was at those times the Jewish population, representing almost the half of the town. Nowadays, after Holocaust and emigration in the communist era, very few Jews are still to find, but you can visit the synagogue and the two Jewish cemeteries. Another must see in Siret is the History museum, ending in 1945, as all the Romanian Museums do!

The Jewish cemetry from Siret, an amazing memento

Another epic trip from Suceava is towards Solca, over Arbore. The village Arbore is really huge, and very picturesque, with well kept traditions. It proudly counts 7000 inhabitants, and you must see there the Village Museum Toader Hrib, which is not very big, but instructive, together with the local church. In Solca you can discover the amazing Peter and Paul church. An outskirt of Solca, namely Cacica, hosts a renowned salt mine, with an unique salt carved chapel (made in 1904). Not less unique are the salt lake, which is not big, but very deep, 38 meters, as the congress room at 44 meters underneath the ground level. If you are a history and art freak, don't miss in Cacica the Catholic church, which is overwhelming through architecture, dimensions and and importance (on the 15th August here takes place the biggest pilgrimage of the catholics in Moldavia.

The catholic church from Cacica is a favorite target for the pilgrimage in Moldavia

May be you are going to love the Romanian history and  geography on this way, but I don't want to abuse of your goodwill! I will continue next time with Vatra Dornei, Falticeni, Campulung Moldovenesc etc
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Epic trips and special feelings in the Romanian Retezat Mountains

All the mountains, young or old, volcanic or of other origin, must have been very frightful to our ancestors. Every people has its own myths and legends, and the mountain peaks have been reserved for the Gods, not for the humans! The Romanians are not excepted from that kind of legends. Our people is very close to is mountains, and they used to shelter and food in the deep of the mountain forest, and also used to say "The forest is brother with the Romanian!"

I wonder which was the stronger impulse for exploring the mountains and revealing its secret: the need for resources, or the call of the unknown? Conquering mountains, the human always wins self confidence, skills and knowledge, and these feelings are not limited to the Romanian Retezat Mountains, the Romanian mountains. In the same way applies to the Andes, Alps or Himalaia. The mountains are genuine, broadly speaking. You can feel much closer to the nature in the mountains, and there are strong reasons for the yoga retreats to be in remote places, mainly isolated mountains.

Near Bucura Lake in Retezat is allowed to camp

Further I would dare to say that The Retezat Mountains are very particular, not only in Romania. These mountains are surrounded by high mountains, and are far away from the main roads. These things make the Retezat Mountains really special, a strong personality and underline its richness. These mountains are sober, high, and they won't allow you to discover them, if you don't respect them enough!

Driving along the Mures Valley between Orastie and Deva, and looking to the North, you will be totally impressed and fall in love by the irregular aspect of the Retezat Mountains. I would name the Retezat Mountains what is inside the Retezat national park, which is a breathtaking nature reserve with some endemic species of animals and plants. Lodging in the area is possible in the Gemenele cabin, e.g., but remember to grant more days for the Retezat Mountains.

The spectacular and not easy to find black goat (Rubicapra Rubicapra)  has an important population in Retezat, but in other areas of Romania and Europe vanished

Even if you are not an expert, you can discover many things about the older or newer history of Retezat mountains. First of all, the last glaciation left behind visible traces. The Retezat mountains hosted the biggest glaciers in the Romanian Carpathians. Observe too the glacier lakes, they are simply overwhelming, over 80! (e.g. Bucura, Black Lake, Brazi, Custurii  etc, to name just a few ones).

In the big forests of the Retezat mountains observe the levels of vegetation: first level, between 700 and 1200 meters altitude beech, oak, and hazel trees. At 1000 meters appear already the coniferous, mixing first with oaks and beech. Between 1200 an 1800 meters the coniferous are the only one who can resist and stay. After that limit, it is too hard even for them! In the forest and on the picturesque meadows an expert can find many endemic species, but I will spare you from those impossible Latin names, e.g. Draba Dorneri.

A survivor, a natural one, with his shepherd in the retezat

A special mention for the animals of the Retezat Natural Reserve, mainly big mammals. Any addicted hunter would find here many running targets, but must be aware: he must posses a special permit. I saw important population of deer (Capreolus capreolus), pigs (sus scrofa) and crows (Corvus corax). Nevertheless, I assume that the bears(Ursus arctos) live the best in Retezat, together with the lynx (lynx lynx) or the black goat ( Rupicapra rupicapra). Beware of vipers on the hot days, when they come out for catching new prey (birds and rats). The rivers an the lakes are rich on fishes, mainly trouts.

You are going to love these mountains and this natural park, every nature freak does. Must be aware about the right behavior inside the natural reserve, bag you pardon for telling and remembering you it. Don't leave many wastes behind, think about all the possible dangers, keep any fire under attention. But I am sure you know all these things, even more, and love this planet and our nature, as you wanna come in the Retezat mountains!

How to find the best Romanian meals and where to order them

Coming to Romania is not anymore a risky adventure, as it used to be a few years or decades ago. The Romanian are civilized normal people with manners and right behavior, the country is safe and the streets almost o.k. You can find in Romania best hotel chains with most sophisticated amenities, but you can also spend your vacation to a small pension, or at the home of a welcoming local (which I would really recommend !)

You can also find in Romania modern, sophisticated dishes, or fast food, but I hope that you didn't come here to queue to McDonald's, it would be outrageous! Searching and asking the Romanian dishes and specials will make you richer and locals will appreciate and even adopt you (once they did, you can be sure that they will be devoted and borrow you even the shirt)

A very appreciated Romanian dish are for sure the meat rolls, which you taste better with corn mush and creme fraiche. Pair it with a dry white wine, and you will be next to paradise. These meat rolls never lack from any Romanian feast, it has tradition and some special spices for the secret recipes. It is possible to find them in different presentations, rolled in cabbage, or grape leaves, bigger or smaller, with little variations in taste, but they they still are number one.

Restaurant continental from Oradea is a good place to order Romanian specific dishes

There are for sure some regional differences between the certain areas of Romania. A general influence is first of all the refined French haute cuisine, introduced with the second half of the XIXth century, beginning with Bucharest, which has had always excellent restaurants. The evolution of Bucharest restaurants goes on nowadays in a spectacular way  through  the opening of many restaurants with foreign kitchen and dishes!

In Transilvania is a  strong influence of the Hungarian Austrian kitchen. Visiting Oradea, Arad, Cluj Napoca is easy to detect it. An important role play in this area the bacon, as other pig products, with the necessary treatments. They eat bacon practically all year long, which is maybe not the best treatment for heart and blood, but please don't try to tell them anything about cholesterol. They won't understand, will be offended, and will give you another glass of tzuica to forget and burn the fat! The dishes here are fat, spicy and tasty. They use also some vegetables, milk and eggs. The soups are being soured with cabbage and spiced with tarragon. An important thing here are the sauces, consisting on onions with flour. Smoked products are also another issue, used even in the soups. Cabbage a la Cluj is a renowned local speciality, consisting of cabbage combined with rice and mincemeat (add a glass of half dried red wine)

Wine tasting by Tulcea, paired with spicy goat cheese and salad

Totally different is the kitchen from Dobrogea, with strong oriental Turkish influences, but the local conditions played also an important role. They use there oil and butter, and the meals don't fall so bad like in Transilvania. They use also sheep and fish, even pig, but never pig fat for cooking. During the hot season they eat very light, mainly salads, with a glass of cold sweat wine, e.g. Chardonnay from Murfatlar.

Traveling in Romania with children

It is not easy to travel with your child, or children , somewhere in the world, and Romania is not excepted. A child can spoil and harm your vacations, but he/she is after all the most important achievement in your life, and consequently you may not neglect him/her!

Romania is for sure one of children friendliest countries on Earth, and this fact has some simple explanations. One generation before, during the Ceausescu communist era, it was the dictator stimulating the birth rate. Abortion were forbidden, contraception tabu, Ceausescu should reign over more and more people. In the factories who used mainly women, from time to time have been organized controls for detecting from the beginning a pregnancy and preventing abortion. Unfortunately, due to the abortions made under improper conditions many women died. Anyway, it was a pride having more children, and the families with children have been intensively supported.

The Pension Confort is very close to Suceava, but very quiet and peaceful, and for sure children friendly

Any bigger or smaller hotel in Romania has a playing ground, where qualified personnel care about you children, if you wanna let them there. Observe also among the all staff a special love and care for children. Even if they have no children, which is uncommon here btw, they are able to find the right behavior for any much or less spoiled children. It is simply amazing, you will see!

I found the best places for traveling with children in Suceava district, and this happened with a little help of the hazard. I thought anyway searching children friendly hotels and pensions in Suceava, because this district has one of the highest birth rate in Romania. It is for sure a tradition here, and Ceausescu came to power in 1965 with a baby boom. It applies also for districts Iasi and Botosani, but I did not find there such  children friendly hotels and pensions yet, I am still searching and will keep you informed.

The pension Casa Vicu from Gura Humorului is in a wonderful neighborhood

The pensions I am going to recommend are not in downtown Suceava, they have own farm, garden and playing grounds. It will be a huge relief for you and your family! Another tip: there are a lot of cows in the area, and the milk products are natural and organic! Also interesting for the adults, not only for children!

Discover at 4 km away from Suceava, in Scheia, the pension Confort, which is rather small (40 places, 20 rooms), familiar and surely children friendly, with sauna, spa and even conference room. You have a bbq where you can even grill yourself, if free and available (pls remember the right pairing of food and wines!). The cooker is good, even excellent in the local meat rolls! From there you can make short trips in Suceava, Radauti and the amazing painted monasteries.

In Gura Humorului I discovered another children friendly pension, namely Casa Vicu. It is even smaller ( 8 rooms) and consequently more familiar, but lacks some amenities comparing to a good hotel or or even with the pension Confort; for your budget is even friendlier  for sure! The neighborhood is amazing peaceful, which made me so enthusiastic about it!

Fantastic unsolved mysteries in the Romanian Carpathians

Whether you are a history and archaeology freak, or you simply like climbing mountains, in some areas of the  Romanian Carpathians you will meet some enigmatic buildings.

As we know about history, 2000 years ago the Romanian mountains were populated by Dacians, which have been conquered by the Romans. But what happened here before, which civilisations have settled in the area? Of course, unsolved ancient mysteries are not only in Romania to find, think about Stonehenge, Pyramids etc, to name just a few of other enigmatic areas, which are maybe even better knowned like the Romanian ones!

The former Capital of the mighty Dacian Empire is still hiding some mysteries

The fact, that many evidences and artifacts point to a revolutionary conclusions: before the dacians, in the Romanian mountains, were other civilization, which was advanced and able to do unbelievable works. Iconic historians called them Pelasges, while other scientists reject this theory!That's why I am going to present only the facts, which you can discover and see yourself.

Is the Sphynx from the romanian Carpathians hand made, or the result of natural erosion?

In the remote isolated area near Orastie (not far from Deva, Alba Iulia or Sibiu) you can discover one of the most iconic and enigmatic places in the Romanian mountains: the sanctuary from gradistea Muncelului. Here was the mighty Capital of the Dacian kingdoms, on 30 human cut terraces. Professional or hobby archaeologists discovered houses, workshops for metal and pottery, water basins, defending walls and ritual sanctuaries. In the middle were the tower houses of the Dacian kingdoms. The walls are more than two thousand years old and form an irregular quadrilater. The former Capital was stretching on 6 accres. Please observe that our ancestors did not build with stones from the neighborhood, as they was simply too soft. They brought stones from tens kilometers away. The food was also coming from remote area, and you can imagine the logistics and technical problems emerging. The Dacians used a special technique to build walls, called "murus dacicus", and the sanctuary found in the area show advanced knowledge of astronomy, technology and even medicine! The ancient Capital is not easy accessible, you have to walk two hours long from Costesti (where a cabin would welcome you).

Old maid chatting in the Bucegi mountains

Another enigmatic place is the Bucegi Mountains, on the Prahova Valley, easy to discover from Sinaia. There are some caves in the area where happen strange things, used to initiate the Yoga aspirants. And there also some interesting artifacts, the Sphynx and Babele. hard to say if they are hand made, or the simply normal result of the natural erosion. Watch them in nature, or in photos, and tell me your opinions!

Myths and legends about the most significant building worldwide

Between West and wast, between traditional and modern, between breathtaking beauties and ugly buildings, Bucharest is a place to discover. And even a place to live for its almost 3 Millions inhabitants, 10 % expats, ask them if you don't trust me!

The Romanian capital welcomes you very natural and unsophisticated. Its seducing architecture mix is very promising for any art or history freak. Very close to the Downtown, with its many restaurants and bars, even if you don't wish, The People House will arise before your eyes like a sun. It is simply impossible to miss it, as its central position on a rocky hill makes it visible from a long distance.

Only a few old people can remember the quiet life before 1977 in the area. It was a wonderful quarter with houses for the middle class, all covered in green.  It was a charming quiet oasis in the middle of a busy Capital. After the earthquake of 1977 a few houses and old churches of the area have been severely damaged, and urgent reparations were needed. Instead, Ceausescu took the decision to build an exclusive quarter for him and his nomenclature. All the Romanian people payed a high price for it, measured in the huge deprivations we suffered. 20000 people, solders and workers, have worked for 5 years from dawn to sunset, using the best available raw matters (wood, marble, crystals etc). It is said (only a legend, which we can't check anymore) that some people died, and have been buried in the foundation! But the results are convincing and even breathtaking. The Guiness World Records Book places it on the 2nd rank worldwide, behind the Pentagon,  with total surface of 330 000 sqm! Thinking about its volume of 2 550 cubic metres ranks the third worldwide. Also known as the "Devil's Nest", it has some dimensions: length 270 meters, width 240 meters, height 84 meters, and depth 92 meters (atomic shelter and a network of tunnels are beneath the huge building).

Very huge and spectacular, the Romanian parliament house has been build with a huge price

Nicolae Ceausescu did not achieve his building, and did not manage to see it in the final version. When he died in 1989 only the face and a few rooms were ready. It is also said, that the constructors, exhausted by the daily sessions  with Ceausescu, and his unbelievable demands, even took the decision to bury a crane (which will check the Archaeologists, in a few hundreds or thousands years!). After the Romanian revolution and dissolution of Ceausescu regime, nobody knew what should be done with the huge building. Some voices found it an ugly dark symbol of the communist regime, and even asked its demolition! Another idea of the same level was transforming it in a huge casino, following the Las Vegas model. Fact is, The People house, could be neglected, ruining itself. The most reasonable and wise decision has been finaly made, namely to end up the works, at other speed and other budgets, of course. Nowadays it hosts the Romanian Parliament and some international meeting and conferences. An inside visit is also possible in a few rooms (there are 6 floors and 20 building corps), The monumental sculptures, golden works, marbles, huge tapestry and heavy crystals  will impress any visitor.

The second biggest building worldwide is very impressive inside too!

Thinking about this house, there is a strange prophecy of an Indian, namely Sundar Singh,born in 1889, who has visited the Christian countries during the first decade of the XXth century. He foresees a golden future for Bucharest and Romania, as an island of neutrality and tolerance, speaking even about a huge building in the heart of Bucharest.

I still have many things to tell you about The Parliament House, Bucharest etc. Maybe during your trip to Romania!