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.

Prahova Valley, a Romanian Royal getaway

If you need to relax and detox, if you need to forget the usual trouble and the daily routine, I have the right medicine for you. I really recommend to go from Bucharest to Brasov, through Ploiesti on the A1 highway, along the spectacular Prahova Valley. But please keep in mind, that this highway is the busiest in Romania, and you must avoid it during the week end rush hours, e.g. Friday and Sunday afternoon.

The Prahova is simply superb,  meanders through Bucegi and Baiului Mountains, and could be named The Royal Valley of Romania, because the former King Carol I used to live here, in Sinaia, where he managed to build the fantastic Peles Castle from stone, wood and precious materials. Consequently, all his suite adopted Sinaia as a summer Capital. Ever since that period, the beginning of XXth century, the skiers and mountain climbers are the masters of these places.

Valea Prahovei is simply superb, the best place to disconnect from anything else.

Due to its proximity to Bucharest, Prahova Valley was an important connection between Wallachia and Transilvania., centuries before opening of a railway and a highway in 1880. Because the old highway is obsolete and overcrowded sometimes, there are plans for building a speed highway between Bucharest and Budapest, but the environmental price will be huge ( nowadays in the big forests of the area you can still find bears, wolves and lynxes). The legendary stylish train Orient Express drove this way on his long journey between Paris and Istanbul.

Peles Castle in Sinaia is a must see for any art freak

On the way to the mountains, discover first the quiet town of Campina, where you can find two interesting museums. One of them refers to Nicolae Grigorescu, the most important Romanian painter from all times, which lived here during its last years of life, and left his last masterpiece unaccomplished. He started his career by painting churches and monasteries, and finally an important politician, impressed by his paintings, offered him a scholarship in Paris. Nowadays, if you have the chance to buy a painting of grigorescu, please don't hesitate, it is a safer placement than gold! The secon interesting museum in Campina is Hasdeu Memorial Museum, with a very strange spiritual atmosphere, as Hasdeu, an important political and cultural personality, tried to further communicate with his beloved genial daughter Julia, died at 18 years.

Further, you reach the town of Breaza, which is simply very long, build mainly along the street, and very famous due to its excellent golf coarse. Afterwards, within minutes, you are in Sinaia, and you don't need to hurry up anymore. Enjoy Sinaia in all its splendor, it deserves. The quiet town is very animated on week ends, but in the rest of time keeps an interesting flair of the beginning of XXth Century. After King Carol set here his summer residence emmerged many luxury villas, his suite visited the Casino, and took part to hunting. If you are an art freak, don't miss the Peles Castle, it is simply superb. It was an avangarde building for Romania of those times, heated and electrified. Observe please the wood works, while going from the honor room in the weapon and Marocco room! Next to it, the Pelisor Castle, a paradise for Art Nouveau freaks.

Go deep in the Mountains by the cabin, if you are in the mood to climb them.  Further, before reaching Brasov, find Busteni and Predeal, very important for addicted skiers.

Best way to discover the Hills around Buzau

Living Bucharest to East, after only 100 km of an endless boring plain you can see with a deep relief the hills of the Northern side of district Buzau. Discovering this intensiv village life in the hidden valleys of the hills announcing the Carpathians will be a big pleasure. The colored rural shows is played by the people, animals and the rich vegetation with a tremendous success. This plain-mountain hilly region is very particular, similar with nothing else in Romania.

The City Council of Buzau is the landmark

But let's start our discovery with the city of Buzau, which is not the best, but also not the last among Romanian cities. The city is an industrial one with 130000 inhabitants, and is one of the oldest in all Romania and looks nowadays typical Romanian. Observe the central market and its animation, and also the rroms quarters of the city (Simileasca, Chimica, Micro 14). Don't miss in downtown the fancy Mayoralty,older than 100 years and rebuild after the WWII. Despite its respectable age, it is impossible to see buildings older than XVIIIth century, as the city was subject of repeted destroys caused by Turks, or Earthquakes.

The House Vergu-Manaila in Buzau is one of the oldest in the city 

Every 6 year there is an Earthquake in the area, approximately 6 degrees Richter, and every 50 years a major earthquake of 7 degrees Richter causes big damages in the all Romania. The explanation is easy: this area Focsani-Buzau lies on the intersection of three major geological plates, namely the European, the Asian, and the African one, causing huge stresses.

The picturescue monastery of Ciolanu, 20 km away from Buzau

What you have to see in Buzau the Archbishop residence, observing the older one, from 1649 build by Matei Basarab. Also, the district Museum, worth your visit, despite the unhappy obsolete manner of presentation. On weekends and at night the main occupation of the locals is walking in the superb Park Crang. Seniors play chess, young married do photos, and young boys and girls are fixing each other. Buzau is also proud of its pretzels (secret recipe and ingredients), the local brandy (tzuica) or  wines (Dealu Mare, Dealurile Buzaului).

There are more sorts of wines in the area, the Reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Black Feteasca) or Whites (White feteasca, Riesling, Muscat) . For the small familial farms, visit the villages of Soresti or Blajani . If it happens on the first Sunday of July, you are very lucky, there is the Wine Festival on place! More exquisite wines can be discovered in Pietroasele.

The Crang Park from Buzau is a major attraction, especially at nights and on week ends

A recommended target in the neigbourhood would be the Monastery of Ciolanu, 20 km away from Buzau to brasov. The Monastery is very old, very quiet ( excepting week ends)  and the monks buildings are covered in flowers, similar to the village. Next to the monastery you will discover the amazing sculptures of Magura. Going further to the forest, you can find the picturesque little village of Colti, the center of an area rich on amber. You can even find here an interesting Museum of Amber near the school (my tip: if closed, go and search the key to the Council!). If you are not tired, you can discover in the forest a few stone churches (no access for the cars). If you are lucky, you can still find some amber, took by the locals from their secret places ( the mines are closed from 1948).

The spectacular strange phenomenon of Moody Volcanoes in Berca

Another important attraction are the Mood Volcanoes from Berca. It is a strange phenomenon, the gas comes to the surface taking with it some bubbles, resulting in bigger or smaller hills of mood, similar to small volcano crater. Don't step on them, only observe from a safe distance, otherwise is dangerous! The visits are no more possible on bad weather (simply too much mood!).

Going further, you can reach Brasov, over the mountains, passing through some unforgettable landscapes.

The best spa retreats in Romania

There are many possibilities to relax in Romania, and I have presented a few of them, and I would like to keep on!

About relaxing, maybe I should remember you that Ana Aslan was a famous gerontologyst, living in Romania and leading even in the tough Ceausescu times rejuvenating cures.  Bucharest was a world capital of gerontology, and many world leaders and prominents have been cured here. Ana Aslan had a legendary vitality and died in a good menthal shape at 90 years. Many of her medicines are still made in Romania, and largely used in the today spa retreats.

Ana Aslan, the founder of the Romanian geriatrics school, and founder of gerovital

And there is another important fact I will reveal to you: the Romanian Transilvania has a huge geothermal potential, it lies literally on a underground sea of hot water, and has an unbelievable geothermal potential. Many of the popular water pools in Oradea are based on this hot water, which is also excellent for fighting against rheumatism, carrying many salts and minerals.Several cities in transilvania are heated with these hot waters and heating pumps.

So, the result is that Romania could be a spa paradise, which is not totally true, as this kind of tourism has been neglected a long period! nevertheless, there are a bunch of excellent spa retreats you should count, if you wanna feel better and looking as the 18 years! Besides, you will agree that most of Romanian hotels have a very relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately, during these long  medical cures ( at least 2 weeks) you may drink only two glasses of wine, once to the dinner and once to the lunch (forget the third, to the breakfast!). But count on me for recommending the right wines!

In my opinion, the following resorts deserve to be nominated as the best Romanian spa retreats :

1. Baile Felix, where a series of proofed treatments are being executed in the many hotels of the resort. Baile Felix lies on an underground hot water sea, amazing!. Visit the Hotels Nufarul and Continental, and book also a rejuvenating Aslan treatment.

Open pool in Baile Felix, with thermal water, near Hotel Continental

2. Baile Herculane has been correctly evaluated even by the Romans, 2000 years ago!  The strong Hercules himself visited the resort and took a refreshing bath there! 150 years ago was at the peak of its glory, many elites from Vienna and Budapest came here for relaxing.

One of the many pools of Baile Herculane

3.Techirghiol carries the name of a neighboring lake, whose sapropelic mood has special properties against rheumatism. Has also a good tradition; also the Romanian Black Sea coast is there and you have a wide selection of ways to have fun.

Fun at Techirghiol dea in the early 60's

4.Eforie Nord has a special treatment basis in hotel Steau de Mare, with mood from Techirghiol, spa, mecicines and Aslan cures. The treatment is possible all year long, not exclusively during the peak deason from April to September. So, you can book right now!

Prominent Romanians

I don't think that may of you, or even at least one, think about Romania when using a fountain pen. But the history fact is this: the inventor and patent holder is a Romanian, namely Petrache Poenaru, not very well known even among Romanians.

The Roman Emperor Traian is the ancestor of the today Romania

I also started this blog thinking to Romanian wines, and then expanded to all Romania in its aspects. And I did this to show to all the people, that neither, nor the other Romanians, or my foreign tourists are addicted, not at all. On the contrary, but a glass of wine is a wonderful thing for everyone who really loves and enjoys life.

The former legendary Romanian tennis player Ilie Nastase, a rebel bad boy of the courts

Well, we here are proud to be Romanians, due to our long history and our contributions to the world's culture and civilizations. Very well known is in the U.S the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci; the tennis player Ilie Nastase was the first world wide awarded to be No 1 ATP. Ion Tiriac is another former tennis player, not so brillant like Nasty, but very notorious today as a business man (at the moment one of  the richest man in Romania). Gheorghe Hagi was a brillant legendary football player.

Nadia Comaneci at the top of her career

Digging deeper in the history, be aware that the first discovered skeleton of a Homo Sapiens was found in Romania. In the antic times, the Roman Emperor Trajanus, after conquering Dacia and beating Decebal (the both are celebrated like national heroes) raised in Rome its Column!

Traian Vuia is a pioneer of modern aviation, as other Romanians like Aurel Vlaicu and Henri Coanda

If I tell you about the Middle Age, I must mention some local kings who fought against the Pagans, thus protecting the wealthy Western World developing its culture. Let's name Stephen The Great and Michael the Brave; Iancu de Hunedoara had also Romanian blood.

The National poet is Mihai Eminescu, living in the XIXth century and being translated in many languages. Ask about the most important painter Nicolae Grigorescu at any serious art auction, and get one of his masterpieces, it is a very safe investment. Special mention for the Romanian sculpture Constantin Brancusi, who lived in the Paris vanguard of the early XXth century. Gheorghe Enescu is the most important Romanian Musician,  areal sacred monster, mastering among others Yehudi Menuhin.

George Enescu, master of Yehudi Menuhin

Nowadays, you must also know and notice that Inna is Romanian, but sings English. For the Opera freaks, think to Mariana Nicolesco, Ileana Cotrubas and Mihaela Ursuleasa.

It was a quick tour, and I find it  already overwhelming. I know much more names, but I only tried to mention the best known, to make you Romania familiar and bring it closer to you. At a glass of wine we are supposed to discuss much more than that, can't wait for it.

Suceava, the gate to the painted monasteries

Bucovina, the upper northern part of the Romanian Moldavia, is a wonderful hill land,scattered with many painted monasteries build in the middle age, mainly by the well known legendary ruler Stephen the Great (1457-1504).

Suceava Fortress, residence of Stephen the Great and capital of Moldavia

Stephen the Great is still living today, being subject to many jokes, proving his strong influence in all Romanian history. The history fact is that he was an exponent of a new ascending country, namely Moldavia, and he managed to keep a certain independence of Moldavia, despite its many enemies ( Turks, Polish, Hungarians etc). His capital was in Suceava, look anyway for the fortress of Suceava (Cetate).

City Hall from Suceava is a good example of Secession style

The fortress of Suceava is very strong, and from here Moldavia has been ruled for centuries. On unknown reasons, in the XVII th the fortress of Suceava was left and deserted, but even nowadays, after successful restaurations, is very impressive. The walls are 20 meters high and 2 meters thick, and you can try climbing then during your visit (there is a small fee to be paid). From the fortress you have a good sight to the all city, and decide what else to do here.

The interesting railway station from Suceava, in my opinion one of the nicest in Romania

Suceava has today 100000 inhabitants, among them a few Rusians, Ukrainians, Lipovans and Polish (more than 90 % are Romanians). Suceava was a century ruled by the Habsburgic empire, and you can still find some things to remember, e.g. the Catholic Church. Orthodoxes Curches are much more, but you may not miss the Miclauti Church, where for centuries the Moldavia's ruler have been appointed and crowned. Observe there the ingenious positioning of the bell, which is not in a separate tower, but included in the front wall.

The orthodox church of Miclauti, Suceava where for centuries the  Moldavian Rulers have been appointed and crowned

You also can't miss the horse statue of Stephen the Great, dominating the city, and the railway station with its 100 years old architecture, one of the most beautiful in Romania.

Suceava is maybe the only city in Bucovina, and has an important tourist circulation. The offer on hotels and restaurants is wide and generous. I would suggest you Hotel and Restaurant Bucovina, and the restaurant Casa Arcasului, for the good balance quality and price (the both are high end category).

From Suceava you can make daily trips to the painted monasteries, one of the most important things to see in all Romania. But you need nevertheless at least another day to visit Suceava Museums: Ethnography Museum, History Museum, Art Museum. Men, you are going to like and love Suceava for sure.

Braila, the sleeping beauty

Braila is an interesting wonderful city in the south eastern Romania, on of the most important Danube ports in Romania.

An example of brillant old architecture in Downtown Braila, where you can see the glory of the past

After the dissolution of communist power in 1989 Braila falled in a deep recession, and the economic decline is still progressing today. Nevertheless, there are many things to see in Braila. Consider only the simple fact that 100 years ago Braila was one of the most important ports in Romania, which is not anymore, due to ascension of the marine port of Constanta. Visiting Braila in the Downtown one can feel doubtless the past prosperity of the city. Special mention for the cereals trader having their base in Braila, 100 years ago. Mainly Greeks, they were wealthy indeed, and you can see still an interesting Greek orthodox church build by this community.

You might love better the modern Braila, with its amazing fountains from the Civic Center

Very interesting in the history of Braila: during Middle Age has been ruled by the Turks for 400 years, and the legendary Romanian ruler of Moldavia, namely Stephen The Great, set it on fire in 1470. Braila still counts today 130000 inhabitants and during the communist times was an important industrial center. But all this industry was obsolete and decayed almost totally after the fall of communism. Legendary in Braila: it was an important big factory for manufacturing creamy biscuits, under name of Eugenia. I had an aunt working there, and every time when visiting she brought us special biscuits, with many cream, much more than usually. Braila is an important transit point for the tourists going to Tulcea and Danube Delta (Danube crossing only possible by ship, towards Macin and Tulcea).

Braila at the peak of its glory at the end of the XIXth century; back in the ground is the Greek church

Fascinating in Braila was always the mix of populations, ethnic groups and minorities (Greeks, Turks, Romanians, Bulgarians and even Jews add a little to the cosmopolitan spirit of this city). Braila is known for its wonderful girls, and for the dangerous underworld ( totally avoid at night some quarters with bad reputation like Brailita and Chercea!).

This is also Braila, in its most spectacular aspect: the enlighted fountain from the Civic center at night

Visit in Braila first the downtown, and then the modern center with interesting fountains. Visit the Art Museums, and the most interesting city's churches: the Greek church and the  St. Michael church ( which was 150 years away a mosque, transformed in a church. looking carefully you can still discover some hidden signs of the oriental art, e,g arabesques on the ceiling). Don't miss a walk  on the Danube cliff which is very relaxing.

Exploring caves in Romania

Romania has a wide offer for adventurers, and an important issue for these freaks would be the caves (speology is nevertheless a Romanian discovery, thinking to Emil Racovita, one of his pioneers).

Muntii Apuseni, or the Romanian Western carpathians,  are build in a soft lime stone, which made possible an intensive water erosion resulting in many cute caves.

The best area for visiting caves in Romania is the the Western Carpathians (Muntii Apuseni) due to their soft limestone structure. One of the possible ways is leaving Oradea in Direction Deva, turning right to Remetea, and then driving to Meziad, our first target. The Meziad cave is waiting for you for visiting everyday between 9 and 17 hours, less on Mondays. Count on a little entrance fee and enjoy the 5 km long galleries of Meziad cave, discovered in 1849 by a local climber, and was among the first in Romania opened for its fantastic touristic potential. Observe carefully stalactites, stalagmites and the remainings of prehistoric bears sheltering here.

Pestera Ursilor (The Bears Cave) is very spectacular and you can't miss it.

Afterwards follow the way to Lacul Ursu. Beware if it is raining, this way is no more accessible. Lacul Ursu ( The bear lake) is a wonderful lake with a very strange form in the middle of mountains, promising adventures to every step. The lake is also famous among fishermen, and the trout captured here is very tasty. Leaving the lake to south you go through Valea Iadului (The hell valley) which is really very nice and cute, but bears this name on unknown matter. 6 km away from Lacul Ursu you must be able to find and see a water falls, namely Iadolina; if not, you are on the wrong way. Very close, Stana de Vale, a resort for winter and ski, which can act a little disappointing, despite its superb position at 1100 meters altitude. The offer on hotels is not so rich, as also the possibilities of skiing are not brillant.

Please, don't try to do that, is only for skilled trained climber

Very close, The  Monastery  of the Saints Peter and Paul, one of the newest in Romania. It lacks on any possibility of lodging, but is a good starting and orientation point for the many walking trips you can try in the neighborhood. A path leads to Pietroasa, 14 km away direction  south when you can't miss the wooden church from the XVIIth century. From there, very easy and quick to the last targets, Pestera Ursilor (The Bears' Cave) and Pestera Magura. Magura is opened mainly for specialists and experts coming in organized groups, but Pestera Ursilor is worth to a visit and your attention. You can do there a guided tour lasting 1 hour which will delight you, as the cave is very special and spectacular with many stactites, stalagmites, holes and rocks. In some areas looks like a future city, as imagined in Hollywood. Not very big and discovered by accident, has many skeletons of an extincted species of bear.

Skiing in Arieseni, on the beginners' slope

After coming back on the highway turn please left to Lunca, following the indicator to Turda. Within short time you can reach Baita, one of the oldest mining areas in Romania. Already during the Middle Age silver and copper have been gained here, but very famous became this place during the communist era: during the 50' years of the XXth century thousands of miners and soldiers exploited 30 000 tonnes of Uranium, which has been entirely send to the Soviet Union. Radiations are still an issue among the former and retired miners! Beyond the Pass Vartop you can find Arieseni, after a pleasant downhill. Arieseni is an other becoming ski resort in birth state. Amazing in Arieseni, a very unusual church from the XVIIIth century, which is not specially beautiful, but striking.