We visited Romania recently, whilst on a River Cruise on the Danube River. Our Romania Travel experience was most memorable. We also visited Hungary, Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria whilst on this cruise. In contrast to the other 3 countries, Romania and Bulgaria appeared to be slightly less developed and less affluent! Nevertheless, both countries were beautiful with very friendly people!!
Let us tell you all about our Romania Travel adventure!!
About Romania
Romania is in the Southeast of Europe. It is country known for the forested region of Transylvania which is ringed by the Carpathian Mountains. It has many preserved medieval towns including Sighişoara. Further, there are many fortified churches and castles in the country. Of particular interest is the clifftop Bran Castle, long associated with the Dracula legend.
With an area of 92,043 square miles, Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe. It is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom and slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Oregon. The Carpathian Mountains, which is one of the largest undisturbed forests in Europe, is in Romania.
Romania is the 7th most populous member state of the European Union. Almost 20 million inhabitants live there. Its capital and largest city is Buchrest. Bucharest is the site of the gigantic, Communist-era Parlament building.
Interesting Facts That Makes Romania Travel Interesting
- The name “Romania” comes from the Latin word “Romanus”. This means “citizen of the Roman Empire.”
- The Parliament Palace in Romania’s capital of Bucharest is the second largest building in the world, behind only the Pentagon.
- It is also the heaviest building in the world.
- Bucharest is also called “Little Paris.”
- Romania’s approximately 22,300 km rail network is the 15th most extensive in the world.
- Francesco Illy, a Romanian, invented the first automatic steam espresso coffee machine.
- Four Nobel Prize laureates are from Romania.
- Peles Castle in Sinaia was the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current.
Facts About Romania Travel Continue
- The tallest wooden church in the world is in Sapanta Peri, in northwestern Romania. Further, it is the second tallest wooden structure in Europe.
- Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was awarded the first ever perfect 10 awarded in the Olympic Games.
- Romania’s language is 1,700 years old.
- The earliest Homo sapiens fossils, up to now, were discovered in 2002 in southwestern Romania, in the Cave of Bones. The fossil’s age is estimated at 37,800 to 42,000 years old.
- Romania is the fifth booziest country in the world, behind four more Eastern European states: Belarus, Russia, Moldova and Lithuania.
- Tipping the scales at 1,400lbs, the European bison was nearly hunted to extinction. However, in recent years it has been reintroduced to several Eastern European countries, including Romania.
Our Romania Travel Highlights in Bucharest
Bucharest - The Little Paris Of Eastern Europe
We first docked at the port of Oltenita in Romania. Subsequently, we set out on an all day excursion of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. We arrived at the majestic city of Bucharest after a very pleasant 1.5 hours drive through the beautiful countryside of Romania!! We first drove past several tree lined elegant streets of the city dotted with magnificent villas. These are no doubt echoes of the country’s luxurious 1900s. Consequently, Bucharest earned the nickname “Little Paris”. By contrast, it was amazing to see many drab utilitarian buildings standing beside these elegant buildings!! This is consequent to the communist rule in recent times.
The Amazing Palace Of Parliament
The Palace of Parliament is the world’s second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon. It was created by the former dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. Started in 1984 (and still unfinished), the 330,000-sq-metre building has more than 3000 rooms!!️
Bucharest’s unmistakable Palace of Parliament is a building of immense physical, psychic and historic stature. Moreover, it is perhaps the most controversial building in Romania.
Amazingly, it is one of the most extravagant and expensive building projects in the recent history of mankind. The Palace of Parliament is Romania’s biggest tourist attraction, despite popular disdain.
Our Romania Travel Continues In Bucharest
We then drove around the city of Bucharest to see the other impressive sights.
Firstly, we drove past the impressive former royal palace. It is now the national arts museum. Then, we went to the Athenaeum, a concert hall in the center of the city. We were vere impressed by its impressive Boroque cupola and remarkable acoustics!! Next we drove past many Orthodox churches and squares, including the Revolution Square. The name of this square was consequent to the 1989 uprising that swept away the Ceausescu regime!!
Guided Walk At The Old Town Of Bucharest
We then enjoyed a very pleasant guided tour of the Old Town of Bucharest. This tour was one of the highlights of our Romania Travel itinerary for the day. We walked on the pedestrian only part of the city, which was very relaxing. All of us especially enjoyed browsing and visiting some of the souvenir and local handicrafts shops lining the cobbled stone walkways.
Bucharest’s Old Town is a mix of history, local culture and lifestyle. Further, it is a trendy entertainment district and a favorite hangout for the locals.
We ended this part of our Romania Travel experience at a wayside cafe. Here, we enjoyed some beers, cocktails and some traditional Romanian food!!
The Eastern Orthodox Church
More than 80% of the population of Romania belong to the Eastern Orthodox faith. The Orthodox Church is one of the three main Christian groups. The others are the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. Around 200 million people in the world follow the Orthodox tradition. Essentially the Orthodox Church shares much with the other Christian Churches. Essentially it believes that God revealed himself in Jesus Christ.
The visitor can see many differences in an Orthodox Church when compared with other christian churches. There are many unique features and external differences in these churches. For example, these churches have rich colors, distinctive iconography and unique interiors. This is in sharp contrast to the simplicity of much of the other churches around the world.
Three Impotant Features Of Eastern Orthodox Churches
Importantly, we were struck by three important features in the interior of all Eastern Orthodox churches. Firstly, there are no seats in the church, except for a few meant for the elderly. Secondly, there are no instruments. Apparently, they practice Acapella music in these churches. Acapella is a style of music in which the singers only use their voices to create harmony, rhythm etc. Lastly there are no statues inside these churches, only icons and murals!!!
The Amazing Danube Delta - A Romania Travel Highlight
We next sailed into the river port of Tulcea. Here, there are 7 beautiful hills overlooking the river, regarded as the gateway to the vast Danube Delta. This amazing place is situated on the edge of the Black Sea.
The Danube Delta is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Moreover, it is the best preserved and the second largest river delta in Europe!! It consists of 2,200 square miles of rivers, marshes, tree fringed lakes and reed islands!!! As a result, this delta is home to nearly 3,500 animal and fish species. In addition, about 1,700 types of plant grow in this beautiful spot on earth!!
The Flora And Fauna Of This Magical Place
The Daube Delta is considered a bird watchers paradise. The maze of canals bordered by willows and oaks offers the perfect breeding ground for many bird species. Amazingly, millions of Egyptian white pelicans and arctic geese arrive here to raise their young and take refuge from harsh conditions. Further, cormorants and white-tailed eagles come frequently to the delta.
We were lucky to see a flock of pelicans in full flight. What a glorious sight it was!!! Further, it was fascinating to listen to our guide tell us all about the flora and fauna that makes a living in the delta. We also saw many kinds of fish beneath the water’s glassy surface, such as colorful kingfishers and catfish.
The Mouth Of The Black Sea
We sailed right up to the mouth of the Black Sea that evening, before turning back. This experience was very exciting!! We all watched it from the sundeck of our ship. This spot marks the 0 km mark of the Danube River. We had traveled approximately 1,500 kms from Budapest Hungary to get here. The length of the Danube River is 2,850 kms!!
The Black Sea is an inland body of water. It is part of the Mediterranean basin. Further, it is connected to it via the Sea of Marmara. It is locked between Europe and Asia and is surrounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. About 16 million people inhabit this coastal area.
The Origins Of The Black Sea
The sea was first named by the ancient Greeks who called it “Inhospitable Sea”. Later, after the successful development of the coast by Greek colonists, the sea was renamed “Hospitable Sea.” The Black Sea has a depth of over 150 meters. Further, its waters are filled with hydrogen sulfide for almost two kilometers.
Our Next Romania Travel Stop - The Ancient City Constanta
Our river cruise continued its voyage. We sailed past the rocky shoreline of Romania dotted by the occasional ruined fortress. Our next Romania Travel destination was the river port of Cernavoda.
We departed from this beautiful port by coach for our next excursion to the ancient city of Constanta. Constanta’s history dates back over 2,500 years. This city was once called the “end of the world” by the Roman poet, Ovid. Situated on several trade routes, this city became a thriving commercial centre during Roman times. Most importantly, it still remains an important commercial center. Many remains from the city’s Greek and Roman times are on display at museums in Constanta.
The Memorable Walking Tour
We then went on a very enjoyable walking tour which covered the beautiful old city center. There are many beautiful buildings all around depicting the city’s cosmopolitan history. We made brief stops at the Catholic cathedral and the Saints Peter and Paul orthodox cathedral. The interiors of both these places were awesome to behold!!
The Landmark of Constanta - The Casino
Constanta’s landmark is the Art Nouveau Casino. It was built by the Romanian King Carol 1. This king wanted the casino to transform the city into a bathing resort for the elite. However, this did not transpire. More recently, the casino has become the end of the shortest navigable route between the North and Black seas.
We ended the day’s excursion at the city’s picturesque marina. Here, we enjoyed a drink at one of the many cafes dotted around its waters. It was great to see so many small pleasure crafts at this marina.
Romania Travel - Other Places Of Interest
The Famous Dracula’s Castle
Cluj-Napoca
Painted Monasteries
The Red Ravine
Yummy Romanian Cuisine
Traditional Romanian dishes consist mainly of meat. Further, it also includes vegetables and/or fruits. No Romania Travel experience is complete without sampling some of the country’s yummy dishes!!
Delicious Sarmale - Cabbage Rolls
Sarmale are Romanian stuffed cabbage rolls traditionally served on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. However, it is also served throughout the year at weddings, baptism parties, and other large celebrations. Ground pork is mixed with sauteed caramelized onions and rice, and usually stuffed in a cabbage leaf. They usually consist of layers of smoked pork fat, smoked ribs or smoked sausage. Hence its distinct flavor!!
Lamb Borsch
“Borş”is the Romanian word for a natural sour juice. This is made of fermented wheat bran, maize flour and water. Romanian “borș” soup recipes can include various kinds of vegetables and any kind of meat, including fish. One ingredient required in all recipes by Romanian tradition is lovage leaves. This has a characteristic flavour and significantly improves the soup’s aroma.
Mici - Grilled Minced Meat Rolls
Mititei or mici, both Romanian words meaning “small ones”. It is a traditional Romanian dish of grilled ground meat rolls. These are made from a mixture of beef, lamb and pork. It includes various spices, such as garlic, black pepper, thyme, coriander, anise, savory, and sometimes a touch of paprika. Sodium bicarbonate and broth or water are also added to the mixture.
Beef Tripe Soup
Ciorba de Burta (Tripe soup) is a common dish in Balkan, Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish, and Eastern European cuisine. It is widely (not universally) considered to be a hangover remedy.
Bean Soup With Hocks
This bean soup, “Ciorba de fasole”, is probably one of the most traditional dishes in Romania. It It is easy to make and everybody knows how to do it. It consists mainly of chicken stock, ham hocks and soaked beans.
The Best Time For Romania Travel
The best time to Travel to Romania, considering both, weather and travel costs would be either the spring and early summer (from March to June) or the late summer and fall (September to October). However, do not forget that every season has its own unique charm. You are bound to always find opportunities to experience something interesting in Romania.
The Last Word On Romania Travel
Authentic, Natural and Cultural are the words that best capture the essence of Romania, a dynamic country rich in history, arts and scenic beauty.
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