Romania & Bulgaria
May 2012
Our amazing journey began in Bucharest. Though founded in 1459 this capital was rebuilt in the mid-1800s in the French style which helps account for the beautiful architecture throughout. Standouts we visited (though not all of that era) included Cotroceni Palace, the Athenaeum, Arch of Triumph, Metropolitan Church, St. Nicolas Church, and the interior of the Parliament. We also saw the open-air Folk Village museum with its 70 traditional buildings, Romania in a nutshell. And we visited several, tiny Orthodox churches with their intriguing iconographic displays.
Topping the list of traditional Romanian food we enjoyed was a sausage and bean dish. Also very popular are beets with horseradish; polenta; and "cucumbers", thin, sour pickles. Soups were consistently delicious. Due to unseasonably warm weather, we ate almost all our meals, including breakfast, outdoors. Our final night here we were treated to traditional Romanian dancing at a popular restaurant.
En route to our next destination, we visited the exceptional Curtea de Arges and Cozia monasteries. Upon arrival in the Sibiu area, we were taken by horse-drawn carriages to a farmhouse where we stayed with a village family. We delighted in their hospitality and loved the cabbage roll main course and local libations they served at dinner!
On the road again, we visited the Saxon village of Biertan* with its fortified church and the beautifully preserved medieval fortified town of Sighisoara*. We then arrived in Brasov at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains where we saw the Black Church and expansive town square. We were treated to a tour of the School Museum by Prof. Vasile whose humor and knowledge made it an interesting and fun experience. Of course, we visited picturesque Bran (aka Draculas) Castle before leaving beautiful Transylvania.
Before crossing into Bulgaria, we toured 30+ rooms in Peles Castle, former summer residence of the royal family. Once over the border, (where passport control took a while!) in Ivanovo we saw an incredible rock-hewn church*. Veliko Tarnovo was our first overnight destination. Here we were treated to an AMAZING colored light show of the fortress! The next day we toured Tsarevets Hill and in nearby Arbanassi visited Nativity Church and a typical wood home of the last century.
In Etara we visited the open-air museum with all its craftsmen and after crossing the Balkan Mountains, in Kazanlak we saw a replica of a recently discovered Thracian tomb* from the 4th century B.C. In the Rila Mountains between Plovdiv and Sofia, we visited the massive Rila Monastery*, location of our group photo.
Our last destination was gracious Sofia. We did a walking tour of its finest sights, including Nevsky Cathedral. We said our goodbyes at a fun farewell dinner, again with traditional dancing, but that also included participation by several members of our group.
The sights and experiences in these countries were incredible but we also realized what a difference a guide can make. Neina, our private guide throughout, had such knowledge and a helpful nature that she made a good trip amazing. Multu mesc, Neina!
* World Heritage Sites
May 2012
Our amazing journey began in Bucharest. Though founded in 1459 this capital was rebuilt in the mid-1800s in the French style which helps account for the beautiful architecture throughout. Standouts we visited (though not all of that era) included Cotroceni Palace, the Athenaeum, Arch of Triumph, Metropolitan Church, St. Nicolas Church, and the interior of the Parliament. We also saw the open-air Folk Village museum with its 70 traditional buildings, Romania in a nutshell. And we visited several, tiny Orthodox churches with their intriguing iconographic displays.
Topping the list of traditional Romanian food we enjoyed was a sausage and bean dish. Also very popular are beets with horseradish; polenta; and "cucumbers", thin, sour pickles. Soups were consistently delicious. Due to unseasonably warm weather, we ate almost all our meals, including breakfast, outdoors. Our final night here we were treated to traditional Romanian dancing at a popular restaurant.
En route to our next destination, we visited the exceptional Curtea de Arges and Cozia monasteries. Upon arrival in the Sibiu area, we were taken by horse-drawn carriages to a farmhouse where we stayed with a village family. We delighted in their hospitality and loved the cabbage roll main course and local libations they served at dinner!
On the road again, we visited the Saxon village of Biertan* with its fortified church and the beautifully preserved medieval fortified town of Sighisoara*. We then arrived in Brasov at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains where we saw the Black Church and expansive town square. We were treated to a tour of the School Museum by Prof. Vasile whose humor and knowledge made it an interesting and fun experience. Of course, we visited picturesque Bran (aka Draculas) Castle before leaving beautiful Transylvania.
Before crossing into Bulgaria, we toured 30+ rooms in Peles Castle, former summer residence of the royal family. Once over the border, (where passport control took a while!) in Ivanovo we saw an incredible rock-hewn church*. Veliko Tarnovo was our first overnight destination. Here we were treated to an AMAZING colored light show of the fortress! The next day we toured Tsarevets Hill and in nearby Arbanassi visited Nativity Church and a typical wood home of the last century.
In Etara we visited the open-air museum with all its craftsmen and after crossing the Balkan Mountains, in Kazanlak we saw a replica of a recently discovered Thracian tomb* from the 4th century B.C. In the Rila Mountains between Plovdiv and Sofia, we visited the massive Rila Monastery*, location of our group photo.
Our last destination was gracious Sofia. We did a walking tour of its finest sights, including Nevsky Cathedral. We said our goodbyes at a fun farewell dinner, again with traditional dancing, but that also included participation by several members of our group.
The sights and experiences in these countries were incredible but we also realized what a difference a guide can make. Neina, our private guide throughout, had such knowledge and a helpful nature that she made a good trip amazing. Multu mesc, Neina!
* World Heritage Sites