Disclaimer: I was hung over and sleep depraved when I wrote this at Bucharest Airport. But I just re-read and I still agree. :)
I just spent 10 days in Romania. There was not a specific reason why I went, it was just a country that I have never visited so I booked a flight. A friend…
The free tour, guided by a local volunteer, takes you on a 2 hours walk through the beautiful Council Square, the citadel’s walls and defense bastions, Sforii (Rope) Street, Schei neighborhood, St. Nicholas Cathedral and Tampa Mount.
Nowadays, anyone with internet connection and basic Google search skills (not that it’s not intuitive enough) can make one’s own travel guide by perusing information published by the people employed in the tourism industry or by following practical advices provided by people who’ve already done it, both tourists and locals. But why do all the research yourself when others can do it for you, thus saving you time and money (time is money!)? All you have to do is get the right guide and enjoy your trip!
As soon as they get on a Romanian train, most travellers quickly find out that we are a very superstitious nation. There is this evil thing, called a ‘draft’- it basically means that if you leave windows or doors open and create a ‘draft’, you will be ill: random parts of your body might start to ache or, if you are really unlucky, you will catch a cold! And that is unacceptable!
Even Bram Stoker, who dazed and confused a lot of people and continues to do so, makes a note in his famous novel ‘Dracula’ regarding the superstitious people inhabiting Transylvania. So clearly, we have a pattern here! We’d therefore like to give you a heads up on the matter, as you might come across some of these dos and don’ts.
We’ve selected some of the most interesting samples, but bear in mind that there are more and oddly enough, almost all Romanians are aware of them, and if you are anything like our moms, you will keep them in mind at all times!
Romania has one of the oldest wine making traditions in the world, it’s viticulture dating back more than 6000 years. Legend says that Dionysos, the god of wine, was born in Thracia, on what is nowadays the territory of Romania. Romania or Dacia as the Romans knew it, had a well-established wine culture. The abundance of food and fame of the Dacian wines were so well-known and tempting that, to put an end to the migratory peoples’ repeated invasions, the Dacian king Burebista (1st century BC), ordered the destruction of all vineyards, as his high Priest Deceneu suggested.
Today, February 15th, skiing & snow conditions are very good on all slopes of Poiana Brasov, of which most used are Bradul (beginner level), Lupului (advanced), Drumul Roşu (intermediate/beginner) and Sulinar (intermediate). Snow measures 100cm (~39in) on Postăvaru Mt, 90cm (~35in) on the Bradul slope and 75cm (~30in) in Poiana Brasov.
Ghost Fest 2012 is a complex event to be held on July 13th and July 14th, 2012 at the biathlon field in the city of Râşnov, right at the bottom of medieval Râşnov citadel. Ghost Festival is a new concept which offers listeners a mix of folk music, ambiental, post-rock, metal and beyond, a new experience, creating intercultural bridges between various forms of arts and recreational activities in a natural setting, away from the crowded cities.
Romania has it’s own equivalent of Valentine’s Day celebrated in early spring on February 24th - Dragobete, the name of the local counterpart of Roman God of Love, Cupid or the Greek God, Eros. Dragobete is the protector of love, joy and fertility.
Henry Boye
(Source: kismetdao.com)
When cold weather swirls in, nothing could be cozier than a toasty mug of mulled wine. Extend your weekend or, even better, start a new week with traditional Romanian hot wine (“vin fiert”) and enjoy laughs and cheers with your friends at Kismet Dao Hostel. Feel welcome to share your own recipes of vin brulé, vin chaud, Gluhwein, gløgg, kuhano vino, svařák, quentão or any other variation of this winter classic you might be familiar with.
