RAVIs: July 2015

ROMANIA JUNE 2015

11-Jun, Thu, Day4 – Dep for Bucharest today.

After Break Fast went to see Kings Hill or Tsarevets Fortress as it is part of City. Then drove to Arbanassi village which is on top of hill. A nice drive of 30 mins.

The Village is still having old houses but converted to commercial hub. It is believed to be most expensive real estate in the country. Thereafter drove to Ruse which is border city of Bulgaria. Reached at 13.00Pm and met our Romanian guide. The Border crossing was a breeze. Just a min to get the passports stamped. Drove through Bucharest City for Night Stay at.

Tour Route

Tempo Hotel, Calinescu No. 19, Sector 2, Bucharest

The Hotel is good and very near City Center. Must take Room on 5 or 6 Floor else the Tram running in front of the Hotel will disturb your sleep from mid night to early morning.

12-Jun, Fri, Day 5 – Started at 0900 for Curtea de Arges . It was under renovation. Also saw 2 old Churches en route. Reached Sibiu at 16.15 hours for two night stays.

Curtea de Arges

City Centre Sibiu

Lucky to see part of Intl Festival of Theatre.

Stayed at

Continental Forum Sibiu, Piata Unirii, no. 10,

Excellent Hotel next to City center.

13-Jun, Sat, Day 6 Day trip to Sighisoara . The drive of approx 95 km is very good. The old town area is very nice. You can climb the Tower and have a good view of city around. Be prepared to climb few stairs and walk around the old city.

Sigisoara

From Top of Tower

Sibiu at Night

14-Jun, Sun, Day 7 – departed from Sibiu for seeing the Castle at Hunedoara. Reached at 12.00PM Also saw the Gypsy wedding procession and their village.

Castle

Gypsy Houses

Reached Alba Lulia at 13.40PM. In the evening went for walking tour of old city. Stayed at

La Maison de Caroline, Strada Primaverii nr.11 ,former Rubin Patitia ; Mobile: 0752 624 766 ;

A very very nice Hotel but away from City Center.

Alba Lulia

15-Jun, Mon, Day 8 – Started for Turda salt mines at 09.00. Reached mines at 10.30 and took 2 hours to see the mines. These mines are MUST see. The small water body in the bottom is 317 meters below the surface. It has boats for a ride. Mines have low temp during summers too. You climb down Two stories and take elevator (for6 Persons only) to half way, which is 13 stories down. Then again another elevator (for 4 persons only) which is again 13 stories down to the bottom.

Turda salt Mines

There after drove to Cluj Napoca for lunch break. Saw the City Centre and had Lunch.

Cluj Napoca

Started from here at 13.30Pm and had short break at Bai Mare at 17.30PM. Also saw enroute the wooden church with highest tower. The wooden church was made by a single man.

Reached our Guest Room in a small vill at 18.40PM. Dinner time was with local folk show. Stayed Night at

A village Guest House, Vada Izei.

The Guest House is real good stay. The lady takes great care of you.

16-Jun, Tue, Day 9 –Today we explore Maramures. Visiting Sapanta Cemetry, This cemetery is unique in world having colourful tomb stones showing who is the person buried here and what work/trade he had.

There after saw the Memorial Museum and local village activities like washing Carpets by water stream making whirlpool etc

View From Room Balcony

Wood Carving from Single Piece

Night Stay Guest House , Vada Izei

17 Jun , Wed day. Today it was drizzling and we drove on the way 15 km to Barsana Monastry. Later drove to Vill Ciocanesti. The vill has has all its houses painted beautifully.

Reached Gura Humorului for night stay at 4PM,
Stayed at

Casa Humor Aleea Stefan cel Mare, Nr 5B, Ph 00755.965780

It is good hotel near Veronet Monastery but about 1 Km from City Center.

18-Jun, Thur Day 11 . Full day to explore the painted Monasteries. All monasteries are fully painted from Outside as well as inside. These monasteries now do not have Monks but have Nuns, hence are nunneries.

Fields

Saw Veronit Monastry and Sucevita Monastry and then drove to village for Lunch with the world wide renowned lady for egg painting, Lucia Condrea. She has converted her home into a museum housing painted eggs from many countries. No pic can be taken. After Lunch we saw Moldovita monaestry and Gura Humorului. The shopping near Gura Humorului Monastery is good do little bargain. Night Casa Humor

Scenic Route

with Lucia

19-Jun, Fri Day 12 It is a long drive day. Left for Brasov at 08.30 . Reached

Bicaz Gorges at 11.30 and Red lake at 12.30. The Red Lake is now green, as the natural lake was Red initially due to iron rocks which had oxidized. Had snacks and drove for Brasov.

Reached Brasov at 16.15. after little rest went for walk to city center which was next door to Hotel.

Teaching Yoga to Guide En Route

stayed at

Armatti Hotel Long Street no. 5, Brasov 31000; +40 368 443 200

A very nice Hotel and next to old city.

20-Jun,Sat Day 13 – Today we drove from Brasov at 09.00 to Bran Castle. Reached at 10.30. Bran Castel popularly known as Dracula’s castel has no relevance whatso ever to Dracula. It was a castel at the border for collection of Entry Fee. Later it became a summer resting place for Queen Marira. We started again at 11.30 and went to see Peles Castel . we reached at 13.00 . It was infact a palace for summers for the kings. It has a entry ticket and guided tour of about 45 Mins in which they show you ground floor and few rooms on first floor. We started for Bucharest at 14.00 and reached at 16.00.

Bran Castle

Pele Castle

stayed at

Tempo Hotel, Calinescu No. 19, Sector 2, Bucharest

21-Jun, Sun Day 13 had full day. Went around pedestrian area and to a Mall. Late check out and left for airport at 16.30. Flt departed at 19.05 with halt at Doha from 23.35 to 01.35 .