Pre-Christmas in Brasov II

The breathtaking view

After spending the previous day in Brasov it was time to go around its surroundings. On the next day we had an early fast breakfast, took our luggage and proceeded to Bran to see the popular Dracula's castle. Going out of the city I enjoyed one of the best pictures I've seen - we were in the fields, the sky was clear and blue, it was sunny and the snowy peaks of the mountain were right across us. I live close to the mountain but I rarely remember such a view!

In 15min we were already in Rasnov, a small town near Brasov. Before entering the town we saw a fortress on the hill above it and we decided to see what it is. We ended at a big parking where we bougth tickets for the wagon tractor that was about to take us to the top of the hill. Of course you can go on foot but we couldn't miss to ride in such machine. Soon we reached the fortress where we paid 15 lei/ person to enter. It is a medieval fortress and it has perfect location - view to 360 degrees. It's like a little town with streets and even there are souvenirs shops. You can also receive touristic information inside.

Romanias love to put signs, style "Holywood"

The strange vehicle

Around the fortress streets

Bran's Castle

Time was passing and soon we were on our way back to Bran. In the middle of the town there were parkings on both sides of the road saying: "Parking of the Castle" inviting you to stop and use their service. At least it was cheap - 2 lei/ hour. For the only 500 m we had to walk to the ticket booth, we passed through dozens of stands selling souvenirs, clothes, hats, wine, food, everything you wish. We didn't miss to warm up with hot vin fiert. And there is was - the Castle! To be honest I'm a little bit disappointed of it. Maybe after the castle of Peles I'll hardly love another castle so soon. But they're different - one is older, the other is more luxury and so on. Inside was interesting because of the many towers and stairs we climb, like a labyrinth. On the walls of the last 2 floors are written the legends of Vlad Tepes. The funny thing is that Vlad Tepes has never lived in that castle but this is the castle described in the famous novel by Bram Stoker - "Dracula". That's why it is so popular.

The yard of the Castle

There was no much snow unfortunately

When we went to Rasnov fortress we saw a sign to Poiana Brasov, the famous ski resort and on our way back we decided to visit it. It was only 10 km far from the city and soon were high in the mountain in the luxury resort. Most of the hotels were in Alpine style, some of them had beautiful lakes, others offered amazing gardens, even in the winter. Somehow, we entered in a restaurant (it didn't look like restaurant from outside but we followed a couple) and we were so surprised of the interior - the roof was low, the chairs were made of logs, covered with lambskin and there were musicians, playing Transylvanian music. Actually we were looking for the toilet but for few minutes we forgot why we were there!

One of the hotels

In the crazy restaurant

Last view to Brasov

In the late afternoon we were again in Brasov where we spent the rest of the day. It was hard to leave the main square so we had a chicken soup in one of the restaurants there. Then, we found our hotel and after a short rest we went out for dinner. I recommend restaurant Ceasu Rau, typical Romanian with nice atmosphere, really kind staff and good prices. It was so cold already but after dinner we visited club Times on Strada Rebuplicii where we run accross a band, playing alive clasical rock music. We couldn't have asked for more.

And that was it - the whole next day we spent in traveling home. It was short but so amazing and fun trip. I stay with warm feelings about this land Transylvania and people there.
Two years later, I had the chance to know more about Medias and Sighisoara but that in another article.

Pre-Christmas in Brasov I

Piata Sfatului, Brasov and the Christmas market early in the morning

When it comes about Christmas, people, mostly in Europe, think of visiting Prague, Paris, Vienna, Nurnberg, etc, all those places that are very famous with their Christmas markets and Christmas spirit. To live something different (and because of the great deal I found in internet) we decided to spend few days in Brasov, Romania.

Welcome to Romania, Danube bridge, connecting Bulgaria and Romania

We left Plovdiv early in the morning and proceed to Ruse where we passed the bridge over Danube and went on to Bucharest. All the way we were so careful not to miss the exit to the ring road of the city but unfortunately we did it and we entered Bucharest. At the beginning I was so disappointed because we wanted to escape from the traffic and also we were in a hurry to reach Sinaia before they close the Castle of Peles. It took us one hour to pass through the Romania capital but later we talked to some guys that had passed the city through the ring at the same time and they told us it took them 2 hours! Obviously the road is narrow at some places and there are a lot of traffic lights that stop the traffic. We were so happy we choose the "wrong" way and we managed to reach Sinaia on time. About 30 km before the wonderful resort, we entered the pass in the Carpathians and we passed through lovely little villages and resorts - they were all decorated for Christmas, only snow was missing.

On the road between Bucharest and Sinaia

Finally we found the Peles Castle. It is hidden in the mountain above the town and stays so majestic between the trees. I couldn't stop watching it. And I didn't need to as we had to park the car about 500 m far from it and we could enjoy it while approaching it.
The Castle was built by the Romanian king Carol I in the middle of  XIX century by the project of the German architect Johannes Schultz. The rooms inside are fantastic - there is a dining room, different from the breakfast one, a dance hall, play room (where there was a theater and later a cinema), even a Turkish room and so on and so on. Luxury jets from everywhere. There were 2 mirrors in one of the halls put in a frame of colourful, glass flowers and shined like diamonds. Unfortunatelly we were not allowed to take pictures. The garden is also amazing with stone statues.
Some touristic information: On entering the castle we were told to put on slippers over the shoes to protect it clean. And the entrance fee is not expensive - 20 RON (5 EUR) but is only for the first floor. If you want to visit all 3 floors the cost is 70 RON. The Castle works from 9 to 17 (last group is at 4 p.m. although we saw people entering half an hour later) and it's not working on Monday and Tuesday and it is also closed the whole November.

The gorgeous Castle

It was hard to leave the beautiful castle but it was starting to get dark and we had to move on. After about an hour we reached Bradet, the village where we stayed in the next 2 nights. The hotel was good, recently renovated, all in wood.

In the morning we jumped on the car and went directly to Brasov, 15 km far from that place. And Brasov is an amazing Transilvanian city.

View from the panorama terrace of Tampa hill

At the market

Was it because Christmas was coming or was it because of the sun but people were smiled everywhere, drivers were tolerant (as a difference from the ones in Bucharest) and the mood was high. For a day we walked around the Old City and saw some of its sightseeing. There was a Christmas market at Piata Sfatului (The council square), a big tree and they were playing Christmas music all day. We didn't miss to try vin fiert ,that delicious mulled apple wine and of course the sweet pretzels. We walked around the city walls and visited the White Tower as well as the Hunter Tower. The city walls were built in the middle of 15 century with 8 bastions and 32 towers. Some of them work as museums. The cherry of the cake that day was climbing to the highest point in Brasov - Tampa hill, where there is a spectacular view to the city from a panorama terrace, situated just next to the sign of Brasov. We climbed by the cable car that is situated just next to the Hunters Tower and a round trip ticket cost 15 RON (or about 4 EUR). People say it's a nice one hour walking up to the hill but we didn't have much time and also it was my first time in a cable car. We also had a coffee in the restaurant just next to the window watching the red roofs of the buildings.

Selling vin fiert

The north part of the city wall, on the way to the White Tower

Another interesting place for visiting is Casa Muresenilor, the family house of the famous Romanian family Muresanu that is now turned into a museum. The family has lived there for 5 generations and many of its members were in the high culture circles - musicians, politicians, newspaper editors, etc. The house is located just opposite the square. Do not miss to visit also Biserica Neagra (the Black Church) and the Romanian Orthodox church, both located at the main square. On the west side of the city's wall are both Schei gate and  Catherine gate. They are built in 13th respectively 15th century. The Saxons first established the city and the Germans were living inside, while Romanians were living out of the walls, in the Schei district and they had to pay taxes to enter.

Catherine's gate

It was enough for that long day, we left some things for the next one and went back to the hotel.

Delicious papanas

There was a Romanian folk band in the restaurant, playing folk music and it was a nice evening with a jug of red wine. Everything was fine, including the wonderful dessert that I try for the 3-d time in Romania - Papanas with cream and jam (something like donuts, you just have to try it), until the moment when we ask for the check. In the hotel offer was included the dinner, they told us we can order up to 50 lei and everything above that sum we have to pay. OK, but according the waiter we had to pay 37 lei more and according my calculations - only 10 lei. I had to ask him several times to come and explain me why. He reduced the bill twice until we reached the correct one, inventing different reasons of this "misunderstanding". It was so ugly thing - to try to lie us for 6 EUR. The next morning he came to appology but of course he didn't  confess his guilt and he said something about the computer didn't work properly. Anyway, I'm glad it was the only bad thing that happened at this trip.

On the next day, we left for a day trip out of Brasov to visit the famous Dracula Castle, Rasnov Fortress and the Ski resort Poiana Brasov.

My friend - the reindeer Rudolph

My first impressions of Romania

As a neighbour country I have always wanted to visit Romania but never been so impatient about that. My first visit was in 2009, a day trip to Costanta and I have to admit that it was just the same I imagined it - a big city at the Black sea.

Constranta port

Sure I compare it with Varna, the biggest Bulgarian city by the sea and only 100 km south of Constanta. They have so much in common - the port, buildings, Dolphinarium, there is a luxury resort next to each of them. I wasn't surprised at all that in the restaurants we could eat the same salads with the same names. Although we speak languages from different groups, we are so similar to Romanians, maybe because we are all orthodox and have alike culture and traditions, I don't know.

The casino

A central street close to the Folk Art Museum

On our way to Constanta, we entered from Silistra, a historical town by the Danube river. The traveling was around 2 hours but the road was terrible - pavement alternated with concrete slabs with large gaps between them. I felt I'm in Bulgaria or even worse sometimes. We passed through poor villages, all the houses were around the road, little and shabby. Going back to Bulgaria our way was by the Black sea where we were driving on a highway, definitely different from the previous route.

Part of the road

My feelings about Romania didn't change, I saw people live the same way as we do. But I changed my mind an year later when I visited Cluj Napoca, a lively city in North Romania.

This time we crossed the Danube river and in less then an hour we found ourselves at the bypass of Bucharest. It was early in the morning and there was almost no traffic. The next hour we were driving on the highway Bucharest - Pitesti, normal and comfortable. But then, we passed through the worst road I've ever seen - holes and turns everywhere. It was even dangerous because everybody was driving like crazy. Then came the passage in the mountain and after 2 hours we were in Sibiu - Voila! Unfortunately, we didn't have time for stopping and we went on our way. What I noticed was that the routes were already in great condition. Maybe you'll say that I pay so much attention on the roads but believe me - when you're in Bulgaria and Romania you will also do it.

View from the restaurant

Anyway, we arrived in Cluj in the early afternoon and after the meeting we had, we could enjoy the city from a restaurant on the top of a hill. Just lovely! I compared this view with my home city - Plovdiv, probably because it's also situated on hills. We tried nice wine and some delicious specialties. The evening ended at the lobby of the hotel with rum and coke.

The next day was for city tour. And just after it I became so keen on Romania. No,the right answer is Transilvania. It was completely different place from Constanta - architecture, museums, history, everything. People there have the Western European spirit, cultural and are very polite. I'll just give you a simple example: It happens rarely in Bulgaria and what I saw in Constanta and our traveling round South Romania too, that a car stops on a zebra crossing. But in Cluj Napoca they do it. Just the whole atmosphere is not the same. It's not that I didn't like Constanta but it was not so charming for me.

Already in Cluj

After all, I realize again that one impression you have can't be indicative, especially in a big country. That's why I decided to do a 5-6 days trip in Romania (Bucharest - Sibiu - Brasov - Drakula's Castle - Danube Delta) and see more of our neighbour country, to know people better, their characters in the South and in the North. Special regards to my friends in Romania - Codruts and Petruta!

Almost 2 years after visiting Cluj, I have already spent few days in Brasov and the area around - spectacular places!