We stayed overnight in Căciulata, a small town north of Râmnicu Vâlcea. The river Olt runs through both towns, and the area is well maintained and clean. Căciulata is very small; there really was nothing to see, so we went back to Râmnicu Vâlcea, the city that received the questionable […]
Romania , travel
Polovragi and Costești
We stay in Polovragi overnight—the place is near the Pologravi Monastery, but we decide not to go inside. Instead, we visit the cave, Pestera Polovragi, which is located in a gorge which was carved by the river Olteț. It’s an impressive landscape. The cave is a little walk away from […]
culture , Romania , travel
Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu is known for the Brâncuși Ensemble of sculptures. Constantin Brâncuși was a Romanian artist who made career in Paris; he is considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century and a pioneer of modernism. Brâncuși grew up in a village close to Târgu Jiu, so […]
Romania , travel
Bigar Cascade, Băile Herculane, Orșova
We make a fairly big detour in order to see the Bigar Waterfall. To get to it, we walk along the road for a few minutes after parking our car on a deserted parking lot—deserted of cars and people, but there are two dogs that greet us, friendly and hopeful […]
culture , Romania , travel
Alba Iulia, Reșița
Alba Iulia’s tall three-dimensional white cross is a monument that was built as a tribute to the Great Union between the regions that now make up Romania; the union act was signed in Alba Iulia in 1918, and thus a unified Romania was founded. Cathedral of the Coronation (bell tower […]
culture , Romania , travel
Brașov – Black Church, Poarta Schei, Strada Sforii
We took a little break in Brașov and just enjoyed some leisure time. I found a fantastic coffee shop, the Book Coffee Store, where we spent an enjoyable time. Then we went into a spiritual store with buddha’s and essential oils etc, followed by a stop in a little pastry […]
culture , Romania , travel
Bușteni – Gondola, Ialomița Cave, Sfinx, Babele
We were at the Telecabina around 9:30 in the morning; they’d had to clear ice of the cables in the morning, so we were glad we didn’t get there earlier. The next gondola left at 10:00 am; we went to get a coffee nearby for the wait. The gondola ride […]
culture , Romania , travel
Sinaia – Peleș Castle
The first stop on our road trip through Romania is Sinaia where we visit the Peleș Castle. It is built in the German Neo-Renaissance style as a summer residence of the first king of Romania, Carol I of Hohenzollern. The castle is pretty from the outside, especially in the winter […]
Bucharest , culture , Eastern Europe , Romania , travel
Bucharest – Ceaușescu Mansion (Spring Palace)
The museum Casa Ceaușescu shows how the Ceaușescu’s lived privately during his reign. Ceaușescu was of of course Romania’s communist leader from 1965 to 1989, when he was executed during the Romanian revolution. This mansion is also called Palatul Primăverii, the spring palace. Already from afar, we hear the peacocks […]
Bucharest , Eastern Europe , travel
Bucharest – Cișmigiu Park
Parcul Cișmigiu is a lovely park, and the spring weather draws everyone out. I cannot even begin to express how nice it is to crave being in the sun again, to enjoy the warmth on my face and get out of my jacket because it is so warm. I love it. […]