Romania travel information

Romania: a colourful mosaic, a gate between east and west, a much-desired land of the ancients, a pure fascination. In Romania people of different nationalities have co-existed in peace for centuries. Here no visitor will feel alone or unwelcomed as the hospitality of locals comes from the bottom of the heart. In this rich land you'll find fancy seaside resorts, alpine mountains, meadows colourful beyond belief and wild forest as far as the eye can see. The mysterious Transylvania is not only home to Count Dracula but also a place rich in castles, peasant fortresses and fortified churches. The Eastern sense of time and customer service will be an adventure in itself. Undoubtedly Romania will offer you a marvellous time and memories you will never forget. Exploring Romania is your practical guide investigating Romania's spectacular scenery, its outdoors activities (hiking, cycling, caving, horse riding and more), its history and its cultural and spiritual heritage. Here you'll be introduced to the Romanian people. Everything from their customs to their traditional handcrafts and even their humour. A Romanian proverb says "good thoughts always pass first through your stomach". So, in the traditional Romanian hosting spirit, you'll be invited to try Romanian food and wine. Explore Romania as a fairytale. ... because Romania is a fairytale. Yes, right! you'll say. It really has all the necessary ingredients. Adventure. Fabulous characters placed in a wonderful, sometimes mysterious background. Good guys and bad guys. Sorry, my friend but there is always at least one bad guy. Because all good things would have no value if bad things disappeared. So, I feel responsible to tell you the whole story. If you fallow me you'll discover white points as much as black points, each one in its place. Something you know and you can avoid won't be a bad surprise, will it? Huh! I lost myself. Back to the fairytale... Do you remember "The Beauty And The Beast"? It was my childhood favourite fairytale. And still is. If you'd be the Beauty and Romania the Beast what should you do? I'd say to forget the ugly face and explore Romania's gentle, warm and beautiful soul. Just give Romania your big hug and a happy kiss and the miracle will happen. Dare to explore Romania and you'll have a story to tell your children. Or better, exploring Romania with your children means a story for your grandchildren.

Christmas in Romania is a unique experience to explore Romanian customs. Christmas in Romania is unique. Ancient times customs are kept at the countryside. There are more then 2000 year-old customs from our Dacian ancestors mixed or overlapped with Christian's traditions. And it isn't only the Christmas Day. It's a long row of holidays about. Each one with its own meaning, customs, stories and superstitions. You can see Christmas holidays on short (that means 3 days between 25 and 28 of December) or in a large sense, the way Romanian people see them (19 days between 20th December and 7th January). In fact I'd say we have a messenger of all this holidays on 6th December, Niculas Day (Saint Nicholas Day). For Romanians Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus are two different characters. Next comes Ignat Day on 20th December. A sacrifice day. Pig sacrifice day. Reading my childhood memories about Ignat Day you'll find out the whole ritual. Or maybe you're interested in Ignat Day's customs and superstitions. This day is the opening one for the whole chain that will come: Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve customs and superstitions of course, Christmas Day, New Year Eve, Sanvasiu (Saint Basil's Day), Boboteaza (Epiphany Day) and finally Santion (Saint John's Day). There is plenty of food and drinks on the tables these days. Of course, special Christmas food. And if you ever wish to try some of the Romanian Christmas recipes I can assure you they are very tasty. But let's go back to traditions and customs. I don't know exactly how is in English but we talk about tradition when a custom is spread all over the country. And we talk about a custom when is only a local custom applicable only to a local area. Romania is a little country but it has many tradition and countless customs. You can read about specific customs on each holiday page. But I think traditions deserve a special space. In chronological order we have: Colindul - Carols' trail Dubasii - Drummers' band Steaua -The Star Capra - The goat Ursul - The bear Plugul - The plough Irozii, Vicleimul - Nativity Drama Sorcova All this traditions complete the paint of Christmas in Romania. Food and wine could be the best. But if you don't see a live show of at least one custom you can't feel the magic. The magic of a Christmas in Romania.

Romanian food - simple and so delicious. Romanian food is your guide through Romanian traditional dishes you can eat in restaurants but also other traditional foods you can find especially at countryside, some of them going to disappear. Interested in special Easter food (what is the "lamb holiday") or Christmas food (being the "pork holiday")? Interested in Romanian food recipes? I'll give you some of my grandma's recipes. First of all Romanian food is based on pork. Well, not all! We use chicken, fish, beef and mutton, too. But we love pork. And we use ingredients that can be found everywhere in the world. Then... what does it make Romanian food so special? Back to history. Romanian territories were occupied by Turks, Hungarians, Austrians, Poles, Russians. And we are still a Latin people. Where in the world would you find such a mixture? At countryside people still use clay vessels and cast-iron kettle for cooking. Dishes prepared in this manner have a unique taste. And we still use vegetables and verdures untouched by last discoveries of genetics. They have the taste your grandma knows and you must be lucky to remember it. That's why I think it's a pity to arrive in Romania, go to restaurant and eat pizza or Chinese food only because you don't know the meaning of those Romanian names for food or you're afraid they use ingredients that might hurt you. So please check my tips and advice for a Romanian food in Romanian restaurants. Other possibilities beside restaurants? No! We won't talk about buying food from stores or supermarkets. They have foods prepared after Romanian recipes but that is not quite traditional food. Why? They are made in a plant in large quantities. But we can talk about eating in a Romanian house. You can eat traditional food in every house at countryside. City people don't eat traditional food everyday. More. When they have guests (especially foreigners) they tend to show what great international dishes cookers they are. Just ask them cook for you a traditional meal and they'll be glad to do it. If you arrive in Romania on Easter or Christmas, no doubts, every Romanian family will have Easter food or Christmas food on their tables. For those who love to travel in mountains (or just pass through) I have to talk about Romanian cheese. This is a homemade cheese. Sheep cheese, cow cheese, buffalo cheese or goat cheese, doesn't matter. They all are great. And seems they are going to disappear soon.

By the way, if you're interested in tasting an Aussi goat cheese take a look at Bed-andBreakfast Farmstay Are you looking for a farmstay, bed and breakfast? Their farmstay and boer-goat stud is located in the most spectacular and scenic area, great wineries, restaurants and an area of great natural beauty. If you choose echo-travel way and you stay to a farm (well, you'll find few farms in Romania but for most of them I think household is the more appropriate word) you don't have to worry about the Romanian food. There will be plenty of traditional food. Very healthy and tasty natural food. Because at countryside agriculture is done like one century ago. No genetics alterations, no chemical fertilizer.