Ruse, Bulgaria

Posted on 2015-05-25 by andy

We traveled all night and arrived in Ruse, Bulgaria this morning and took a walking tour of the city. We visited the Ruse Museum of History that contained statues of Greek gods, Thracian helmets and Roman statues. We passed by the Court House, which was the Communist Party Headquarters, the State Opera House  and visited the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Later,  a few of use decided to walk around town on our won. We settled on a small restaurant and ordered some pasta and a fish plate and tried the local beer. Total price for three – the equivalent of $6.00!

Posted in Bulgaria, Day Four | Leave a comment

To the Black Sea and the MS Treasures

Posted on 2015-05-24 by andy

 

We set off early in the morning from Bucharest for Constanta and the Black Sea. We stopped in Constanta to look at Mozaic  finds from the time of the Romans and visited the National Archaeological Museum. We also stopped to see a mosque in Constanta. Then we visited the seaside resort of Mamaia, had lunch and stolled along the beach. Got my feet wet in the Black Sea. late afternoon we departed for Cernavoda to board the ship MS Treasure to begin our trip up the Danube. We had the Captain’s welcome reception and departed for Ruse, Bugaria at 7:30 PM. Dinner followed and time in the lounge before turning in for the night.

Posted in Day Three, Romania | Leave a comment

Brasov and Bran Castle

Posted on 2015-05-23 by andy

 

Early this morning we set out for Brasov-Romania’s 2nd largest city and Bran Castle. I took photos of the journey to the town and castle. We passed the oil fields and refineries. Summer and winter cottages and various sites along the route.

Brasov has many bohemian cafes and a mecca of restaurants. After a brief walk around we stopped at Sergiana’s restaurant for Transylvanian sour soup and a Romanian dish with grape-leaf wrapped rice and beef (sort of like stuffed cabbage). Then off to the Bran Castle.

This is the castle that housed Vlad  Tepes (the impaler) in 1462 when he was fleeing from the Turks. The castle has been used as summer royal residence intill the adication of King Michael in 1947. Because of the book Dracula, the castle has been designated as Dracula’s castle. The place was unbelievably crowded with tourist!

The present owners – descendants of the royal family, contemplating selling it for about $135 million. As we were leaving I purchased a bottle of local plum brandy. I will be trying it later.

Tomorrow off to the Black Sea and the river journey.

Posted in Day Two, Romania | Leave a comment

Pele’s Castle and Sinaia Monastery

Posted on 2015-05-22 by andy

Early start this morning to go to Pele’s Castle, the summer residence of King Carlo I. It’s the first European castle with central heating , electricity and vacuuming. Later we visited Sinaia Monastery, home to about 20 monks.The orthodox church dates back to 1846. It houses the first translation of the bible into Romanian using the Cyrillic alphabet.

Later we visited the Snagov Monastery and the lake island where Vlad the Impaler’s body, less head, is purported to be buried.

Later that evening we were served dinner in the Palace of Parliament.  Long Day!20150522_103657_7910 - Copy 20150522_104650_7917 - Copy 20150522_105539_7924 - Copy 20150522_105809_7927 - Copy 20150522_110630_7933 - Copy 20150522_111822_7943 - Copy 20150522_112026_7946 - Copy 20150522_113727_7953 - Copy 20150522_114515_0430 - Copy 20150522_115558_7956 - Copy 20150522_121618_7958 20150522_121655_7959 20150522_122055_7963 20150522_122121_7964 20150522_135808_7973 20150522_140812_7974 20150522_141625_7976 20150522_141850_7977 20150522_141937_7978 20150522_143447_7986 20150522_143541_7987

Posted in Day One, Pre-tour, Romania | Leave a comment

Touring Bucharest

Posted on 2015-05-21 by andy

Today I toured Bucharest with my new friends Don and Eleonore.  We visited Carl I Park (closed today), an Orthodox church and a tried to visit a Jewish synagogue. Had some trouble with that, since today  is like our Memorial day and all the churches, parks and some other places are on holiday for the festivities of St Helena. We visited the Opera House where we got to see the orchestra practicing. Then on to see the place where Ceausescu was giving a speech and was overthrown. then we went by the National History Museum where there is a statue of Emperor Trajan standing nude and holding a Dacian wolf. Later we walked to the Old Town area and had lunch at the Caru cu Bere. (the local beer was great too!) for some Romanian cuisine. Got some afternoon zzzzs! and then had dinner at  Marriott’s Steakhouse — Fillet minion and asparagus and local Romanian red wine.

Tomorrow it’s off to Peres Castle and Tragviste.

Posted in Pre-tour, Romania | 1 Comment

Arriving Bucharest

Posted on 2015-05-20 by andy

 

These are canned photos of the airport in Bucharest. I finally arrived at the hotel around 7 PM. I had to go across the street to take a photo of the hotel. It is so huge!. It is next to the Palace of Parliament the second larges building in the world- after the Pentagon in Washington DC. I’m  off on a tour of the city in the morning.

Posted in Beginning, Romania | Leave a comment

The Trip Begins Today from Reno Airport

Posted on 2015-05-19 by andy
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Waiting for the Carson Valley Airporter

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The airporter has arrived

It’s Tuesday morning. I’m at the Reno Airport,  waiting to depart for San Francisco for the flight to Frankfurt and Bucharest. As usual, the flight to San Fran is one hour delayed due to fog in San Fran.

May 20, 2015 at 1:30 local time .

Finally got to Frankfurt, Germany after another hour delay out of San Francisco. Waiting to board the flight for Bucharest. It seems to be on time so far – 30 minutes before boarding!

 

Posted in Beginning | 2 Comments