Romania Experience

Yet more proof Jeremy Clarkson is an ignorant b*****d!

Advantages: Beautiful scenery, friendly people, very cheap
Disadvantages: Too many misconceptions from people who haven't been!

I must confess that my inspiration to write this piece was watching Jeremy Clarkson's ignorant ramblings on this week's Top Gear episode filmed in Romania, less than a week after I myself returned from living and working in the country. This isn't going to be a run-down on what there is to do in Romania, there are countless travel sites for that. Nor am I going to solely trash Clarkson's somewhat skewed views, I can save that for a thougthfully-worded ...
...with you some insights from someone who has lived in this fascinating country and seen it for what it truly is. My first hours in Romania were a total culture shock. From arriving at the newly-refurbished Otopeni airport I was transferred to my new home in a tiny Transylvanian village, along the way travelling through the suburbs of Bucharest and picturesque mountain comunes. A lot of what I saw made me uncomfortable. I was very nervous to see what ...

bamamo 16.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of General: Romania

Bucharest - don't overlook it!

Advantages: Lots to see and do, loads of cultural and historical stuff, fairly cheap
Disadvantages: Traffic, lots of concrete

...are, perhaps, three reasons that Bucharest has not caught the imagination of travellers in the same way as those cities. The first must be due to the reputation the city has as a dangerous crime-ridden place; certainly, television documentaries showing children living in underground stations and openly sniffing glue on the streets can not have done anything positive for the city's image. Second, Bucharest does not have the well-known "Old Town" other ...
...buildings in the centre of Bucharest were bulldozed in order to make room for the huge monstrosity that was the bricks and mortar symbol of Ceausescu's regime, ironically named "the palace of the People". Finally, the overthrowing of the Communist regime in Romania was much less peaceful than the events in other countries and it was played out on our television screens. Anyone old enough will surely remember the images of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu ...

fizzytom 10.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Bucharest (Romania)

skiing in Poina Brasov

Advantages: cheap ski holiday
Disadvantages: not for faint hearted

Just recently arrived in ski holiday, which in fact my very first ski holiday experience. I was a bit worried as i really dont know what would it be like wheather, i may come back with some broken bones or hated it . landed in Bucharest airport at 8pm, collecting luggage was hassle free. immediately seen our tour guide and we drove for 3 1/2 hours to the ski resort. During the journey our tour guide explained everything where to change our money, ...
...near the ski resort , very clean and good value for package holiday i must say. the following day we done as what we told to get measured for boots . then off for skiing lesson !!!! Ist day, was not a good experience at all, my foot and shin was aching and was really about to give up as i was always behind the group. 2nd day, i started to get used of wearing the whole gear, believed or not as soon as i was able to moved i started to enjoyed it. ...

piggy2006 29.01.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Poiana Brasov

Colourful Romania

Advantages: Beautiful scenery, inexpensive
Disadvantages: poverty of local people

Romania is a country in transition. Evidence of its communist past abound, especially in the cities where the hideous grey blocks of flats are still in use. Once out in the countryside the poverty is still there but the true Romanian character is more visible. Areas differ depending on the background and religion of the local people. Houses are colourful, many embellished with fantastic woodwork. They make great use of their land, every home seems ...
...where people sit and chat to their neighbours. They have not caught up with their western counterparts techincally yet, much of their agricultural work is still done by hand and horse and carts are a frequent site on the roads. The castles are a huge draw for tourists. Especially Bran which is touted as Dracula's castle which it is not in fact, he had only visited Bran, his true castle lies in ruins. But Bran is interesting to see regardless, but ...

maryjayne 01.04.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Transylvania (Romania)

The Carpathian's Cultural Centre

Advantages: Lots of history, proximity of the mountains, caters to tourists well
Disadvantages: Getting more expensive, quite hilly

...of the historic centre of Brasov, a large square with fountains and plenty of seats to rest, enjoy an ice cream and admire the wonderful buildings that line the square. The Saxons referred to this as the Marktplatz and it is the Germanic influence which is most evident in these buildings. The Council House stands alone like an island in the middle of the Square. It dates from the fifteenth century but its tower is even older; known as the Trumpet ...
...into the Saxon part of Brasov, Romanians were only allowed to use Porta Schei. They were not allowed to own property within the fortress proper and so they started to build houses outside the walls and were forced due to space constraints to start building up the hillside. We had to walk though these wonderful cobbled lanes in order to get the centre from our accommodation on the hill and it is really scenic and worth a wander. Brasov has several ...

fizzytom 09.01.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Brasov, Romania