David Johnson US – ‘WOW’
April 25, 2006
‘Romania is truly a hidden treasure. Not only does she offer breathtaking natural beauty, one of a kind sites, a fascinating and deep history, but the people, customs, and traditions are the crown jewel. The Carpathians, and particularly the Bicuzul gorges, certainly provide a spectacular scene that rival any I have seen.
Places such as the Merry Cementary, the Painted Monastaries, and The Parliament Palace are alone worth the visit – the hike up the 1480 steps to The Poenari Fortress will be duly rewarded, especially on a clear day. The gates of Maramures, the painted glasswork of the peasants, and the numerous travel chapels are simply remarkable. I was also fascinated to learn about how the micro histories of the different villages and provinces have effected the macro history of today’’s Romania. The people are warm, friendly, and quite hospitable. Perhaps what I took away most from my trip is how the country’’s history has influenced the way these wonderful people think – and the stark contrast between young and old.
After heading out on my own, I met a group of five people in Constanta who took the time to show me around their town, take me to a soccer game, drive me to the train station, help me with my bags onto the train, and tell me how to avoid getting ripped of by the cab drivers waiting for me outside Gara de Nord in Bucharest – they actually called a friend in Bucharest on my behalf. Two of them are getting married in September and I have been invited to attend. In regards to the services offered by Adventure Transylvania; I can only say that they exceeded my expectations. In this day of hidden costs, I was quite impressed that this did not come into play. When they say you should only have to pay for souvenirs, they mean it! They provided drinks for the longer drives, paid for internet cafes, and even covered the cost of some otc medication.
As expressed in some other postings, Horia proved to be flexible to those things I wanted to do, he assisted in finding a particular item I wished to buy (which wasn”t readily available), made phone calls on my behalf, helped me with travel plans beyond their service, and patiently sought out a bank that would cash my traveller’’s checks. I also must credit his driving skills. He picked me up shortly after a big snow storm and managed to navigate the slippery roads with exceptional skill.
There is no way I would have been able to either navigate the roads, or find all the places we saw without his expertise. He was knowledgable, and proud of his country and maintained his enthusiasm throughout the trip. He is intelligent and has a unique perspective on the state of Romania – given that he remembers life in the pre-Revolution days. This was the first time I participated on an extended tour, and I must say that they have set the bar high for the next one!
Overall, this vacation goes to the top of the list, and that is because of the people. From Horia to the lady at the Hotel Eladia, to the old woman I met on the train, to my new friends in Constanta; the people were all gracious and have left an indelible impression on me – and I”ll never forget our brief glimpse of the wolf trotting through the trees! Thanks Horia, thanks Adventure Transylvania, and thanks Romania. I will see you again…David
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