Expecting New Year's Eve

Outside is snowing just like in a fairytale. Inside the fire in the chimney is warming up our souls.
Is great to be in an enchanted chalet, surrounded by snowy mountains and the sound of carols...
And here is our snowman.

Merry Christmas to everybody!

Poiana Brasov, a Great Place for a Winter Holiday

A place which I always visit during winter time is Poiana Brasov.

Poiana Brasov, in German Schulerau, is a great winter resort situated in the heart of Bucegi Mountains, Romania.

 Poiana Brasov is wonderful during winter time. There are 12 great ski slopes having various degrees of difficulty and many skating rinks. At the base of every slope there are many places from where you can rent sky equipment at very affordable prices, starting from 10 euros per day. 

The traditional restaurants are amazing. If you are a foreigner you will be enchanted by the Romanian food and also by the beautiful Romanian carols sung all over the resort during Christmas time.

You can find accomodation at all prices, depending on your budget: from luxurious hotels (which include in their offers spa services or free pool access) to the coziest rooms in fairytale guest houses.

If you are young and restless you must know that Poiana Brasov has a very active night life. The discos, pubs and clubs in Poiana often organize thematic parties (like Dracula or Medieval parties).

You won’t get bored in Poiana Brasov. However, you cannot miss the surroundings of Poiana: 

 Brasov (at a few kilometers from the resort)- it is a medieval city, with many touristic attractions to visit, among which the Black Church.

Bran Castle (at 20 kilometers from Poiana Brasov)- the place where Dracula legends come to life.

Predeal Resort (44 kilometres distance)- another great place for skiers.

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital of Romania. The city is situated in the south-east side of Romania,on the banks of Dambovita river.

Bucharest dates back from 1459, becoming the capital of Romania in 1862. It is the biggest city in Romania and also the main political, financial, administrative, educational and cultural center in Romania. The city expands on an area of 228 square kilometers in which there live 2.021.000 citizens.

The name given to Bucharest by the Europeans in the past was " The Little Paris", due to its architecture and rich cultural life. Bucharest has old cultural traditions, the first university, Saint Sava, being founded in 1694. Bucharest is also the first European city which received in 1862 public illumination system using kerosene.

What to visit in Bucharest?

In Bucharest there are 45 museums, among which The National Museum of Natural History Grigore Antipa, The National Military Museum, The Village Museum, The National Art Museum, The Museum of Art and History of Bucharest, The Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Cotroceni Museum and many others.

The "old city" is known as Curtea Veche and includes Manuc Inn, the streets: Covaci Gabroveni, Selari, Sepcari and Lipscani- the first handicraft and commercial area of the city, situated in the historical center of Bucharest.

In the central areas of Bucharest you can also go for a walk in two of its oldest parks: Cismigiu (1850)and the Botanical Garden (1884).

There is also a unique building in Europe that must be visited: Casa Poporului (The House of People), which is one of the biggest constructions in the world.

On the other hand, if you are a religious person (and also catholic or orthodox one), you will find many beautiful churches to admire in Bucharest.

Entertainment and Shopping

There are lots of places where you can go shopping or have fun in Bucharest: malls, shopping centers, an endless number of clubs, pubs or coffee shops. You won't get disappointed by Bucharest from this point of view.

Accomodation

There is a wide range of accomodation offers in Bucharest: from cheap hostels to luxurious and very expensive hotels. The prices for one night stay vary from 12 euros to 475 euros/ night(in a decent 5 stars hotel).

What you might not like in Bucharest

The roads- if you consider your car to be really precious, don't bring it to Bucharest. However, there are many options of public means of transport you can choose from while visiting Bucharest.

The poorly maintained old buildings- they might have been wonderful in their glory times, but now they just bring disappointment in the heart of any Romanian citizen crossing the main boulevards in Bucharest center.

 The lack of parking spaces- this is one of the greatest problems of Bucharest citizens. However, be careful where you park your car!

Too much garbage on the streets- Unfortunately, the streets of Bucharest are not as clean and tidy as we wish them to be.

In spite of all these things, Bucharest remains a wonderful destination for one's holiday. Every place in this world has its ups and downs and the Romanian capital is no exception.

My opinion is that if you truly want to know how Bucharest is like, you should visit it and draw your own conclusions.

A Weekend in Disneyland, Paris

Have you ever thought of visiting the magic Disneyland? Well, I did and for this reason I tried to find as much information as possible about it.

Where is Disneyland situated?

Disneyland is situated in the East side of Paris, Marne-la-Valle. There are however 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Disneyland to Paris center.

What can you find at Disneyland?

There is Disneyland Park- the land of classic fairytale adventures and Walt Disney Studios Park- where you can experience the life in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. Both of them expect their visitors with lots of surprises. 

In winter time, starting from 7th of November 2010 until 6th of January 2011 you can take part in the Disney Enchanted Christmas. Santa, a huge Christmas tree and the frosty castle of Sleeping Beauty are all there to guide you into the magic world of fairy tales. 

Accomodation

If you do not find accomodation elsewhere in Paris,  there are seven themed Disney hotels where you could stay during your visit in the land of adventures. The prices start from 144 euros for 1 night, breakfast and two days Disney park access.

Shopping and Entertainment

Disney Village is full of great restaurants and stores. Here you can even spend a relaxing afternoon at the hotel pool or try your luck on the tennis or golf course.

Live concerts, shows, an amazing fun park, Paris tours- I believe they were all created to bring joy to our souls.

Find out all the information you need  for a Disney holiday here.

Dream Destinations for Christmas

Every year we wonder where should we spend our Christmas or New Year's Eve. Of course, the most common idea for Christmas is to spend it at home with all the family gattered around the Christmas tree.

But again, maybe this year I could do somewhere different. I could go in a wonderful place that I haven't seen before in my life.

Here are some of my options:

New York, the City of Lights

The most spectacular Christmas destination is of course New York. Bright lights, a huge Christmas tree placed in the RockefellerCenter, ice rinks full of people, colourful shops and Christmas songs- represent the perfect recipe for an extraordinary holiday.

Vienna, Austria
Vienna is a traditional European destination for Christmas. Evey year, here are organized nine Christmas fairs where tourists can find traditional foods, special offers and unique Christmas souvenirs. The most famous of all is placed in front of the City Hall, Rathausplatz.

Bondi Beach, Australia A different kind of Christmas

I have also thought that it would be interesting to spend Christmas on a sunny beach. So, I found the perfect destination for such a "winter holiday", Bondy Beach in Australia. I think that it is great to bathe in the foamy waves and get tanned while in your native country is freezing cold and snowing.

Vatican, Italy: A Magic Christmas

During Christmas time, Vatican is host for thousands of pilgrims from all over the world  who come to receive the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the Pope.

Rovaniemi, Finland: The home of Santa Claus

It is every kid's dream to visit Santa's home land. Rovaniemi, situated in the northern Finland, is the place where all the Christmas gifts are created and prepared for delivery by Santa's elves.

Why not restore the magic of childhood and fulfill your wish to meet Santa and his reindeer?

 


Bethleem, The place where Jesus Christ was Born

I believe that this would be the most appropriate destination for Christmas. I know that nowadays we are more inclined to see Christmas as the ideal opportunity for extensive shopping, but we shouldn't overlook the essence of this holiday.

For this reason, I consider that the most impressive Christmas destination can only be Bethleem , the birth place of Jesus Christ.

How to choose the best GPS for you

When you decide to go on a holiday you need a good guide to help you not to get lost.
The GPS devices seem to be the best option no matter where you wish to go. They are easy to use and so useful that even a mole would find its way on a sunny street.

What makes the difference?

The Software
Well firstly, the most important aspect of a GPS device is its software.

The Voice
Then, the voice of the "guide" - it is the best to have the guide speak into your native language. In case you are not a full time translator you might get lost.

Easy Route Guidance
Another thing I look for on a GPS is the "easy route guidance".Too many options mean, most of the times, not an easy gadget to administer.
I generally use the GPS to guide me to historical places in a town, to places where I could grab a snack , markets or gas stations. This feature is available on almost all basic GPS devices.

The Display- The Bigger, The Better
You don't want to stare at a tiny digital map. Most of the times the vocal guidance is not enough when you are abroad, so you will need to look on your GPS display in order to find out if you are on the right route or not.

The possibility of uploading maps
This is one of the most important features of a GPS. If you cannot upload maps, you won't be able to upgrade your GPS. I like the GPS devices which are equipped with as many maps as possible so that I would have the most detailed image of the city or region I am visiting, no matter where that it would be.


The Price
The most expensive is not always the best.

The Most Beautiful Places in Romania

The Most Beautiful Places in Romania

What do you know about Romania? Well, let me tell you that Romania is one of the most wonderful places in Europe. You can find here everything you desire: lively landscapes, mountains adorned with thick forests of fir trees, rivers delimited by picturesque plains and hills, the Black Sea, unique in the whole world and last but not least, the Danube Delta. 

General Information about Romania

Romania is a small country situated in the South-East side of Europe. Its neighbors are: Ukraine and Moldova Republic in the East, Bulgaria in the South, Hungary in the West side and again Ukraine in the North. 

Its relief is composed of mountains (31%), hills (33%) and plains (36%).  The climate is temperate continental with oceanic influences in the West and Mediterranean features in the South-West. The annual average temperature is between 8°C and 11°C. Romania features four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter and it is wonderful in any of them.

The Romanian people is one of the most hospitable in Europe. Even though Romania is a poor country and maybe you will not always find the comfort and luxury other places in Europe offer, you will be surely charmed by the Romanian traditions, foods and drinks and also by the various entertainment choices you will find here.

Here are 9 places in Romania that should not be missed, if you consider yourself a true traveler:

The Apuseni Mountains

The Apuseni Mountains hide some extraordinary places, truly unique in Europe, such as Ponor Castles, Scarisoara Glacier, The Bears Cave, The Wind Cave, The Dragons’ Gate Cave and the famous Moti Country.

The Danube Delta, a wonderful universe is composed of more than 1, 200 exotic species of trees and plants, the richest ornithological fauna on the European continent (more than 300 species) and 100 species of fish (mentioning the Danube herring and sturgeon). The Danube Delta is one of the largest wetlands in Europe. In 1990 UNESCO included the Danube Delta in its heritage in order to protect it from the progress of industrialization.

The Monasteries of Northern Moldavia

Due to their beauty and unicity, the painted monasteries of Northern Moldavia: Voronet, Sucevita, Moldovita, Putna- are part of UNESCO World Heritage.

Castles

Peles Castle, Pelisor, Bran and Corvin are just a few castles that are worth visiting in Romania. Even if most of us are ordinary people and not princes and princesses, nothing can stop us from dreaming about it when entering the Hall of Mirrors of Peles Castle.

According to a legend Dracula was a casual visitor of Bran Castle. The chambers of this “haunted” castle form a mysterious maze and in its interior yard there is a fountain that connects with the underground hiding places.

Black Sea Coast

There are approximately ten main resorts on the south coast of the Black Sea which expect tourists from all over the world during summer time. The Romanian seaside is among the few places in Europe that offer sunny beaches throughout the day.

The Romanian beaches fall gently into the sea, making it possible for tourists to stroll along the sea shore. The sandy beaches are generally naturally formed, having a width of 50 to 500 meters. But the beaches are not the only tourist attractions of the Black Sea. There are solar radiations which have stimulating and therapeutic effects upon our skin, the sludge used for various diseases and the salty water that cures respiratory problems. This great combination of water, sand, fresh air and sun is benefic for one’s organism, sometimes doing wonders for those coming to restore their health.

Maramures

Among the most important tourist attractions in Romania there can be also mentioned The Pietrosu Pick (2303m) and Gutai mountains, which are part of an volcanic mountain chain. Iza Valley and Marei Valley are some trails that offer tourists the opportunity to visit many of the Maramures wooden churches and gates. While in Maramures, tourists can also visit Friza Lake, Ocna Sugatag Lake, Borsa Spa Resort and the historical artifacts Stephen’s Tower in Baia Mare or the Mery Cemetery Sapanta.

Transfagarasan

Cartisoara, Balea Lake Waterfall, the Transfagarasan tunnel, Capra waterfall, Vidraru lake and dam, Poenari Castle and Stan Valley are just some of the places you could admire if you go on the Transfagarasan. The beauty of this region cannot be explained in words: visit it and you’ll become overwhelmed with amazement.

The Medieval Towns

The best preserved medieval cities in Romania are Sibiu, Brasov, Sighisoara, Timisoara, Cluj, Medias and Feldioara.

Sibiu, for example, is one of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania. Its special charm is given by the fact that Sibiu is a “museum town” which evokes the old times of its amazing history. Here, you can visit Piata Mare, Turnul Sfatului (the Council Tower), Brukenthal Palace, the Evangelical Cathedral, the castle walls and towers.

Praid Salt Mine

This is one of the greatest salt mines in Romania, dating back to the Roman times. The air in the salt mine is highly ionized, thus, very effective in curing respiratory diseases. 

The Muddy Volcanoes

Alien, strange, moon like relief: the Muddy Volcanoes represent a magic landscape you mustn’t miss. You can find them in Berca, Buzau County.

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