A Travel Writer’s Travel Blog

There are several possible routes to get to Bucharest by car, from the western part of Romania. Three of them are absolutely gorgeous and it’s rather hard to decide which one to take.

The Transfagarasan is the highest and most dramatic national road (DN7C) in Romania, connecting Sibiu to Pitesti (Transylvania to Wallachia). The road climbs to 2,034 meters altitude, with its most spectacular part being in the North section, but the road is only open between late June and early October, because the rest of the time there’s always snow in the area.

So many people end up taking DN7, the shortest route connecting Transylvania to Bucharest. One scenic part of the drive crosses the Southern Carpathians along the River Olt Valley. The area is dotted with monasteries, spas, lakes, hotels and places to stop and take photos (and trust me, you need a lot of space on your card!).

Close to Calimanesti (a well-known spa destination), there’s Cozia Monastery, erected by Mircea cel Batran (ruler of Wallachia between 1386 and 1418). The monastery is one of the most valuable monuments of medieval architecture in Romania. Although it is possible to pray in the monastery, it also doubles as a museum, featuring old manuscripts and prints, objects of worship, embroidery and Mircea cel Batran’s tomb. Behind the monastery, there’s river Olt, an incredible site for taking photos of the valley and the mountains.

The entire section which passes through the mountains is spectacular, with S-curves and sudden climbs and drops. You are really tempted to stop every couple of km to take photos and enjoy the mountain air.

The third route passes through Brasov, along the famous ski resorts. This (DN1) is the most crowded route all year round.

>>read more about the Most Scenic Drives in Europe

May 16, 2009

Nefertiti Club, Arad, Romania

Entrance: 15 lei (abt US$5)

Me & hubby are not the kind to go clubbing that often but last night we were asked by some friends to tag along. And we gladly accepted. I didn’t know about the event but LOVED that we managed to see one of our fav band in concert.

Nefertiti Club opened the summer season yesterday at the Strand Location. Crowded as usual , some technical hick-ups but, over all, nice. I remeber seeing them in concert maybe 8 or 9 years ago when they were not famous all over the country.

Hubby managed to take some photos and film but we haven’t downloded them yet (today, promise).

Cute bunny in front of the Town Hall, Apr 19, 2009.

Square in Front of the Town Hall, Arad

Copyright @ Ady Dima

The Town Hall on a spring day

This news gives me great joy! Finally there’s a train linking Bucharest (Romania’s capital) to its international airport (called “Henry Coanda” but commonly -still- known as Otopeni).

Each day, a train leaves Gara de Nord (North Train Station)  every hour, starting from 5:15 a.m. until  10:15  p.m. The route is: Bucharest (Gara de Nord) -  Chitila - Mogosoaia - Balotesti. From Balotesti, you’ll take the bus to the airport.

The joruney takes about 40-45 min. The price is 6 RON (about $2) and you’ll be traveling in modern trains and buses. The price includes both fares.

It started to snow on Christmas Eve…by Christmas morning the snow was enough to look nice [see photo below]. Then it started to be freezing…way too cold for my nose. -6C/21F for the past 3 days is not exactly funny or nice. The scenery looks great but the cold is not something you might want to face.

I should be brave enough to go out and take some photos but I’m still reluctant to do so.

On my way to my parents

Copyright by Ady Dima

Yup, the Christmas tree is up in front of the Town Hall. It’s going to be decorated tomorrow (Dec 3) and lit on Thu.

You can watch live images here.

For whatever reason I kept forgetting to post abt this…as we stayed in a hotel and the weather was downright horrible in Bacau (RO) we took the taxi cpl of times to go to the Mall. Well, to my surprise, some forgot to use the meter. We asked the lady at the reception to call a taxi for us and we knew how much the fare was to the Mall..in some rare cases they did use the meter but in some, they don’t! Btw, they have several tariffs as there are several companies.

On the other hand in my town, Arad, they always use the meter. And the fare is the same for all companies, except the private taxis (which are a HUGE scam but you can easily spot them).

So, in case the driver doesn’t start the meter politely ask them:

“Nu porniti va rog ceasul?” / Can you please turn on the meter?

If they refuse, then get out of the car. They cannot force you to stay in.

So yesterday (Nov 21) it was cold and rainy and the forecast said - and still says - that today would snow. What do you know? I woke up to see a LOVELY sun! Granted it’s 3C/37F at 1 PM but there aren’t any signs of snow!

You can check this webcam yourself.  It’s on top of the theatre , right by my apartment.

Gotta love winter here though. It “may” snow but for example in 2006 it snowed for 2 days in November (on my wedding day to be exact!) and that was it . I don’t remember any snow last year!