• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

05. 04. 10. - 16:00

• more Travel news...
• RSS Feed Travel

05. 04. 10. - 16:00

´Romania is not a plastic tourist attraction´

Romanian Times

"Romania is a country and society, not a plastic tourist attraction," summed up American Professor John Petersen, who was one of the tourists to take part in a trip to Transylvania, organized by the company Bredeson Outdoor Adventures.

He added Romania was a "memorable adventure."

The Transylvania hiking trip consists of seven days in the famous region organised by Deborah Lewis, who includes Transylvania in her hiking trip offers.

John Petersen recalled: "I enjoyed Sibiu, where I spent time, and Brasov - a lovely city. Sighisoara was also beautiful, as was the rolling countryside and surrounding small villages. I am a great fan of Ursus beer and drank plenty while there. "

"My feeling was (and still is) that Romania is a great "undiscovered" place to go, that it has lots to see and wonderful out-of-door venues."

"What impressed me most was that Romania ‘fits together’. It is a culture and has a sense of place, with great landscape as a setting."

"It is not a plastic tourist attraction, but a living, breathing neighborhood that is fascinating to engage, see and enjoy."

John Petersen worked in Romania in the mid-1990 as a consultant to USAID, an agency of the US Government, but then he spent most of the time in Bucharest.

His first trips to Transylvania made him want to return there:

"I was impressed by the natural beauty, the architecture, the history and the people."

The mix and the history of the different cultures in Transylvania is one of the attraction points for Deborah Lewis too, who included Transylvania in her offer of hiking trips at her company, Bredeson Outdoor Adventures.

Deborah Lewis said: "I am particularly interested in the Saxon history and cities, the fortified churches, and the continuing German influence."

"I loved the rural landscape with wild flowers, the wonderful old barns and stacks of hay, the farmers we encountered on our walks, the beautiful fields bordered by fences."

"I speak German and had a wonderful conversation with the older woman who was our tour guide in one of the fortified churches and her memories are very poignant as she describes both her older world and the world of her grandchildren."

Deborah believes the effort to celebrate the villages in Transylvania and to promote arts and crafts as a sort of agri tourism are "interesting and wonderful."

"I loved the contrast between the horse buggies next to the road with fast sports cars going by. "

"The hilltop castles were also very beautiful. The wild nature and the closeness of bears is quite wonderful. "

The communist "left overs" - like unattractive factories and farm communes - "were a shocking contrast to the beauty of the rural landscape".

Until now, the Transylvania trip is the only hiking trip organized to Romania, by bredeson.com. Deborah said all trips are tailored to the group’s needs.

A Transylvania itinerary included seven days of hiking and traveling through rural areas and intact medieval villages. The trip includes a peek at Transylvania legends, too. Peles and Bran castles are included in the itinerary and the story of ruler Vlad the Impaler, the model for Count Dracula, is disclosed. The Unesco World Heritage city of Sighisoara and the medieval fortified churches in Viscri are other wonders to be discovered. Also, a trip on the famous Transfagarasan road is a purely adrenaline voyage.

Deborah Lewis said: "This package cost $2500 per person double occupancy and has an all inclusive land price: airport pick up and drop-off; all meals; transportation by mini-bus; entrances to castles; guided hikes; hotels."

"My tours are available to any English speaking guests. I could also offer private tours to guests in other languages since my local guides usually speak other languages as well."

For more information, please check : www.bredeson.com and http://www.bredeson.com/outdoor_adventures/hikes/hiking_transylvania.html.

Health minister considers taxing fast food and beer
The new Health Minister Vasile Cepoi said today (Thurs) that the next Health Care Law might include a new tax on fast food and beer, local press informs.

Romania wont ratify ACTA
Romania will not ratify the highly controversial (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)ACTA until the agreement won't be altered as to comply with demands recently formulated by the European Court of Justice, the minister of Communication Dan Nica told a press conference today (Thurs).

Romania wont ratify ACTA
Romania will not ratify the highly controversial (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)ACTA until the agreement won't be altered as to comply with demands recently formulated by the European Court of Justice, the minister of Communication Dan Nica told a press conference today (Thurs).

Government to introduce ‘Robin Hood’ tax on oil companies
Minister of Economy Daniel Chitoiu announced today (Weds) that the government is working on a piece of legislation on introducing a supplementary tax on the exceptional incomes of the oil companies that should be passed by the year end and implemented as of 2013.

Education Minister stepps down amid plagiarism accusations
Ioan Mang, the education minister appointed only two weeks ago together with the new cabinet of Social Liberal Union (USL) leader Victor Ponta, resigned Tuesday (yesterday) night.

Brancusi’s son doesn’t want his father remains to be moved to Romania
John Moore, the only child of sculpture Constantin Brancusi, reacted to Romania’s intention to repatriate the remains of his father, saying his last will was to be buried in Paris at Montparnasse, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Weds).

Romania back in recession, growth to resume in H2
Romania officially entered recession today, following the figures published by the National Statistics Institute (NSI) that show a decrease of the GDP for two consecutive quarters (Q).

Police head sacked over underground boss runaway row
The head of the Romanian Police Liviu Popa (picture) was sacked today (Tues) by Home Affairs Minister Ioan Rus, the ministry informs.

UK Ambassador Harris says new Cabinet took right decisions so far
The UK Ambassaodr in Romania, Martin Harris says Victor Ponta’s new government got off on the right foot by making clear that its economic policy will continue to be framed within the programme agreed between Romania and the EU, World Bank, and IMF.

Carmen Sylvas x-rayed hand to be auctioned
A x-ray of the left hand of Romanian Queen Elisabeta will be auctioned in Bucharest by Artmark auction house, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Tue).