Holidays in Romania




If you're reading this post you're either Romanian and you already know what that means or you're not and simply curious about how that could be. Or that you’re nostalgic about your holidays period.

I've just (2 weeks ago) come back from 3 weeks in Romania, the longest holidays I've spent there since my college years.  Out of these, 1 week was spent on the road: getting there, leaving and  travelling from one place to another. For those who know the country a bit, my family doesn't leave in the capital nor in a highly touristic place: as I like to say, they're 250km away from everything (the mountains, the sea, Bucharest - the capital).

Therefore based on my "broad" experience of travelling to and within Romania, I wanted to share some tips with you, Romanians and/or curious about travelling to Romania:

1/ don't trust Google maps for taking you from one place to another. They didn't even seem to have noticed the best road from my town to Bucharest even existed. Especially, don't take the shortest given itinerary, it is highly probable it is very bad. Take main roads or ask a friend.

2/ anticipate meals on the road. There are 3 highways but even there don't expect resting areas with good or even fast food. If you want to really eat well, stay away of the roads and go into the (big) cities  - or make your own sandwiches

3/ get ready to be surprised. Beauty is everywhere, in the nature, in people, but again - don't stay on the main roads. I would even say that poor roads preserve beauty in its purest shape.

4/ if you ever have the occasion to participate in a Romanian marriage (especially in Moldova region), just do it. And if you're there, get into a "hora/sarba" (a traditional dance danced in circles, with a1-step forward 2-step backward easy choreography): you might be able to feel One with the group.

5/get ready to experience the award of eating : walk, run, work and then get to a village and eat your well-deserved dinner or whatever. You will be grateful for being able to experience food like never before.

6/ borrow some traditional clothes and go to church (or mosque/ geamie) if you're in the Delta region, thanking for what you have..

I'll stop here for now - but you got it - travelling is all about experiencing, opening all your senses and getting ready to be surprised (or not - for some, Romania might never open its spiritual gates, who knows why..!)

And you, what’s your experience of travelling to Romania ? Do you have any tips to share with a wider audience ?

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