Have you ever heard of Romania? If not, shame on you – it has some of the most beautiful landscapes in Eastern Europe, and lots of traditions, foods and habits to explore. Despite what you might have heard, Romanians are a welcoming nation, and many of them – especially the younger generations – speak a foreign language. It is also a place you can visit on a tight budget – if you avoid luxury hotels and crowded tourist resorts, of course.
Romania is an interesting place to explore. The Carpathian Mountains draw a huge arc across the middle of the country, delimiting its historical regions. Outside the arc, to the East, you will find Moldova, a mountainous region with some of the most beautiful painted monasteries of the area. To the South there is a region called Oltenia, with vast plains where the best watermelon is grown in traditional ways. Oltenian people usually travel across the whole country to sell their merchandise – this is a tradition, too. Inside the Carpathian arc you will find Transylvania – this name might sound familiar, especially if you are a fan of Dracula, or the Rocky Horror Picture Show. This region is inhabited by various peoples – the Hungarian and Secui share this space with Romanians. These areas have completely different habits, sprung out from a different path – there is much more Western influence to be observed in their architecture and habits. Further to the West you find the Western Carpathians, with its incredible scenery and natural wonders.
Speaking of the natural wonders – Romania is home to the second largest river delta in Europe, the Danube Delta. It is a vast wetland, a protected natural reservation, perfect for hiking, boating and fishing. Or even hunting, if you find this kind of activities attractive. The Carpathian Mountains have a lot of mostly untouched beauty – the Sphynx, that resembles a face (or a skull) when viewed from the right angle, which is actually a natural rock formation, or the Babele (Stone mushrooms) in the Bucegi mountains natural reservation. The mushrooms’ official origin story says that they were formed by the winds, but many doubt the official story, especially because they are made of granite, which is a highly resistant rock.
The country has some of the best preserved castles and medieval villages in Europe. For Dracula’s fans the Bran Castle is a must see – although it was not ever inhabited by Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler), the Wallachian prince Stoker based his villanious character on, it has served as an inspiration for the depiction of Dracula’s castle in the novel.
So, if you want to have some unique experiences, but your budget is tight, you might want to consider visiting Romania – you will find lots of things to explore and see, and you will never be far from mobile coverage – you can continue to play your favorite online pokies at red flush casino australia.
