River Cruise to Romania

Newest first

River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Ruse
May 30 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
The port we stopped at is Rouse, however we left by bus for Arbanasi. First couple of pics are where we stopped for coffee and treats.

In this town is where we went thru the oldest house. It was a rich Ottoman house.. Something like Heritage park in Calgary.Read more
3 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
No pictures inside!
May 30 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
This church, a short walk from the house we just viewed is Christian, but built during the Ottoman period. That explains its short stature. Inside, all walls are covered in fresco paintings that have been restored.Read more
5 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Hike (Slow walk)
May 30 in Bulgaria ⋅ 🌬 24 °C
Veliko Tyrnovo

Tsarevets Fortress is well attended on a sunny Saturday. Our bus riding group is generally in the way when we disembark and alight the bus and woe to those who are stuck behind our slow walking gaggle trying to make it to the top of the fortress.Read more
4 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Last evening on the boat
May 30 in Bulgaria ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Tonight we were invited to have appies and drinks with the Capitan.
That is all 150 of us!
After dinner we watched some Bulgarian folk dancing then to our room to pack up as the suitcases had to be picked up at 7am,Read more
3 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Crazy long drive
May 31 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
We arrived in Olenita where we left the boat and on to a new adventure by bus.
Today was a long drive from our port in Romania. We stopped a couple of times to use the washrooms, but 2 busloads makes a longer wait for anything. Romania has agriculture like we see in Alberta, sheep but I haven’t seen any cows yet. Around the cities you see the remains of a manufacturing industry that was never upgraded during the communist times. There is still some manufacturing today, on a smaller scale.

Sinaia is a town in the mountains and reminds us of Banff. It has church at the top of the town and a fortress that surrounds it. The architecture of the town reminds you of a Bavarian village. That is because at the time, this area was inhabited by mostly Germans. The royalty is of German descent and that later influences alliances as the politics of Europe change.Read more
3 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Peleş Castle
May 31 in Romania ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Peleş castle is nicely preserved and situated in the Carpathian mountains. The descendants of the Royal family still own it and earn some income from tickets sales. Queen Victoria’s granddaughter Marie married Ferdinand who was crown Prince of Romania. She became queen of Romania. The palace is over the top. We heard through our guide the history of the palace and stories of the Romanian Royal family. Quite engaging.Read more
2 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Prejmer Fortified Church
June 1 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
The church here was first built in 1201 by Teutonic Knights. Later the community around the church became the fortifications for the church itself. Our guide Bogdan said that this area was invaded about once every ten years on average. The fortified church and community had over 250 families living in the compound.Read more
2 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Activity outside the Fortress
June 1 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Storks! We saw many stork nests on this trip. This is the best one.
Monday was International Children’s Day so lots of families were seen doing fun activities!
4 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Old town Brasov
June 1 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Brasov was a walled city. We toured on foot and stayed for lunch. We found a couple of places to buy souvenirs and spent a pleasant afternoon in the old city.
Since it was International kids day the square was busy with children participating in “marathon” races.Read more
3 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
The Black Church, Braşov, Transylvania
June 1 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
This is one of the largest Gothic Lutheran churches in the region; earning its name from a 1600s fire and decorated with murals and Ottoman rugs.
That piece of information of the interior was from the internet as we did not go inside (one church too many) on this trip😃 We went for lunch instead!Read more
TravelerGood idea lol
4dReply
2 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
A visit with Dracula
June 1 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Bran castle is associated with Dracula. It looks foreboding and has secret staircases along with creaky floors. It is certainly not the friendliest looking place and fits in with the mythology surrounding Dracula.

We ended up having supper in the tea house at the foot of the castle.Read more
TravelerScary all right !!
4dReply
TravelerYou guys must be on “historical overload”
4dReply
2 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Bran Castle at night and dinner
June 1 in Romania ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
After our tour we enjoyed a lovely Romanian dinner in the Tea House.
2 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Checking out Bucharest
June 2 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Bucharest, the Paris of the East. On arrival we checked out a few locations in Bucharest.

Before we arrived our guide Bogdan related a story from his childhood. He was five years old in 1991. His dad had just purchased a refurbished colour TV. Prior to this they had only watched a black and white one. Bogdan was fond of a show called Firebird and was looking forward to seeing it in colour. They turned on the TV for the first time just as Firebird was airing. Bogdan said the colour was amazing, as the bird was rising in the opening sequence, smoke began rising from the back of the TV. This was superb effects and 5 year old Bogdan was very impressed with the new TV. Others were not so impressed and Dad intervened by unplugging the TV. The TV was returned and replaced with one without smoke effects.Read more
Travelerlol
2dReply
3 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Interesting luncheon
June 2 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
This restaurant was huge, had an outside patio and inside it was a converted church. We were treated to musical performances during lunch.

The cabbage rolls were delish, but too much polenta. Desert was an Apple Pie.Read more
2 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Strvopoleos Monestary
June 2 in Romania ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Located in the centre of old Bucharest this Heritage site was an Eastern Orthodox monastery established in 1724.
3 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
1
An evening in Bucharest
June 2 in Romania ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
We left our hotel together about 5 pm. The streets had been busy earlier and we noticed fewer people out and about. Lots of seats available at the outdoor restaurants. I figured it would stay that way and maybe even get quieter. WRONG. As the sun set more and more folks came out. It got noisier and more active. By the time we finished our meal there were not too many seats available at our restaurant. The city was lit up nicely.

The hi-lite of the evening was when we treated ourselves to the famous Romanian double donut….papanasi! It is a second donut inside a larger donut with sour cream and blueberry preserves. Pretty delish. We shared one as they are huge!Read more
TravelerBeautiful night pictures 👍
2dReply
TravelerThank you Gunnar😊
1dReply
Traveler Yummy
1dReply
3 likes
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
Morning walk….saying goodbye to Romania
June 3 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
It is a travel day, so we said goodbye to Bucharest and Romania with a morning walk close to our hotel. We really like Bucharest and think the pictures express why. It is old and colourful, it blends new with old in an easy manner. The people are friendly are working to make Bucharest and Romania a better place. It feels good to be here.

Our hotel in Bucharest was pretty nice…nice way to end our holiday in complete comfort.Read more
1 like
River Cruise to Romania Traveler
What a great trip…final thoughts
June 4 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We left Bucharest late in afternoon and arrived in London. We parted ways with Liz and Alan and made our way to our airport hotel. Had a quick bite to eat and hit the sack as we needed t be at the airport early.

This was an excellent trip with good friends Al and Liz.
Every stop offered a new adventure. All European countries are full of history. Leaving Romania after listening to our guide describe the last months of the former communist government, makes me grateful for the change they made to the Romania of 2026. The corrupt, media controlling, authoritarian government was tossed. Romania is now part of the European Union. I see similarities here where I live and I’m optimistic that things can change.Read more
1 like

Trip end
June 4, 2026