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River Cruise 2022
  • Lacey Travels
  • Lacey Travels

River Cruise 2022

Bucharest to Amsterdam - Viking River Cruise with Pre and Post extensions. Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 14, 2022
    Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    One of the many parks.
    A little after 5pm.JW Marriott Grand Hotel, Bucharest

    Bucharest, Romania

    October 15, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Bucharest is a very leafy city with lots of parks which are well-treed. The city shows signs of the Communist era, particularly in the housing. There are also many new buildings.
    After a 7.9 earthquake in 1977 levelled large parts of the city, Bucharest has been rebuilt with little high-rise. Bucharest rests on the intersection of 3 tectonic plates. The road system is impressive with major arterial roads flanked by cycle paths and local service roads. We are staying at the JW Marriott Grand Hotel.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    The leaves are beginning to turn
    An oil refineryThe small rocky river follows the roadRound-about sign

    Outside Bucharest

    October 16, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Once we leave Bucharest, we are travelling through agricultural land. The houses are bigger and most are single dwellings with well-cared for gardens.
    The Plioesti area is the hub of Romania’s oil and natural gas industry. In WW2, Romania was the main supplier of oil to Germany and as such was heavily protected. We have a short break at a local shopping centre. The photos show some scenes as we roll by on the coach. Check out the roundabout sign.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    A rural property near Sinaia
    Gorgeous autumn foliageThe market in Sinaia.Our lunch campanions, Larry and Chris, from the US at the Bulcegi Restaurant, SinaiaHotel Bulcegi, Sinaia

    Comarnic

    October 16, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We head through Comarnic which is the gateway to the Carpathian Mountains that mark the boundary of Transylvania. The river valleys are very narrow and the steep mountain sides cause flash flooding to occur. Houses are largely built up on river-stone foundations to a level above anticipated flooding, In this area, there are mobile alerts automatically issued for fires or bear sightings.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    Pele's Castle
    Guests entered through the gates into this inner courtyardThe walls are painted with whimsical designs....and intricate carving

    Pele’s Castle, Sinaia

    October 16, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    The former summer home of King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, the castle was built between 1873-1914. The royal family came here to the Carpathian Mountains to escape the oppressive Bucharest summer heat. It is now a museum containing fine arts, furniture, stained glass windows and weaponry.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    Lighting in the foyer was the first "electrical" lighting in Transylvania.
    Busts of the King and Queen in the hallwayThe first armoury room - a knight/soldier's armour including the horse.Huge collection of weapons mounted on the armoury wall.The study - a standing desk and informal work areaThe music room - how many instruments can you find?The library - quite dark to preserve the books. There's a secret door in here too.

    Interior - Peleş Castle

    October 16, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Interiors are more pared back but still ornate. Some obviously ostentatious pieces. Woodwork is intricately carved. Stained glass windows in the music room depict Roman Fairytales. So many people here on this sunny Sunday afternoon.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    A typical rural house beside the highway
    The narrow rocky streams that flash-flood.Autumn foliage

    Through the Carpathian Mountains

    October 16, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    The Carpathian Mountains encircle Transylvania. They are the 3rd longest European mountain range. The rugged grey cliffs of the southern Carpathian’s form the backdrop for a winding mountain road into Transylvania. Again, rivers are narrow and rock-strewn. In spring-melt and heavy rain, they would flood quickly. The autumn foliage is well-coloured.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    Brasov sign high on the mountain behind the Square
    The streets of Old Town, walking to the SquareThe Black ChurchThe Town Council building built 1385-1477The facade of the Town CouncilStreets of the old townPrestigeous old buildings surround the square. A funnicular goes to the top of the mountain.Fountain in the Town Square is a cool, quiet place to congregate.

    Brașov Council Square - the Old Town

    October 16, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Brasov is the capital of Transylvania. Founded in 1211, Brasov was located at the intersection of the trading routes between the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe. The Black Church is the largest Gothic structure in Romania. Its walls were darkened by the Great Fire of 1689, hence the name. A very old city with a very modern future - many of the allied military industries are located here, making helicopters and aeroplanes. The old town settles next to the new town. On Sunday afternoon, it’s a family day with many inter-generational groups out and about enjoying the balmy weather. We walk thru the old town streets to the Town Council Square.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler

    Rural Transylvania

    October 17, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    Not far out of Bucharest, we are into wide open spaces where farming is the major industry. It’s the season to harvest potatoes and cut the wheat. On many farms there is a quite primitive work pattern, harvesting/planting by hand, manually-wheeling using carts, a few small tractors. Animals appear to graze at will with few fences even along roadways.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    First glimpse through the trees.
    Walking towards the CastleClimbing the steep cobblestone walk to the entrance.Climbing the entrance stepsThe east face from the gardensClose up of the east faceThe north face cops the bad weather but here is the exit for the underground tunnel.Lovely gardens surround the castle

    Bran Castle from the outside

    October 17, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Bran Castle is a fortress built along a key trading route. It is commonly known as Dracula’s Castle, from the Bram Stoker novel. There is no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle. There are slight associations with Vlad the Impaler who is said to be the inspiration for Dracula. The Castle is now a museum which displays the art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler

    Bran Castle - the Courtyard

    October 17, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Louis I of Anjou, King of Hungary, ordered the building of the fortress in the 14th Century. It was to be a customs collection point and quarantine station at a strategic transit point between the East and the West. During the Communist era, the castle changed from a royal residence to a state-owned museum.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    Arch of Triumph in Bucharest has 6 lanes around it.
    Entering Victory Square....We have moved a bit!8 minutes later, we get through.Cars park wherever there is a space, mostly on the footpaths.Random parking

    Traffic in Bucharest

    October 18, 2022 in Romania ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    With more than 3 million people, and 2 million private cars…..the parking spots in Bucharest are less than 1 million. So cars park wherever they can. Traffic is nuts and very congested at 9am. Takes us ages to navigate Victory Square and the Arch of Triumph.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    The palace as you enter throught the gate.
    This side of the palace fronts the river.A very picturesque settingThe Watch Tower and the KitchenSt George's ChurchThe church entrance

    Mogosoaia Palace

    October 18, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Mogosoaia Palace is just about 10 Kms from Bucharest. It was built between 1698-1702. The palace was built for a wealthy family but was devastated by the Ottomans 1768-1774. It was later granted to the sovereign prince of Wallachia. The Palace was bombed by the Germans in WW1 but was reconstructed in the late 1920’s-30’s. The palace was passed down through the prince’s family and in 1931, when Prince George died, he was buried in the small white 1688 chapel in the grounds. Inside, people had to don plastic shoe covers which were very slippery on the marble floors. Not allowed to take inside photos, but an eclectic mix of furniture and art, not ostentatious at all.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    The entry path with the symbol for the Romanian Christian Orthodox faith.
    Just before the bridge....a carved sign for this historic siteThe founder of the MonasteryPainting in the entry archwayThe side of the monastery - it's very smallAnother carved timber piece in the grounds with the ever-present dogs.

    Snagov Monastery

    October 18, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Snagov Monastery stands on a tiny island in a lake just outside Bucharest. Local tradition states it is the burial place of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It was originally founded in the 14th century. The inside of the church is ornately decorated with frescoes from floor to ceiling. Vlad the Impaler was the Prince of Wallachian. Historians and archaeologists have tried to prove whether the body is indeed buried under the flagstone, but all they have found is a mix of horse and human bones and nothing confirms Dracula’s interment here. The locals firmly believe it is so. The custodian of the monastery is a single monk who lives onsite with several animals, including ostriches, horses, cats and lots of dogs.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsRiver Cruise 2022Traveler
    The entrance
    Working on the roofWorking on the roof on the other side as well

    The Village Museum

    October 19, 2022 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    The Village Museum is a large park where buildings from all around Romania have been gathered and reconstructed to show how people lived throughout the centuries in this country. They are working on replacing the roof of the main entrance. Note the lack of safety precautions.Read more

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