AT#868 - Travel to Transylvania in Romania

10/07/23 • 72 min

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Hear about things to do in Transylvania in Romania as the Amateur Traveler talks to Ela Palmer from WhereNextNomad.com about this historic and beautiful place that has much more to offer than Dracula stories.

https://amateurtraveler.com/things-to-do-in-transylvania/

Ela starts this itinerary in Bucharest but immediately hops a train to Sinaia, a beautiful mountain town in the Bussegi Mountains. Sinaia is known for its stunning fall colors and is home to two magnificent castles from the Romanticism movement of the 1800s, Peles Castle and Pelesor Castle. You can explore these castles, enjoy the charming town, and visit the 17th-century Sinaia Monastery.

After Sinaia, you can take a train to Brasov, a city in Transylvania that Ela fell in love with.

Brasov offers a variety of museums, and Ela suggests getting a ticket that allows access to 11 different museums in the area. Some notable museums include the Black Church, the Museum of Ethnography, the Museum of Urban Civilization, and more. The Black Church is known for its display of Turkish rugs donated by Saxon guilds in Brasov. Saxons were brought to the region to aid in the defense against the Ottoman Turks.

Brasov serves as a convenient base for hiking in the surrounding mountains, with cable cars available for easy access to stunning viewpoints and rock formations. Poiana Brasov, a ski resort located about 20 minutes from Brasov, is recommended for both skiing and hiking. Ela mentions enjoying hikes between Tampa and Poiana Brasov.

The best-known site in the area is Bran Castle. Ela does think this stunning castle is worth seeing. The castle is sometimes called Dracula's Castle but has little historical connection to Vlad Dracula who was an actual Transylvanian ruler. Ela advises against visiting during Halloween due to crowds.

Sighișoara is a smaller city compared to Brasov. It is a complete Saxon citadel with medieval streets, towers, and museums. Ela recommends the the Mystical Transylvania Museum where you can learn more about the actual Vlad Dracula and decide for yourself if he is a hero or villain.

The Carpathian Mountains and heavily forested Transylvania surrounding Brasov are home to one of the largest bear populations in Europe. Ela shares their experience of bear watching from a hide near Zărnești.

Ela suggests continuing the journey to other places like Cluj or visiting the Turda Salt Mines.

This region of Romania has become one of Ela's favorite places in Europe. See if you don't respond the same to the mountains, forests, castles, and picturesque cities of Transylvania.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/things-to-do-in-transylvania/

After Sinaia, you can take a train to Brasov, a city in Transylvania that Ela fell in love with.

Ela suggests continuing the journey to other places like Cluj or visiting the Turda Salt Mines.

This region of Romania has become one of Ela's favorite places in Europe. See if you don't respond the same to the mountains, forests, castles, and picturesque cities of Transylvania.

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Previous Episode

AT#867 - Touring Finland by Train

Hear about travel to Finland as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer Jayne Dear about a one-week itinerary to visit the best of Finland by train. https://amateurtraveler.com/touring-finland-by-train/ Why should you visit Finland? Jayne says, "Many reasons. One of the most notable is that it's the happiest country in the world. For the last six years, it's been declared the happiest country in the world on the World Happiness Report. It's a beautiful country. You probably will have seen more trees than you will have seen in your life." Jayne starts us in the capital of Helsinki. She recommends visiting:

Helsinki Central Station: A stunning Art Nouveau train station with a 48-meter-high clock tower.
National Museum of Finland: This museum offers insights into Finland's history, including Viking relics, artifacts, and a Russian czar's throne.
Market Square: Located by the harbor in Helsinki, it's a vibrant place to witness the local food scene, buy fresh produce, and try unique dishes like moose burgers and reindeer soup.
Helsinki Cathedrals: There are two cathedrals to explore in Helsinki—the plain yet dramatic Lutheran Cathedral and the opulent Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, offering a contrasting religious experience.
Suomenlinna Fortress: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic fortress on an island near Helsinki was built to deny the Russians access to the Baltic Sea. It's a fascinating place to explore, with military museums, a submarine, and a lighthouse church.

While you are in Helsinki Jayne recommends a side trip to Porvoo which is located an hour from Helsinki by bus, Porvoo is known for its traditional wooden buildings. It has an open-air museum, showcasing historic buildings, churches, schools, and farms, providing a glimpse into Finland's rural past. Take the train then to Tampere which Jayne calls the "Manchester of Finland" due to its industrial history. Visitors can explore old warehouses, textile factories turned into museums and unique architecture like the Art Nouveau Fire Station. The city is situated between two lakes, offering picturesque views. For the best views, hike the nearby esker, a gravel hill left by the last Ice Age. While in Tampere, Jayne and her husband also did a homestay where they were able to learn more about life in Finland. Located in Parola, south of Tampere, is the Parola Tank Museum which showcases a variety of tanks and military vehicles, offering insights into military history. Our next stop is Turku which was Finland's old capital. Turku boasts a medieval cathedral and a historic castle. The city's riverside features historic boats, making it an attractive destination for exploring maritime history. If you have extra time, head north to Rovaniemi which is located on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is famous for being the "home" of Santa Claus. Visitors can partake in activities like dog sledding and witness the Northern Lights during the winter months. Whether you want to explore the coffee culture, the Finnish love of board games, the extensive forests, or the Wife Carrying World Championships, Finland is worth a visit.

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Next Episode

AT#869 - Bay of Bengal Cruise

Hear about a Viking Ocean Bay of Bengal Cruise to 5 countries from Bangkok to Mumbai as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer Elsa Dixon about this East Asia sampler cruise.

https://amateurtraveler.com/bay-of-bengal-cruise/

The Viking Ocean Bay of Bengal Cruise travels to 5 different countries: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India. What Elsa loved about this cruise was experiencing diverse and exotic cultures, including music, food, temples, architecture, and ceremonies in the Bay of Bengal region.

The cruise started in Bangkok, Thailand where Elsa and her travel companion did the typical city tour which included the Royal Palace, the Reclining Budha, and the Chao Phraya River. The cruise also offered more demanding walking tours, cooking classes, river cruises, and flower market tours. It also offered a full-day visit to Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Viking, there is always at least one free shore excursion as well as some with additional costs.

The cruise stopped again in Thailand on the Island of Koh Samui. The sightseeing tour visited Wat Phra Yai, the Smiling Buddha Temple. Or you can hang out on a beautiful tropical beach.

In Singapore, Elsa explored different cultural neighborhoods like Little India, the Arab Quarter, and Chinatown. Her traveling companion did a walking tour that explored the Peranakan culture which is a mixture of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian cultures.

In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Elsa was able to visit the colorful Batu Caves temple complex, the National Monument, the old British Railway Station, and the twin Petronas Towers.

The cruise also stopped in George Town in Malaysia where shore excursions include more temples, trishaw tours, and a visit to the Orangutan Island.

In Colombo, Sri Lanka, Elsa toured the old town, the Galle Fort, and attended a cultural evening at the Gallface Hotel where she watched the Sri Lanka dances. One of the other tours offered was a trip up to the high country to explore the tea culture.

In India, the cruise stopped in both Goa and Mumbai. She enjoyed the Portuguese influences in Goa but really felt like she was in India while touring the crowded bustling city of Mumbai. In Mumbai, she toured the markets at the Gateway to India, Dhobi Ghat, the Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park, and the Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi.

The cruise had a number of days at sea that were filled with talks and cultural presentations about the region.

Elsa continued her trip with a land tour of the "Golden Triangle" Mumbai, Jaipur, and Agra. She visited historical sites, observed local customs, and marveled at architectural wonders like the Amber Fort (Jaipur) and the Taj Mahal (Agra).

If you are looking for a cruise that allows you to sample some of the countries around the Bay of Bengal, Viking River offers luxurious adventure.

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