Crazy and Interesting Sights in Romania

I will be blogging about strange, crazy, and unique sights in different countries. This blog covers our October 2013 trip to Romania. Most people don’t think of Romania for European travel, but we loved it. It’s a big, beautiful country where you can really go back in time. Prices are great, and we could always find people who spoke English. Below are some of the interesting and unusual things we saw.

Noah and his ark in a beautiful park where they have preserved old homes.

The giant hand

Pots and pans tree advertising a marriageable daughter

Cousin It haystacks. We kept expecting them to scuttle away.

 

Beautiful carved wooden gates and fences

Stained glass Jesus with Tree of Life issuing from His side

Creepy eyes

 

Bowling alley in the salt mine amusement park. Notice the salt wall on the right.

3D side of a building

Horse drawn wagon

       

       

Giant cabbages

Merry Cemetery, where your life story is on a hand-carved painted grave marker.

Tips for Planning Your Vacation

Of course, you can just pick a cruise or place to visit, and wing it when you get there. But to me, half the fun is dreaming, planning, and researching where I am headed. This also helps maximize sightseeing fun, and can save you money. Here are some suggestions to help you plan your trip.

Airfare websites

kayak.com
skyscanner.com
priceline.com
farestore.com

Flying for “Free”

John and I have had an American Airlines Advantage credit card since 1994. We charge everything possible so that we get air miles. Seats can be limited, but we have always found space, with only one exception (flying from LA to San Antonio just after Christmas.) This is how we are able to travel so much. When you use air miles, you only pay the taxes.

There are other credit cards that offer this same deal. The most important thing is that you MUST pay the balance every month. Don’t get yourself in credit card debt so you can fly for “free”!!

European Travel

Rick Steves is the superstar for European travel advice. He has regional, country, and city guidebooks, PBS shows, and ricksteves.com. He recommends what to see, using a rating system. He does not cover every city in a country, just what he considers the premier destinations. Rick is simply the best, and all other travel books are second tier. Buy his book for where you are headed! You won’t be sorry.

Cruise Travel Advice

Check out cruisecritic.com. It’s free to join. Here you can follow posts about any cruise line. There is also a Roll Call section for your particular sailing where you can find information about your cruise mates, join private shore excursions, find tips on what to expect, etc.  There is also a section on ports.

Tomsportguides.com is a website with detailed port guides written and offered for free from a hobbyist. Not every port is covered, but the ones that are have tons of good suggestions, tips, maps, etc. You can download a port guide PDF onto your tablet.

Rick Steves also has a Mediterranean Cruise Ports travel guidebook.

General Travel Advice

Tripadvisor.com is a great tool for finding what is popular at a given vacation spot.

Iheartmycity.com has tips from locals in many cities all over the world.

Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, etc. all have websites and travel books. I use the public library to read these books and, for Europe, supplement what Rick Steves does not cover.

Visit the free Tourist Information office at your destination. Brochures, maps, hotel booking, and advice are available.

Most destinations also have their own website which can provide valuable information about what to see and do.

I would love to help you plan a cruise. My husband and I are home cruise agents for Cruise Brothers, a 40 year-old Rhode Island travel agency. 

Barbara Walters

Walters World Travel

San Antonio TX

bwalters7@att.net

Cruising – Where and When??

So you’ve decided to book a cruise! Maybe you know exactly where and when you want to go, but just in case you don’t, here are some tips.

Cruising in Milford Sound, New Zealand

Where to cruise

You can cruise just about anywhere.  Do you enjoy sightseeing, exploring ancient cities and experiencing other cultures?
Or do you prefer relaxing on a beautiful beach, catching a wave or snorkeling?
Maybe you'd prefer to see majestic mountains and beautiful waterways such as Milford Sound in New Zealand.


I have cruised, and can give personal advice, on all the following itineraries:

• Baltic (Northern Europe, including St. Petersburg, Russia)
• Greek Isles/Istanbul and Ephesus, Turkey/Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt
• British Isles
• Panama Canal
• Mexican Riviera
• Canada (eastern coast)
• Alaska
• Australia and New Zealand
• Bahamas
• Caribbean (virtually every port)
• Mediterranean (Rome-Barcelona round trip) up next!

All of the above are fun! It just depends on your taste and budget as to where you go. For those friends in Texas, there are great cruises available out of Galveston, Houston, or New Orleans. You can drive and park much cheaper than flying to Florida or elsewhere.

If you are inclined to fly overseas, the Baltic, Greek Isles, and British Isles cruises are just fabulous, and much more economical than you would think. However, you do have to factor in more expensive airfare.

Other options include European river cruises, American river cruises, Asia, Black Sea, Arctic, Hawaii, and Tahiti/Polynesia.

When to cruise

My husband and I usually travel during spring and fall. Prices are more expensive during the summer months and spring break, as families travel with their children.  If you want a more adult experience, travel when school is generally in session.  The weather in the Caribbean is not significantly different during the year, but the hurricane season needs to be considered.

If you choose to travel overseas during the summer months, it will be considerably hotter, more crowded, and more expensive. 

Holiday cruises are great. I have done a Christmas Australia/New Zealand cruise and a Christmas Caribbean cruise out of Houston. Holiday cruising is more expensive, but quite festive and fun!

Alaska is less expensive in May and September, again due to the school calendar. I just sailed from Vancouver on May 14, and we had great weather and fewer tourists.  

I would love to help you plan a cruise. My husband and I are home cruise agents for Cruise Brothers, a 40 year-old Rhode Island travel agency.

Barbara Walters

Walters World Travel

San Antonio TX

bwalters7@att.net

Concerns about cruising? Here are the facts

Although millions of people have cruised all over the world, many folks are still somewhat wary of going on a cruise.  My husband and I love to cruise and believe it's one of the best, if not the best, ways to see the world.  So let's take a look at the concerns I hear from people about cruising. 

 

Aren't cruises expensive? - Cruises are probably the most economical method of travel other than camping.  You get so much included in your basic cruise price (food, lodging, entertainment, transportation to different ports).

I’ll get seasick – We have been on 17 cruises, a few in pretty rough weather. My husband has trouble in small boats, but never once on an ocean liner. We have escorted at least 100 people on cruises, and only one had a minor seasickness episode (on very high seas).

It’s boring – There are so many things to do on sea days. Sports competitions, trivia, movies, evening shows, shuffleboard, rock climbing, swimming, hot tub, spa and fitness center, library offerings, classes (cooking, photography, computer, health, dancing), lectures, casino, karaoke, talent shows, shopping, game room, checking out your pictures, and of course people watching!

I’ll feel trapped – I have never met anyone on board who had this problem. There are lots of open spaces. The ships are huge! Even claustrophobics do well, but may want a balcony stateroom.  Yes, the staterooms are small, but very well designed with more closet and storage space than you will need.

It will be crowded – Have you been to Walt Disney World or Disney Land? Now that’s crowded! Yes, there will sometimes be lines at the buffet, but nothing bad.  All the main cruise lines design their ships to give passengers space.  The larger ships have more people.  The smaller ships less.  Our last cruise to Alaska was on a smaller ship and we never felt crowded.  We could always find a nice spot to relax and view the incredible Alaska scenery.  

It’s dangerous – When there is a problem with a cruise ship, it makes the headlines because issues are so rare.  Problems usually are due to power loss or weather, and the crew members are well trained to handle most any emergency. You are taught what to do in an emergency during the lifeboat drill prior to sailing, and the crew performs emergency drills at least weekly. But remember there are issues with any kind of travel. Cars, trains, buses, and planes crash. The Titanic was a long time ago, and the cruise ships of today are well managed and super safe. There are hundreds of ships sailing on any given day, with rare problems. If you have a fear of falling overboard accidentally, it is literally impossible to do this.  Sailing on a cruise ship is one of the safer means of travel.  

My husband and I are home cruise agents for Cruise Brothers, a 40 year-old Rhode Island travel agency.  I would love to help you plan a cruise. Contact me at bwalters7@att.net.