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