Our travels through Romania continued northward to the de facto capital of Transylvania, Cluj-napoca. It felt a bit strange to be back in a big city after the relaxed environs of Brasov and the medieval towns of Sibiu and Sighisoara, dealing with busy streets and having to dodge pedestrians again. We did, however, adopt a rather relaxed pace for this […]
Month: January 2023
Two Lovely Little Medieval Towns in Transylvania
Our journey of discovery through Transylvania continues with visits to two cities that are on all the must-see lists for visitors to Romania. Sibiu and Sighisoara are each just a couple of hours on a train from Brasov, although each on a different main line. Negotiating the Cold War era train system that still operates in Romania introduced an added […]
A few Days in Dracula Country – Brasov, Transylvania
Following our fantastic New Year treat at The King’s lodge, we travelled back to the heart of Dracula Country, Brasov in Transylvania. Brasov is a smallish city with a compact old centre and plenty of opportunities for side trips. We were lucky to be there when the Christmas markets were still going, brightening up the city with their lights and […]
The King’s Lodge, A Royal Start to the Year
We will be celebrating just one New Year while we were away, and we were determined to make it a memorable one. And what better way than to treat ourselves to a bit of Royalty? The King of England, Charles III, owns a property in Transylvania, and when he isn’t staying there himself, it can be booked by commoners for […]
Veliko Tarnovo, a Lovely Stopover in Northern Bulgaria
We were on a mission to get into central Romania for a special booking we had made for New Year, but wanted to break the journey a bit. We had read that the small city of Veliko Tarnovo was a pretty place, and worth including in any Bulgarian tourist’s itinerary. And so it proved to be! Although we only had […]
Christmas in Sofia, Bulgaria
We were hoping for a white Christmas at a skiing resort in south-western Bulgaria, but the European winter of 2022 has been unseasonably warm. So, there was a last minute change of plan. We spent a few days in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, including Christmas Day. Sofia is another lovely city, although the Christmas festivities weren’t very overt. The […]
Next stop Bulgaria, Starting with the Artistic City of Plovdiv
Our adventure begins its next phase as we leave Turkey and begin our travels through Bulgaria and Romania. In modern times, these countries are less prominent on the world stage than they have been through history. For centuries, this area was an important part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with prominent noblemen and their estates throughout. Our first destination, Plovdiv, may […]
Last Stop – Gallipoli and the ANZAC Tradition
Our time in Turkey is drawing to its end. Just one more place to visit before leaving this wonderful country. And what a place to finish with, the birthplace of the ANZAC tradition, Gallipoli. Accessed from the small coastal city of Canakkale, the major sites on the Gallipoli can be seen in a half-day tour. The stories we learnt when […]
The Adriatic Coast: Izmir and Ancient Ephesus
Our journey takes us back to the coast, further north, against the backdrop of the Adriatic. Izmir is one of the biggest urban centres in Turkey, and very much centred on local residents. While there are things for visitors to see and do, they are in the background of daily life. Thoroughly modern and very vibrant, this is a place […]