TravelswithCharie

Peleș Castle Surrounded by the Bucegi Mountains, Sinaia is a popular skiing resort town. Its appeal doesn’t stop there. Visitors come year-round to see Peleș Castle and to enjoy the fresh mountain air and forested landscape. Peleș Castle was the summer home of the first King of Romania, Carol I. It is built in the German Neo-Renaissance style. Note the half-timbered walls that define the architecture.  The Castle is about 86 miles north of the capital, Bucharest, and a fast one hour and a half to two-hour train ride. Photos may be taken inside the Castle but may not be published in social media like Facebook and YouTube.  You can check their website regarding the use of photos taken inside the Castle and admission fees here: en.peles.ro Pelișor Castle A few meters from Peleș Castle is the smaller Pelișor Castle which was built between 1899-1902 for the heirs to the throne, King Ferdinand I and his wife Princess Marie.  Beautiful, lush scenery encircle property grounds. Forest bathing i

Bran Castle or Dracula’s Castle The most popular touristic destination in Romania is undoubtedly Bran Castle, more commonly known as Dracula’s Castle. Dracula is a work of fiction by a 19th century Irish novelist named Bram Stoker who had never been to Romania, let alone to Dracula’s Castle. Yet, Dracula haunts many of us so much so that we follow the pilgrims’ path to Transylvania to be where this fictional character supposedly lived and bit his victims to drink their blood. Fiction aside, the family of the real Dracula lived in the picturesque hilltop town of Sighisoara, under the shadow of the 14th century clock tower. Find out more about Sighisoara here:  https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2023/08/sighisoara-medieval-town.html Vlad Dracul, the father of Vlad III,  the Impaler, also known as Vlad Țepeş (and perhaps the inspiration behind the novel, Dracula) supposedly lived in this yellow house from 1431-1435. (There are studies that point otherwise.)  Vlad Dracul was so called becau

Altar Rock (Pitra Altarului) On my way to Bucovina to see the painted monasteries, I was treated to nature at its best. I never heard of Bicaz Gorge before so I had no idea what to expect. This was the most surprising part of my second visit to Romania. I was trying to take a picture of Altar Rock as we drove slowly through the pass. The goal was to make sure I got the cross on top of the limestone cliff in the frame. It’s not as clear to spot but it’s there just below the flagpole. I took this shot through the windshield as we  couldn’t stop at this particular location since the pass is narrow and other cars were right behind us. Luckily I had better luck when I took the other images of the gorge. Bicaz Gorge (Cheile Bicazului)- Hăşmaş National Park is in northeastern Romania in Neamt and Harghita counties. A winding two-lane road stretches for 8 kilometers (4.97 miles) through the gorge. Limestone walls as high as 300-400 meters (984-1312 ft.) rise on both sides of the pass. Some roc

   Nevermore Academy I had never heard about Wednesday nor Nevermore Academy until recently through a post on Instagram where I discovered that the filming location is in Romania. As it turned out, the Academy was on our way to Brașov and I had a glimpse of it. Since then, I have checked out the series, Wednesday, and found that this is about the daughter of the Addams Family. I enjoyed watching the Addams Family as a kid and was intrigued by the adventures of Wednesday. I haven’t watched all the episodes of Season 1 yet but look forward to watching them soon. It’s so popular that Netflix announced a Season 2 is coming soon.  The Cantacuzino Castle (Nevermore Academy) was the summer home of Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, a wealthy aristocrat and politician who died two years after the manor was completed. The manor is now owned by a German lawyer and property developer who is awaiting government approval for the transformation of the property to a golf and ski resort. The Castle

A beach in Mamaia  It was Friday in mid-September. School had just started in Romania and the kids were deep into their books. The summer crowds had gone home. The umbrellas at beaches along the coast of the Black Sea were mostly folded up and the scene in front of me was one of abandonment. A welcome site, I might add. As I walked (with my Sketchers on) and sunk deeply into the warm sand, the sound of waves kissing the shore gave me the calm I needed after a week long road-trip in Northern Romania, Ukraine and Moldova. I was connected once again to my roots. I grew up by the sea on the other side of the world and I always return to the sea to rejuvenate my spirit and get a fresh start. This poem (I wrote it  a while ago) mirrors how I felt when strolling on the beach. I grew up by the sea It’s always with me No matter where I go I hear its warm hello. It’s been too long Since I heard her song  Seeing her today Never far will I stray. There are many beaches in Mamaia, a suburb of Const