Majestic Balkans Romania
Peles Castle
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Majestic Balkans, snow still lingered on the peaks, but summer was definitely trying to push through as we made our way from Romania to Albania with stops in Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Countries that are still digging their way out of communism and socialism and the hardships of those years. Countries, who each still use their own unique currency even if they have made it to the EU or are hoping to be a part of the EU forthwith. Croatia seems to be the shining star, the success that they are hoping to achieve.
Our tour manager Nicola was one of the best that I have traveled with. He took such care of all the 13 people on tour with us but especially me, I have so much to be grateful to him as he lingered behind with me at my pace as I struggled with some of the steep roads and cobblestoned streets and trying to take pictures. Robbie our bus driver was fantastic on the narrow mountain roads and Mimoza our tour manager in training who hung out with us and gave us background and became a friend as we traveled along.
In each country the local experts talked about the history that stretches back to the Goths, Atilla the Hun, the Romans, the Ottomans who have all left their mark here but more recently the turbulent recent past which includes their inclusion in the Eastern Bloc and the prevalence of a communist government and strict living conditions under that regime.
While we did not journey to Transylvania and visit Bran Castle or Dracula’s castle as it is more popularly referred to, we did visit Peles Castle a neo-renaissance castle located in the Carpathian Mountains near Sinaia. It is said that King Carol I fell in love with the mountain scenery and built this as his Summer Palace. It is referred to as a Castle because in the words of our guide try saying Peles Palace 20 times real fast and you’ll see why they chose to call it a castle versus a palace.
I fell in love with this romantic courtyard that we had to cross to enter the castle.
Inside the castle is a marvel of different styles, rich furnishings, stained glass, weapons and carved wood. Consisting of 170 rooms all of which are decorated to the nines, it’s a rare treat to walk through the castle. We entered via a sweeping red carpeted staircase to this room called the Hall of Honor.
The interior is rich with paintings, stained glass and other accoutrements. Each sitting room is lavishly furnished, just like this one which is decorated in an Eastern style.
The winter won’t release its grip and still lingers as evidenced by the snow at the peaks of the Carpathian Mountains.
Until you see some of the condition close up, you can almost forget that this is a poor country that is still digging its way out of the devastating impact that communism and socialism left on the country.
The Sinaia Monastery was named after the local ruler visited Mount Sinai in Israel and wanted to recreate the experience here. The monastery consists of two courtyards with two key buildings: one is called the old church which dates back to 1695 and the Great Church which was built in 1846.
Inside the great church are fully restored icons that depict scenes from the Bible as well as pictures of saints, etc. All along the wall are beautiful carved wooden pews that are used for older parishioners since the majority of the worshippers stand during the service.
The old church was restored in 2016 and is now open to visitors.
Victory Square, the scene of the uprising when the people united to overthrow the corrupt government and take back control.
This memorial stands in the square facing the balcony where Ceaușescu gave his fateful speech and then ordered his army to open fire into the square when the people revolted against him and his regime.
While in Bucharest, we had the opportunity to meet a man who was a part of and survived this uprising. He was a teenager, old before his time as he and his group stood for freedom, and he held the dying body of his best friend who had been shot to death.
The beautiful Romanian Senate building which is made to look like a palace with beautiful richly decorated interiors. With its 22000 square feet of carpet that was specially woven for the building and 2800 chandeliers that decorate the various halls and chambers of the building, it is indeed a wonder to tour.
While we saw many abandoned buildings along the way, this one really helped us understand the corruption and lack of funds that plague this country. This building has been sawn in half and left abandoned not far from the spectacular Senate palace.
The arts have always been important to preserve in communist countries. The beautiful opera house in front of our hotel. I personally did not go inside though others in our group did.
No, this is not the Champs Elysee in Paris. It is the victory arch in the capital city of Bucharest built to commemorate Romania’s victory in the first world war.
Handmade in Romania, @myromanianstore. We walked by this shop several times and then my friend really wanted to drop in and so we did one night after dinner. A pleasure to visit and Nikki actually bought a pair of earrings that she proudly wore the next day.
The beautiful Athenee Palace Hotel where we stayed in Bucharest with it’s own beautiful chandeliers and ornate lobby. Could not imagine that Romania is a poor country when you are in a bubble like this.