Journey through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary to experience the rich history and warm hospitality in this region. We experienced the culture up close through the old buildings and ruins that we toured. We ate wonderful food paired with wine while we sailed through the Iron Gates on the Danube River.
We're back in Romania, here to complete the trip we started 6 months ago. Then we had visited the castles and palaces of Transylvania before our trip was cut short by a family emergency and we had to head home. Now we are back to finish what we started and board our river cruise from Bucharest to Budapest.
Perhaps the interruption explains my fondness for Romania, but I suspect there is more to it than that. If I had to guess, I would say it's the people. The Romanians are proud and, despite rumors to the contrary, hardworking and progressive. They haven't had an easy road and yet now they seem so grateful to be free of the burden of Communism that they have an energy much of the world lacks.
After the fall of Communism, old town Bucharest was mostly abandoned as the government worked through the slow process of reuniting original property owners or their descendants with property seized by the Communists decades prior. Tracking down landowners, many of whom had left the country, took time and during the process, Old Town was taken over by drug users and others, an area where police stayed away from.
Yet in a period of under 5 years, Old Town was transformed. Original property owners either rebuilt or sold their homes to developers and most buildings have been restored to their original gradeur. Cafes, theaters, and artisan shops have moved in to make this a vibrant, beautiful area safe to explore day or night. Dinner in Bucharest (Mary Curry)Carucabere Bucharest (Mary Curry)
We enjoyed a return visit to Carucabere, a lively restaurant in old town with local music and dancing. Despite the 4 page menu, we both ordered the same dish we had 6 months ago, steak and potatoes prepared on a hot stone at our table. We explored Old Town with our guide and drove past the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world, with only the Pentagon surpassing it. The Communists built it as a central meeting place for party members. When they were removed from power, the building sat empty for a time, locals for a time feeling such resentment for the Communist presence that they didn't want to have anything to do with it. Pragmatics eventually won out and the massive structure was put to practical use. Bucharest Parliament (Mary Curry)
After our tours, we transferred 90 minutes to the port of Giurgiu to board our Danube River cruise.
Kassandra Magruder from Adventure Life planned an amazing trip for us again. She listens to what you want and makes suggestions concerning accommodations and activities. She is very responsive and timely concerning any questions I had.
We were choosing between two different places and she priced out both trips.
She is very happy to help!
Emily Shepard
3 days ago
Adventure Life has done a great job helping us plan both an Arctic and an Antarctic expedition cruise. We trust them completely!
Kbear
4 days ago
Very efficient and friendly service.
Kris Ganase
6 days ago
I spent 2 entire days trying to find my Alaska small boat trip, with no success. Then Erin from Adventure Life gave me 4 choices on the same day I contacted her. She was caring and very efficient. I'm very excited about the cruise she found for me.
Janet Houts
1 week ago
Everything about our Galapagos experience was top-notch. I highly recommend this trip if you like be active. Everyone from the planners to the guides to the crew set us up to experience and soak in everything the Galapagos has to offer. They took care of every detail so we could learn and enjoy.