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Amfiteatrul Transilvania

Last winter we decided to drive to this amazing location in the Romanian Fagaras Mountains called “Amfiiteatrul Transilvania”. Having reserved the tickets some 3 weeks earlier on an almost fully booked location we started the drive in the early morning hours

The trip from Bucharest is 3 and a half hours long by car, around 1 hour 30 on the highway and then on some picturesque mountain roads, idyllic sprawling hills and rolling valleys leading the way into the impressive mountain views.

The road was smooth an uneventful only dotted by us stopping the car to take in the views. Around 1 hour before arrival we were called by the owners and asked if we had an SUV capable of off-roading or we’d prefer to be picked up. Happy in our choice of an Audi Q4, we confirmed we could go up. The road is not well signaled, and our google GPS wanted us to breach private property, but after a bit of wiggling and a call to reception, we managed to find our way. The road, while amazing in the views, is 3 kilometers of pure pain, driving at 10/hour, with a sheer mountain cliff on the left and a river on the right. Our choice of going in the winter made the road slippery and were it not for the automatic mode it would have been a nightmare. As it was, we made the drive in 40 minutes, in daylight and that was an experience, ending up in a 50 degree incline in front of a barrier.

Once we entered the location, it was a feast for the eyes and any thought of it not being worth it was dashed away. Sat on top of a cut off hill, surrounded by mountains, sits a 4 star hotel, reminiscing of Austrian Alps resorts. In the middle sits the restaurant, surrounded by viewing platforms. Inside it has a giant fireplace shaped like the trunk of a tree, surrounded by tables. Dining is split in 2 parts, the public one, with great mountain sights for the people that come just to dine and then an inner sanctum around the crackling fire in the tree room for those that have lodgings. With perfect waiters and a small menu but superbly cooked to rival fine dining in Bucharest, we were spoiled for food in the 3 days we stayed there. The location was packed, but the people were really cool, no noise, perfect neighbors, even if most of them were families with small children.

The accommodations are in reconditioned, old Romanian traditional houses. The whole setup is wood with wood bedding and soft mattresses while perfectly hiding the modern amnesties. Everything, even in the bathroom is made of wood and makes the floors warm under the naked foot even in winter. The door is padded with home-spun woolen carpets and sealed by a lock pad. Even the road to the houses was covered in soft squishy moss and easy to step onto, making the location from outside vaguely reminiscent of the hobbit houses in Lord of the Rings.

In the 3 days spent, we went outside the resort to visit just once, in rest we raveled in the tranquility and the amazing views, peace and quiet. The wi-fi is amazing too if you need to work or study so the location is truly a dream come true.

Pros

  • Amazing views
  • Divine food
  • Quiet tranquility and amazing views
  • Easy access to mountain trails and hiking

Cons

  • Steep price -100 euros per night/room
  • Horrendous access road

Conclusion

Would we go again? Definitely, in the summer to enjoy the views. It is a location that is truly unique and a week working from there, enjoying the views. We deeply recommend this place if you want a treat after the Pandemic and wish to experience the true beauty of Romania, the beauty that no video or presentation can bring to life.

Santorini

Introduction

Santorini is a Greek island that is located in the Aegean Sea, and it is famous for its scenic beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. I had the opportunity to visit Santorini island for two weeks, and it was an incredible experience. During my trip, I visited all the towns and villages, and I explored all the tourist attractions, including the Atlantis museum, the white, red, and black beaches, and the fort in Oia. Although we could not reach Akrotiri due to road conditions, we still had an amazing time. In this account, I will share my experience of the trip to Santorini, Greece.

Traveling to Santorini Island

We decided to drive to Santorini from Athens, and it was an adventure. We traveled by ferry from the port of Piraeus to Santorini, and it took us about eight hours to reach the island. The ferry ride was smooth, and we had a comfortable journey. As we approached the island, we were greeted by the stunning view of the white-washed buildings that are perched on the cliff. It was a breathtaking sight, and we couldn’t wait to start exploring the island.

Accommodation in Kamari

We stayed at Karidis Hotel in Kamari, and it was an excellent choice. The hotel was located close to the beach, and it had all the amenities that we needed. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, and the staff was friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the delicious breakfast that was served every morning, and we also had access to the swimming pool and the rooftop terrace, which had a stunning view of the island.

Exploring the Towns and Villages

During our two-week stay, we visited all the towns and villages on the island. We started with Fira, which is the capital of Santorini. Fira is a bustling town with narrow streets, colorful buildings, and a vibrant atmosphere. We visited the local markets, where we bought souvenirs and tasted the local cuisine. We also visited the famous Atlantis museum, which had a vast collection of artifacts from the lost city of Atlantis. It was an incredible experience, and we learned a lot about the history of the island.

We also visited Oia, which is a picturesque village that is located on the northern tip of the island. Oia is famous for its stunning sunset views, and we were not disappointed. We watched the sunset from the fort in Oia, which is an old castle that was built in the 15th century. The view from the fort was breathtaking, and we enjoyed the romantic atmosphere.

Visiting the Beaches

Santorini is known for its unique beaches, and we made sure to visit all of them. We started with the white beach, which is located near Akrotiri. The white beach is famous for its white cliffs, and it is accessible only by boat. Unfortunately, we could not reach the white beach due to rough sea conditions. However, we were able to visit the red beach, which is located near Akrotiri. The red beach is famous for its red cliffs, and it is a popular destination for snorkeling and diving. We also visited the black beach, which is located in Kamari. The black beach is famous for its black volcanic sand, and it is a popular destination for sunbathing and swimming.

Poiana Izvoarelor

As winter came with snow this year, we decided to visit the Northern Romanian Ski slopes of Bucovina. Having gone in summer to Poiana Izvoarelor for lunch and a visit to the Deer and Llama preserve we made reservations for 4 nights.

Starting from Bucharest we chose to go via Oltului Mountain Pass. The route would take us over 9 hours, but the views on this particular pass are absolutely spectacular. The sheer mountain cliffs, the wide river gently rolling, the forested crests all provide a unique view into an amazing place.

We arrived at the lodgings late and went straight to sleep. However, when we woke up a purely wonderful vista greeted us. The location is superb, situated up a hill, on a well cleaned dirt road, it shows mountains and high hills all around, quite reminiscent of a wild cabin in the woods.
The hotel has a deer and llama wildlife private preserve, which you can visit from behind a fence, after climbing quite a steep hill, or if you are lucky the groundskeeper might let you in(he did this time). The deer are super friendly and will come see if you are or have brought food. In addition there are 3 lakes with fresh trout and other fish and another 3 basins, from which you can choose your lunch or a fish to take home, freshly picked. The food isn’t fancy, but it’s good, traditional food from the area and even though they have little in the way of breakfast or dinner specialized menu, everything is available at any time of day.

This being said, the hotel is poorly run, the personnel is indifferent, the rooms are not quite clean, the towels are atrocious, the mini-bar is empty. The prices are those of a 4 star hotel, but the feel is more like 2-3 stars. It had snowed in the area the previous weeks and while the driveway was completely cleared, in front of the door there was ice, and climbing up the hill to the deer was treacherous and an exercise in figure skating. The location was fully booked during the weekend, but once we were the only ones left Sunday night, the place got chilly and unwelcoming (someone left a window open in the hallway at -10 degrees Celsius outside).

All in all, while we enjoyed the deer immensely and were sad to not be able to visit more, we left a day early and went to Brasov.

Would we come back? Yes, for the deer, but not spend the night there. As a restaurant, is is worth it and it even has an indoor swimming pool. But overall we wouldn’t recommend spending the night.