Bucharest, Ort River Gorge to Sibiu, WTRD 12, Saturday, Aug 20, 2016

On our way to Transylvania, Day 1 of Tour

The main boulevards this Saturday morning are quiet. Our tour group met our guide George and driver Sandu at 8:00 am, and we take a short tour of the old part of Bucharest and the exterior of the "Peoples" Palace, the Parliament. Russ and I toured the interior 2 years ago when we were here. See Worrall Travel R Blog Index, September 2013.

Old Communist Era Buildings on the outskirts of Bucharest Old Town

After that, we board our small bus, just the right size for our group of eleven, however, the seats are pretty close together so Russ and I felt squished. As we are transported northward to Transylvania, George the guide explains that Romania is on the 45 degree latitude, and climate is considered continental temperate. It is a bit too damp and cool for olive trees. Olive oil here is scarce and expensive. Wheat, corn, and sunflowers are primary crops. Vegetarians are prevalent. Most of the population is Eastern Orthodox Catholic, and there are 4 periods of fasting and every Wednesday and Friday in which the religious population does not eat meat or fish.

George explains the education system. Primary grades are 1-4, grades 5-8 is gymnasium (middle school). Education is free and compulsory through 8th grade. A Capacity Test in the basics, math, Romanian, history or geography are given to all students. Marks on this examination determine the college (high school) student will attend. Better marks, allow entrance to better higher level schools. High school is not compulsory.

Upon receiving a baccalaureate "high school diploma", students in the top 80% receive free tuition, the bottom 20% must pay tuition. If you are in the bottom 20%, and move up in rank because of improved grades, you then qualify for no tuition.

Tuition by American standards is not very expensive in Romania, but very expensive for Romanians. The average Romanian salary is approximately $460 a month. If you are a good student, University is free for your first degrees, bachelors and masters. Professional schools, like medical school, students pay $3,000 a year. Students wanting a second degree, pay tuition for secondary degrees.

George our guide regaled us with information as we drove through a pastoral country side, villages, mountains and the Olt River Gorge.

After a few pit stops including lunch and a stop at a Cozia Monestary established in 1386, 

Cozia Monastery

we arrived in Sibiu which is in the district of Transylvania around 3:30 pm. Sibiu (Hermannstadt), formerly the chief city of the Transylvanian Germans.

The Great and Lesser Squares are the landmarks of the Old Town with the many merchant houses featuring ""the sleepy eye" dormers.

See the Sleepy Eye Dormers - traditional for this area

The city now has 100,000 plus people and is surrounded by three walls (or partial walls) and a sunken walking path that appears to be the original moat, built in the 12th century, towers in the 13th century. 

The old town is very picturesque and looks very German with cobbled streets, tiled, and slate roofs. Both a Catholic and Luthren church tower over the city. There are 22,000 churches in Romania for 18,000,000 people. After the revolution in 1989, Romanians claimed back their religion with fervor from communist rule.

Moat now a walking path.

We walked around the city experiencing the last of summer,

visiting a Romanian Art Museum (Bruckenthal Museum)

and enjoying some of the cars that were arriving early from a road rally.

A Wooden Car

Our accommodations tonight is in Sibiu's famous Romans' Emperor Hotel, (Imparatul Romanilor Hotel) located in the Old Town near the main square, in a 16th century building built in traditional Transylvanian Renaissance style, a former merchant's hall transformed into hotel in the 18th century, with many famous guests: Emperor Franz Joseph II, composers Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss as well as Prince Charles and many others.

In the lavish lobby of the hotel, George and George worked out the final details of the tour's financials...who owed what. It was confusing, but the two of them nailed it down and all was good.

George and George

Tonight we joined George and Lynn from FFSac for dinner at the Crama Sibiul Vechi, the best cellar - restaurants in town, serving authentic Transylvanian fares. Russ had a spicey pork dish and I had fried pork with polenta, cream cheese and sour cream. Atmosphere and food were terrific. We strolled through the main square on our way back to the hotel dipping into some gelato bowls.

All is well with the Worrall Travel R's in Sibiu, Romania.