ROMANIA (Europe)

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Bucharest

Romania has the majestic castles, medieval towns, great hiking and wildlife, and cheap skiing of much of the 'undiscovered' former Eastern Bloc. You'll be floored at how different it is, but you'll almost certainly see signs that it's chasing the dreams of the rest of the West.

In December 1989, Romania was reborn as a free nation. Now this multifaceted country is welcoming tourists to enjoy a wonderfully varied heritage of traditional culture, scnic splendour and leisure opportunities. Romania is a unique country, having a sea, a big river (The Danube), a Delta, mountains and plains, an important historic and cultural heritage and very hospitable people

Romania is slowly emerging from the effects of being one of the most repressed countries under communism and having suffered the megalomaniac dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu whose rule left the country in the depths of poverty. Travel in Romania is rewarding yet habitually challenging as much of its charisma lies in the more remote regions, and optimistic plans are often frustratingly slowed down by practical realities. Despite this, Romania is rapidly regaining its identity as a popular tourist destination and has plenty to offer the international traveller.

The charms of Transylvania lure people with the imagery of haunted forests, medieval towns, vampires, turreted cliff-top castles, and the legends of Dracula. In addition to its medieval castles and enchanting historic towns, the region also offers the dramatic alpine scenery of the Carpathian Mountains with spectacular skiing and undisturbed hiking opportunities.

The country's geography is diverse: from mountains, rolling hills and rural farmlands to white sandy beaches and resorts along the Black Sea Coast. Dotting the natural landscape are rustic villages where local people live as they have done for the past 100 years. There is an abundance of religious architecture - including the exquisitely painted monasteries of Bucovina - and there are ancient churches and cities bursting with historic architecture. The capital city, Bucharest, is re-inventing itself following decades of neglect by the ruling communists and its damaged architecture is slowly being restored to its original glory. It has elegant restaurants, a revitalised nightlife and cultural attractions that are becoming integral to this new image.

A visit to Romania will leave few impassive, offering a refreshingly different culture to elsewhere in Europe. The mix of quaint medieval towns and castles, drab cities striving for Western modernism, and the diverse rural landscape seemingly untouched by modern history, offers a fascinating kaleidoscope of opportunities to explore. Romania appeals to visitors because it is so different. It has one foot firmly placed in the past while the other one is stretching forward in an effort to keep up with the progress of the modern world.

The range of activities and places to visit is extensive. You can ski at traditional and mountain resorts or laze in the hot sun on Black Sea beaches that have everything the Mediterranean offers. You can hike through unspoiled landscapes, where rivers run clear, or take a boat in the 5,165 sq. km (2,000 sq. mi) water wilderness of the Danube Delta to watch pelicans and other rare birds among floating reed islands. Or you can enjoy the architecture, museums and galleries of the cities

Better still, this is all backed up by the comfort of a widening range of hotels and restaurants, good internal communication by air, train and bus and not very high prices. Even going to the opera is a remarkable value, not to mention Romanian delicacies and wines! Romania is on the move. Come and see for yourself: "Come as a tourist, leave as a friend".