Category: Europe
-
It’s Easter this side of the Schism
Everything is cancelled this week. School, programs, events, regular meetings. Talk to friends, “Can you get together?” Sorry, we’re busy getting ready for Easter. What could you possibly be doing for an entire week to prepare for Easter? By default, I viewed their Easter preparations through my cultural lens. This celebration was far in the…
-
A trip through the ages and around the world – Romania’s village museums
One of Romania’s most impressive cultural and educational sites is the Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization in Sibiu, central Romania. Spread over more than 200 acres, it is Europe’s largest open-air museum, with historic structures- windmills, barns, churches, houses – from around the country transplanted on the lush terrain. Romania’s diverse geography necessitated equally…
-
Transylvania’s Big Three – Brașov, Sighișoara, and Sibiu
First things first, a linguistics lesson. In Romanian, the ‘ș’ makes the English ‘sh’ sound. Thus, these notable Transylvanian cities are Bra-shov, Sigee-shwara, and See-bee-oo. (Bucharest, for that matter, is pronounced Bucharesht in Romanian). These cities are a huge draw to Romanian tourism and culture. Built by Germans who migrated to central Romania at the invitation of Hungarian kings between…
-
The superlative fortress of Sucidava – Corabia, Romania
The road was average, until the part funded by the EU began. For now, that’s how you know where to turn to reach the Roman fortress of Sucidava – the turnoff road from the main road is paved with a new concrete curb and a surprising sidewalk (not common in these parts). If you drive…
-
Ancient Dacia and Romania’s Stonehenge – Sarmizegetusa, Romania
“Sarmy . . . That place. You know what I’m talking about.” That’s how I usually started conversations about our weekend trip to Sarmizegetusa, the ancient capital of Dacia before the Romans invaded – hidden from modern civilizations, buried in the mountains, only recently found. One of only six UNESCO World Heritage sites in Romania,…
-
A castle fit for the movies – Corvin Castle, Romania
As we approached the castle in our dusty station wagon, we were put off by the factories, smoke stacks and large quarry that enveloped this historic oasis. This was no Burg Eltz, tucked between forested hills on a remote outpost. Then, as we walked toward the gates, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. To…
-
Gunshots, and other surprising signs of spring
Pop. . . pop, pop. I lifted my head and listened closely. Gunfire? Was someone prepping their BB gun to deter crows and pests from their vegetable patch? Unlikely, but it sure sounded like it. Slowly lifting my eyes over the fence I saw a man with a very long rod beating his vast area…
-
Romania’s gold
I thought they were jars of oil. Gold and amber, glistening in the sun on roadside stands, I didn’t cross my mind that those stacks of jars were honey. Then we were gifted several jars shortly after our arrival. I also started noticing boxes of hives in backyards, in fields, on trailers – everywhere. When we…
-
February in Eastern Europe
This month we crossed the Danube River by ferry and spent a weekend in beautiful Sofia, Bulgaria. February is still technically winter, but most Europeans will attest that this winter has been extremely mild. February ushered in an early spring. When we visited Bulgaria, the snow was gone and the breeze was warm. But…
-
Traveling with TCKs
While living in Europe, we’re taking advantage of cheap (like, $40 roundtrip tickets, with half-price for kids! Thank you RyanAir) airlines to reconnect with friends and family scattered across the continent. The travel also reveals the third-culture kid (TCK) tendencies of my children. I don’t often write about TCKness, but I am a TCK and…
will travel with kids 