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|  | ROMANIA COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | Moldova, Ukraine, the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Hungary border Romania. Transylvania and Moldavia compose the northern half of the country, which is divided down the middle by the Carpathian Mountains. South of the east-west line of the Carpathians lies the flat Danube plain of Walachia with the capital Bucharest. Romania's main resort areas include the Black Sea Coast, the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania. The Black Sea Coast, ideal for family holidays with 70km (43 miles) of fine white sandy beaches, boast many resorts, the main ones being Mamaia, Eforie, Saturn and Mangalia. The beautiful and densely forested Carpathian Mountains area lends itself to many sporting and leisure activities such as skiing, bobsleighing, horseriding and tennis. Situated in picturesque valleys and on mountain slopes are many health and winter resorts. Since Roman times the Romanian spas of Transylvania have been known for their miraculous healing powers. Transylvania has many well-equipped spa towns, such as Baile Felix and Covasna. It also contains the famous Bran Castle, said to be one of the original abodes of the medieval king known as Vlad the Impaler, who was the model for Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. Local dishes include ciorba de perisoare (soup with meatballs), ciorba tanancasca (meat with vegetables), lamb bors, giblet soup and a variety of fish soups. The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories following the conflict. In 1940, it allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996, when they were swept from power by a fractious coalition of centrist parties. In 2000, the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) became Romania's leading party, governing with the support of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). The opposition center-right alliance formed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD) scored a surprise victory over the ruling PSD in December 2004 presidential elections. The PNL-PD alliance maintains a parliamentary majority with the support of the UDMR, the Humanist Party (PUR), and various ethnic minority groups. Although Romania completed accession talks with the European Union (EU) in December 2004, it must continue to address rampant corruption - while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms - before it can achieve its hope of joining the EU, tentatively set for 2007. Romania joined NATO in March of 2004. 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea. Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above 4%. An IMF standby agreement, signed in 2001, has been accompanied by slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, and the curbing of inflation. The IMF Board approved Romania's completion of the standby agreement in October 2003, the first time Romania has successfully concluded an IMF agreement since the 1989 revolution. In July 2004, the executive board of the IMF approved a 24-month standby agreement for $367 million. The Romanian authorities do not intend to draw on this agreement, however, viewing it simply as a precaution. Meanwhile, recent macroeconomic gains have done little to address Romania's widespread poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the business environment. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| | | RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | Black Sea Coast
This coastline is the principal tourist area of Romania and ideal for family holidays. Its 70km (43 miles) of fine white sandy beaches boasts many resorts, the main ones being Mamaia, Eforie Nord, Techirghiol, Eforie Sud, Costinesti, Neptun-Olimp, Jupiter, Venus-Aurora, Saturn and Mangalia. There are ten boating centres for watersports on the sea and lakes, and both daytime and evening cruises. The curative properties of the salt waters and the mud from Lake Techirghiol (whose thermal springs have a year-round temperature of 24°C/75°F), Mangalia, Eforie and Neptun, make the Romanian Riviera popular with those seeking spa treatments, especially for rheumatism. The Greek/Byzantine port of Constanta, founded in the sixth century BC, merits a visit, and inland there are interesting archaeological sites including the ancient Greek city ruins of Histria, Tomis and Callatis. The area is inhabited by foxes, otters, wildcats and boars and in the migratory periods one can see over 300 species of birds.
Danube Delta
Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, this vast expanse of protected watery wilderness in the north of the Romanian Black Sea coast comprises three main arms of the Danube with numerous little waterways, wetlands, small patches of forest and a rich and varied wildlife. The backwaters can be explored by fishing boat or floating hotel, and several hotels and campsites welcome visitors. The main town of the Delta is Tulcea with its excellent Danube Delta Museum.
Carpathian Mountains
This beautiful and densely forested mountainous area lends itself to many sporting and leisure activities such as skiing, bob-sleighing, horseriding and tennis. Situated in picturesque valleys and on mountain slopes are many health and winter resorts, open all year round and well equipped with ski-hire facilities. The major resorts are: Sinaia (bob-sleigh tracks), Busteni, Predeal and Poiana Brasov (both of which have illuminated ski slopes), Semenic, Paltinis, Borsa and Durau. All are equipped to cater for a long winter sports season running from December to April. Spectacular mountain lakes are found in the Fagaras and Retezat ranges, and caves in the Apuseni, Mehedinti and Bihor regions. The Hurezi Monastery, in the Vâlcea county, has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
Bukovina
An area in the northern Carpathian foothills which has unique churches and monasteries with exceptional frescoes dating back 500 years. Sucevita is the home of a monastery with the largest number of frescoes in the region. 29km (18 miles) west of Sucevita is Moldovita, renowned for its spectacular paintings. The Moldavian region has 48 monasteries in total, nearly all of them built to celebrate victories over the Turks in the 14th and 15th centuries. There are also numerous beautiful old churches, notable for their painted exterior walls decorated with 15th and 16th century Byzantine frescoes. Seven of them are now included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Transylvania
Since Roman times Romanian spas have been known for their miraculous healing powers. Transylvania holds many well-equipped spa towns, such as Baile Felix, Baile Herculane, Sovata and Covasna, some of which have facilities offering acupuncture, acupressure and slimming cures. It is here that the myth of Dracula, immortalised in Bram Stoker's famous novel, originated. The original Dracula was a medieval King known as 'Vlad the Impaler', owing to his unpleasant habits. One of Vlad's original abodes is Bran Castle; set in a commanding position, with its thick walls and peaked tower, it offers a dramatic view and a chilling atmosphere. (Tours are available to Bran Castle from the mountain resort of Poiana Brasov, where it is possible to ski in winter and undertake mountain climbing and walking in summer.) From here one can travel to Sibiu, which has a great market. Transylvania is also known for its numerous Saxon fortified churches, including the Biertan Church, which stands on top of a hill overlooking the village of Biertan and is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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