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LONG WEEKEND with DRACULA Are you brave enough to encounter Dracula? To set your foot in Transylvania? What if the Transylvanians exist? Shouldn't you rather see a Bela Lugosi movie? Anyway, if we cannot change your mind - here is what's in store for you: Thursday: A DIVE OF 500 YEARS Yes, Bram Stoker borrowed the name of a Romanian 15 century prince to baptize his vampire-count, on account that "Dracula means devil in Romanian" * Direct transfer from the airport to the impressive historical fortress Dracula - Poienari (3 hours away). Cocktail, briefing, Q & A on board the car/van/bus. * Circle the forbidding fortress, listening to its many legends. Then enter the village of Aref, across the hill, to overnight - as guests of the descendants of those who served the prince 545 years ago (Aref is the only village in Romania recalling legends about prince Vlad the Impaler-Dracula, half-a-millennium apart. And for good reason: they still own 9 of the 14 mountains given to them by prince Vlad). * Bonfire (and more legends) in front of a 250 year old house. All the farmers in Aref have chicken and geese, sheep, cows and pigs, cats, dogs, orchards, vegetable gardens - just like in Vlad's time (plus bathrooms, TV, telephone). Time to look into the genesis of Dracula - a journey into our own archetypes of fear (therefore of protection). * Dinner on Arefean specialties (drinks unlimited). * Overnight in Aref, in private farm houses.
Friday: "WELCOME TO MY HOUSE! ENTER FREELY AND OF YOUR ON WILL!" Will you? Listen, you can spend the rest of the weekend in Aref, that is - in Valahia, you know. But you'll miss the answers to your many questions about this fabled, ancient province of Romania. Fine, let's cross the Carpathians to the heart of Transylvania - to Sighisoara, the best-preserved 15 century walled-town in Europe (UNESCO's World Heritage). Many and great are the secrets of a mediaeval town. The Catholic parts of Transylvania had witch-trials in the hundreds, but a few have survived - would you like to meet one? To fly a broom over the walled-town, maybe? See some Children of the Pied-piper of Hamelyn? Wait till you get there... * Overnight in Sighisoara Saturday: THE TRANSYLVANIAN SPELL Now it is too late to tell you, but no-one has ever entered Transylvania to leave unchanged. * Spend a little bit more time in this bewitching Sighisoara, then head toward Castle Bran, one of the few standing European castles of the 14 century (of weird association with both the historic and the supernatural Dracula. Lots of weird shopping. Remember to bargain). * Then discover the might of mediaeval Brasov - the second city of Transylvania (4000 inhabitants in the 15 century; 400,000 today). You may even wish to win a nobility title (knight in The Order of Transylvanian Knights) if you can pass the 7 chivalry tests. This title is not for sale, it is based on personal merit (optional). * Farewell dinner. * Overnight in Brasov or Poiana Brasov Sunday: Departure to the airport. Departure from Romania. (Time-permitting: visit Peles - the royal palace. Optional). How about a different weekend, or even a full-blown tour chosen from our www.transylvaniatour.com ? Yours Transylvanishly, B.T.T. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
