R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 6

After Bucharest — Cairo and Saqqara

Step Pyramid of Djoser; Saqqara, Egypt

After Ursula and I departed Bucharest, Romania, we headed off to a destination we hadn’t visited since 1984 — Cairo, Egypt. This would be our first stop in Egypt for continuing south to Aswan for a Nile River cruise. And upon our arrival at the Mar Chabel Hotel, while we waited for the front desk staff to find our reservations (and waited… and waited…), Ursula booked us on a tour for the next day. This tour would take us first to Saqqara, an ancient necr...

Fun Food Friday — Bucharest Gem: Caru’ cu Bere

Caru’ cu Bere — Strada Stavropoleos 5, București 030081, Romania

Caru’ cu Bere is not your typical dining establishment. Indeed, there is nothing “typical” about Caru’ cu Bere on any level. This place opened as a brewery way back in 1879. Hence the name, which translates to Cart with Beer. Thus, it’s a beer hall that morphed onto a restaurant featuring some really great Romanian food. And it does not cater solely to tourists. I was immediately struck by how many Romanians head into this estab...

Bucharest, Romania — Protest at the Palace of Parliament

Biserica Sfântul Dumitru (Saint Demetrius Church)

On our final full day in Bucharest, Ursula wanted to head over to the Palatul Parlamentului (Palace of Parliament) for a tour of this monstrous edifice that, arguably, got Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena dates with a firing squad in 1989. Along the way we passed by Biserica Sfântul Dimitrie–Poștă (St. Demetrius–Post Church), which you can see in the photograph above. And in case you’re wondering how “Poștă” got in the name, it derives fro...

Romania — Brasov and Lunch at La Gustări

Casa Sfatului (Council’s House), Brașov, Romania

After our narrow escape from Castle Dracula (Bran Castle), we headed northeast to Brașov to catch our breathe and grab a quick bite (see what I just did there?). So, after alighting from our coach, we headed to Piața Sfatului (Council Square). Unfortunately, the sun was already sinking and time did not permit a lengthy investigation of this enchanting place. If it had, we definitely would’ve hit the nearby Biserica Neagră (Black Church). But by...

Fun Photo Friday — Romania Favorites 4

The Werewolf We Encountered at Castle Dracula

On Wednesday I promised a picture of the werewolf we encountered on the grounds of Castle Dracula. After getting permission to take a picture from young Larry Talbot’s parents — Barnabas and Angelique Bouchard Collins (real names withheld), I quickly snapped the image above before Ursula and I made a hasty retreat back into the village of Bran. Now that I’ve gotten that promise out of the way, here is today’s Fun Photo Friday of Romania favorites:...

Romania — Touring Castle Dracula

‘Tis best to visit Castle Dracula during the day, whilst the count lies in his coffin

Forget everything I told you on Monday about Bran Castle and you’ll have a lot more fun today. Suspend your disbelief as we concentrate on the horrors contained within the cold, dank walls of Castle Dracula. I can already feel the chill and the blood draining from my body. How about you? Not yet? Well, how about shaking hands to Vlad the Impaler, who has resided here, off and on, since the mid 1500s? Not fa...

Romania — The Horror of Dracula; Bran Castle

Bran (a.k.a., Dracula’s) Castle, with entrance to Vlad’s crypt (I jest)

About 186 driving kilometers/115 miles northwest of Old Town, Bucharest, just 16 miles/25 kilometers southwest of Brașov, an ominous looking edifice sits high atop a tall hill overlooking Bran, Romania, which lies on the Transylvanian side (where else?) of the Transylvania-Wallachia border. This is Bran Castle, which was built by the Saxons in 1377, and which today belongs to Archduke Dominic  von Habsburg of Austria-Tusc...

Fun Photo Friday — Romania Favorites 3

Biserica “Sfântul Nicolae” — “Saint Nicolas” Church, Bucharest, Romania

Today is the third Fun Photo Friday of Bucharest, Romania favorites:

Wouldn’t “Dracula Lives” be an oxymoron? Bran “Dracula’s” Castle Eastern Orthodox mosaic icon I’m pretty sure this is not Erik the Red Cats and Dragons — What a combo Winter in Romania

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Romania — The Rooms of Peleș Castle

Peleș Castle Hall of Honor

Today I’m going to present images of some of the rooms awaiting you in Peleș Castle. I begin with the image above of the three-story Hall of Honor with its incredible, richly detailed woodwork, corinthian columns, and other exquisite features. In case you’re wondering how one eats in a place this elaborate, here’s the dining nook:

Peleș Castle dining room — seating for 32 of your closest neighbors

Of course every castle needs a music room:

Peleș Castle music...

Romania — The Art and Stained Glass of Peleș Castle

Strada Săniușului — outside Peleș Castle

As one would expect in a royal palace, Peleș Castle is filled with fine art, including some magnificent examples of stained glass. Other works within the walls of Peleș Castle are finely decortated ceilings, statuary, and medieval implements of knightly arms and armor used is decorative wall hangings.

Peleș Castle stained glass

All of this combined creates a wonderful and fascinating collection of exquisite art pieces.

The queen reading in the ...