The ABC's of Adventuring Across the Balkans! G is for: Gorgeous View with a Great Cake (4/21)

[pkondz]

I think they'll be so cool to see in person!

Or will it be them, seeing you??

 

[zanzibar138]

I will have to wait on printing out my fancy-schmancy laminated, color-coded, itinerary cards that I always make.

I love that you do this

Our U.S. airports are a complete poop show right now and it’s advised you arrive at least 4 hours ahead of your flight.

At least 4 hours? That's crazy! As if 3 hours isn't enough of a time impost.

Paying for checked bags is spendy.

The idea of having to pay for checked luggage on an international flight still spins me out!

Lugging heavy suitcases around is hard.

This one I totally get. Not really looking forward to lugging 3 large suitcases, 3 carry ons, a walking frame and a Grandma around on trains

Budapest’s Fisherman’s Bastion: I’ve planned this stop for first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. If you’re there early enough, you can get into any of the turrets and have it all to yourself for some people-free photos.

Love this, looks like a fairytale!

I’d like to sit in this exquisite lobby and enjoy a cup of afternoon coffee.

The first night is in Sibiu- City of Eyes, because of architecture like this:

Haha even before reading the text as soon as I scrolled down I thought wow that's creepy, those look just like eyes

Instead, before arriving in Bucharest later in the day, my plan is to tour the most tourist-visited attraction in Romania- Peles Castle which is between Brasov and Bucharest.

Good plan. That castle looks amazing with all the wood carvings. I find it so interesting how the castles in the different regions vary so much. We are definitely going to keep our castle visits to a minimum to avoid castle fatigue, but do plan to visit Hohensalzburg in Austria and have 3 or 4 on the list for Wales.

We've got a Level 4 Nado situation here for later tonight and I need to get my Go Bag ready and some furniture secured before any issues later.

Spins me out that you have to deal with this just as part of normal life! I guess it's not dissimilar to cyclones in northern Australia or even bushfires - I pretty much have an evacuation pack ready to go between November and March.

 

[missjackiemcg]

(29 more days of clinic, but who's counting...?)

47 more days of kindergarten!! But who's counting? ....it's me. I am the counter!!

We've got a Level 4 Nado situation here for later tonight and I need to get my Go Bag ready and some furniture secured before any issues later

Sunday's weather was downright scary all the way up in Chicago, too. It poured like crazy, switched to snow, but we had insane wind gusts and thunder and lightning, even with the snow. I hate when the weather goes whacky. Hope you did OK down there!!

 

[irene_dsc]

The first night is in Sibiu- City of Eyes, because of architecture like this:

Did your research mention that those are called eyebrow dormers? But, the ones I'm used to seeing tend to have arched windows, not rectangular, so they don't look quite as much like actual eyes! Henry H. Richardson (known for the "Richardsonian Romanesque" architecture style) liked to use them quite a bit in the late 1800's.

I may be switching to my new website for international travel. honestly I haven't decided yet.

I guess I should have you send me a link so I don't lose track!

 

[irene_dsc]

Btw, apparently I'm mainly thinking of one particular building by HH Richardson, the Crane Library, and one of the Wikipedia articles calls them eyelid dormers, not eyebrow dormers, and says that they are Japanese inspired. I don't remember that from my architecture history classes, but it's been a while!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crane_Public_Library

 

[Steppesister]

C is for: Continuing on City to City Along the Danube

***** ZERO of the following photos are mine*****​

I last left off with the plan for the stops between Budapest and Bucharest including Sibiu, Timisoara, Sighisoara, Brasov, and what I think may be a trip highlight, Peles and Pelisor Castles. But, after arriving in Bucharest, what now?

While Bucharest, I’m sure, has many, many wonderful things to see and do, my time is not unlimited! Sadly, I’ve only built in 1 afternoon and a short morning before hitting the road again. After a long string of days with miles and miles of walking planned, it’ll be time for a little pampering! I’m fairly ridiculously excited to relax at the Grand Continental Hotel for a bit of a hoity-toity after a 2-4 hour walk depending on how much I dawdle checking out things like:

The Romanian Athenaeum:

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Stavropoleos Church:

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And the heaviest and most expensive administrative building ever built. Considered by many a sick and twisted, and yet commanding, monument to one man’s greed and insatiable lust for power- the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest:

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Admittedly, a lot of Bucharest touring will be to admire the various forms of architecture. From Socialist Realism like the Palace to this bizarre blend of styles of the Crețulescu Palace nearby.

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Architecture is not the only thing I’m looking forward to! I literally have a separate spreadsheet page listing all the “must-try” goodies from each country/stop I have planned. Here in the Bucharest area, it’d be a crime to not have dinner at the Caru cu Bere!

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Their website is fascinating with all the history of the place you’d want:

https://www.carucubere.ro/


I’m not sure if I ever shared here that for the past few months I’ve been on an “I’d sure like to learn to like beer” quest. To be very honest, I’ve had a few now and, whereas I used to really turn up my nose, I’ve actually enjoyed at least a few that I’ve tried. Why, you might be asking? Because I’m not going to Bucharest’s oldest beerhall and not having one on tap. To top this dinner off, they feature live Romanian folk music to sip your suds with. Yeah, I’m pretty stoked about this one.


The next day’s drive is a comparatively short one, and with the luxurious digs, I don’t plan to be in a huge rush to get out the next morning. The winding banks of the Danube will guide my route as I drive from Bucharest to my next stop in Drobeta-Turnu.

It’s only a 4-hour drive, but the little town of Craiova at about the halfway mark looks absolutely inviting, no?

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The square looks really nice, but wait, there’s more!

A botanical garden:

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And an art museum too. Which I may or may not do.


After a fairly quick stop in Drobeta-Turnu, which was only added to break up a long day of driving on the way to Belgrade, I’ll spend the next day winding my way along the Danube taking in the, what appears to be, spectacular views of the Iron Gates National Park area:

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I mean WOW! Honestly, I am very much as excited about the scenery as I am the historical architecture, palaces, castles, and food! Google maps says it’s only a 4-hour drive from Drobeta to Belgrade, but I imagine with photo stops in the gorge and one at the Golubac Fortress will take up a bit more time.

(photo credit- Leighton Travels)​

And with that, after a gorgeous day’s drive, I’ll arrive in Belgrade for another rather pishity-poshity stay at The Hotel Moskva!

https://hotelmoskva.rs/


A spa package is included so the hope is to arrive early enough to take advantage of that to soothe any body aches from the long drives. Ahhhh!

I am hoping that I can eat here, and need to try and get a reservation for Tri Sesira Restaurant.

Loads of history at this little gem!
https://trisesira.rs/en/

Okay, folks, I’ll pick it up next time exploring Belgrade and the long, long, long drive from Belgrade to Kotor, Montenegro. Still loads to come, Friends! 6 ½ week until this trip is upon me and the time seems to zoom right along!

 

[pkondz]

While Bucharest, I’m sure, has many, many wonderful things to see and do, my time is not unlimited! Sadly, I’ve only built in 1 afternoon and a short morning before hitting the road again.

Quick!

Okay, that's fairly stunning.

Here in the Bucharest area, it’d be a crime to not have dinner at the Caru cu Bere!

Who knows... maybe in communist times it was a crime to try to eat there!

Because I’m not going to Bucharest’s oldest beerhall and not having one on tap.

I would.



Okay, maybe I wouldn't.

the little town of Craiova at about the halfway mark looks absolutely inviting, no?

 

[zanzibar138]

Sadly, I’ve only built in 1 afternoon and a short morning before hitting the road again.

So much to do... such little time!

I’m fairly ridiculously excited to relax at the Grand Continental Hotel for a bit of a hoity-toity

Very nice!

I’m not sure if I ever shared here that for the past few months I’ve been on an “I’d sure like to learn to like beer” quest.

I would love to do the same, so that I could partake in some Austrian culture! Honestly though, I've tried to drink beer several times before and I just cannot get past that yeasty taste - yuck!

It’s only a 4-hour drive, but the little town of Craiova at about the halfway mark looks absolutely inviting, no?

I’ll spend the next day winding my way along the Danube taking in the, what appears to be, spectacular views of the Iron Gates National Park area

Beautiful!

Honestly, I am very much as excited about the scenery as I am the historical architecture, palaces, castles, and food!

I'm much more excited about the scenery

A spa package is included so the hope is to arrive early enough to take advantage of that to soothe any body aches from the long drives.

Very nice!

 

[Steppesister]

Omg, that building with the eyes looks creepy! Should be an interesting place to visit!

Creepy, but my guess is over-the-top fun to photograph and see!

 

[Steppesister]

Or will it be them, seeing you??

Hmmm, now you're just getting esoterical.

 

[Steppesister]

I love that you do this

Almost ready to print them off!

At least 4 hours? That's crazy! As if 3 hours isn't enough of a time impost.

Hopefully, it'll get sorted out soon. :fingerscrossed:

The idea of having to pay for checked luggage on an international flight still spins me out!

It's a disgusting ca$h grab and is infuriating.

This one I totally get. Not really looking forward to lugging 3 large suitcases, 3 carry ons, a walking frame and a Grandma around on trains

Not easy for sure. I think I can pull this off with just carry-on... we'll see when I do my full practice pack.

Love this, looks like a fairytale!

It really does!!

Haha even before reading the text as soon as I scrolled down I thought wow that's creepy, those look just like eyes

And apparently, they are everywhere!

Good plan. That castle looks amazing with all the wood carvings. I find it so interesting how the castles in the different regions vary so much. We are definitely going to keep our castle visits to a minimum to avoid castle fatigue, but do plan to visit Hohensalzburg in Austria and have 3 or 4 on the list for Wales.

That one we share in common. I'm not sure how many castles I'll do, but they're are certainly enough to get overload should I want to.

Spins me out that you have to deal with this just as part of normal life! I guess it's not dissimilar to cyclones in northern Australia or even bushfires - I pretty much have an evacuation pack ready to go between November and March.

Yes, I think it's an awfully lot like the bushfires. We, like you, do get some warning, us even can be days, and we're always prepared Spring-mid-Summer. Although the one that wiped a good portion of our town happened in Dec. Yikes!

 

[Steppesister]

47 more days of kindergarten!! But who's counting? ....it's me. I am the counter!!


Sunday's weather was downright scary all the way up in Chicago, too. It poured like crazy, switched to snow, but we had insane wind gusts and thunder and lightning, even with the snow. I hate when the weather goes whacky. Hope you did OK down there!!

LOL!! A wonderful thing to look forward to!

Snow thunder is a really cool phenomenon! I've heard it once or twice here. But yeah, we had 60mph gusts here too. Crazy!!

 

[Steppesister]

Did your research mention that those are called eyebrow dormers? But, the ones I'm used to seeing tend to have arched windows, not rectangular, so they don't look quite as much like actual eyes! Henry H. Richardson (known for the "Richardsonian Romanesque" architecture style) liked to use them quite a bit in the late 1800's.


I guess I should have you send me a link so I don't lose track!

It did! I do love architecture and the various styles I'm going to get to see which are far rarer here. I really need to bone up a bit before I get there!

 

[Steppesister]

Btw, apparently I'm mainly thinking of one particular building by HH Richardson, the Crane Library, and one of the Wikipedia articles calls them eyelid dormers, not eyebrow dormers, and says that they are Japanese inspired. I don't remember that from my architecture history classes, but it's been a while!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crane_Public_Library

That's a really unique building. Very pretty and those dormers sure give it a unique look!

 

[Steppesister]

Okay, that's fairly stunning.

I sure think so!

Who knows... maybe in communist times it was a crime to try to eat there!

I think the tri šešira would fit that category more, but you may very well be right about this one too!! While not very pleasant to live under those regimes, it has an undertone of intrigue now.

 

[Steppesister]

So much to do... such little time!

Always.

I would love to do the same, so that I could partake in some Austrian culture! Honestly though, I've tried to drink beer several times before and I just cannot get past that yeasty taste - yuck!

I admit, it is bitter but then so is coffee. And I like that. So I suppose I can develop a taste for this too.

 

[Steppesister]

For those of you who subscribed to my blog to give me some feedback and constructive tips... THANK YOU! I understand as I continue to copy and paste my past trip reports in it to build some content so it's "fuller" when I publicly launch it, that it may feel like a bombardment in your inbox. I don't know if you can silence notifications on your end. I can turn off e-mail notifications on mine. If you are interested in continuing to read or re-read those Greece chapters, and then Italy chapters, just check back on that link now and then. I'll give a nudge now and then as well.

 

[Wood Nymph]

The architecture is amazing! We don't have anything like that here. You are going to have a very busy trip.

 

[missjackiemcg]

All of the architecture looks absolutely stunning! I look forward to the TR to follow and reading all the factual tidbits I know you'll share. Plus, your photography will no doubt capture some amazing nuances.

 

[Steppesister]

The architecture is amazing! We don't have anything like that here. You are going to have a very busy trip.

No, we just really don't. Which is really very sad. Utilitarian architecture certainly has its place, but I wish we could utilize some beauty in our spaces as well!

I think it will be quite busy and hopefully manageable!