Behind The Iron Curtain

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Romania

Pass By: Manuc's Inn (Hanul lui Manuc), Str. Franceza 62-64, Bucharest Romania
Fly to Bucharest and transfer to your hotel

If time permits, visit some of Bucharest’s important sights

Check-in to the hotel and enjoy a short presentation about Romania’s communist history


Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Bucharest (Hotel)

Day 2: On the way to Brașov

Pass By: Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), Str. General Traian Mosoiu nr. 24, Bran 507025 Romania
Explore the city Bucharest

Visit Bucharest’s Parliament Palace, built in the 1980’s by order of Ceausescu

Visit Ghencea Cemetery, where Nicolae Ceausescu, his wife Elena and their son Nicu are buried

Stop in a canteen mall, formally known as a ‘cantina’, where due to a shortage of food in communist times, people were forced by the authorities to eat in large work style canteens. All the cantinas are now malls, where people freely choose to eat

Lunch on the way

En route to Brasov, stop to wander around the famous Bran Castle, which is said to have been Bram Stoker’s inspiration for the residence of the vampire count in his famous novel.


Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Brasov,Hotel

Day 3: Exploring Braşov

Pass By: Brasov Historical Center, Piazza Sfatului, Brasov Romania
A morning walking tour of Brasov

The Black Church

Find the beautiful Church of St. Nicholas

The First Romanian School, situated in its grounds.

Depart for Birlad

Meet with a typical Romanian family and discuss over dinner how life has changed for them since communist times


Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a soviet inspired hotel

Day 4: Meeting Republic of Moldova

Pass By: Old Orhei Archeological Complex, Trebujeni Moldova
Visit one of Moldova’s well known sights - Old Orhei (Orheiul Vechi).

Visit 15th century “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” Cave Church.

See the remains of Geto-Dacian fortress, a functioning cave monastery, and ruins of the old Turkish bath.

Have a delicious traditional Moldovan lunch in the village

Continue to the capital of Transnistria - Tiraspol. Transnistria is a breakaway territory within the internationally recognised borders of Moldova. Although not recognised by any state or international organization, it is de facto an independent state named the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The country’s national coat of arms still includes the traditional hammer and sickle and a load of Lenin Statues that have not been pulled down.


Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight Tiraspol (hotel)

Day 5: Awake in Soviet Union

Pass By: House of Soviets, 25 Oktyabrya St., 101, Tiraspol Moldova
See a communistic-type military parade.

Enjoy the atmosphere as families relax and shop in the many small stalls lining the main street and pavement cafes are full with people enjoying local beer and freshly cooked shashlik.

Transfer to the world-famous wine cellars of Cricova. Here, see an underground city with obscure streets that are carrying the names of wines kept here: Aligote, Riesling, Codru, and Feteasca. The wines from this collection have an old history with bottles over 100 years old. Overnight in Chisinau and enjoy a special dinner with wine tasting.


Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Dinner with wine tasting
Accommodation included: Overnight in Chisinau(Hotel)

Day 6: Discovering Gagauzia

Pass By: Comrat Museum, Comrat city center, Comrat Moldova
Depart to another autonomous region of Moldova – Gagauzia

Visit the last living “Kolhoz” - a collective state farm.

Lunch will be served in the canteen of this “kolhoz”, where also the workers eat.

Cross the Prut river, the border between Romania and Republic of Moldovia, at Cahul-Oncesti.

Reach Galati, an industrial city on the Danube, where the jewel of the communist industry was built - the Steel factory.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Galati in a communist era hotel.

Day 7: Back to Bucharest

Pass By: Embassy of Romania, 1607 23rd St NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Return to Bucharest – the 300km journey will take around 4 to 5 hours

Stop en route for lunch.

Spend some time at leisure in Bucharest


Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 8: Departure home

Pass By: Chisinau City Hall, Stephan cel Mare Blvd., 83, Chisinau 2012 Moldova
Check out.

Transfer to the airport.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.