Highlight Photos
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Topkapi Harem, Sultan’s Room -
Capidava fortress -
Agighiol hoard helmet -
Galata Tower in Istanbul -
Enisala fortress -
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul -
Adamclisi Monument -
Letea horses -
Dolmabahçe Palace entrance
Highlights Map
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After a year in which due to Covid we weren’t able to go outside the US we are going stir crazy so as soon as the travel restrictions relax a bit on we go to visit our families in Romania. We do that via Turkey which has fewer restrictions but even so are placed in quarantine by Romania’s border control, not respecting their own rules. We then spend a few annoying days suing the state and finally being let out of quarantine, yay. This is followed by an exploration of the fortified churches of Transylvania and the Roman and medieval fortresses in Dobrogea and a one day trip in the Danube Delta. On the way back we stop for two days in Istanbul to visit this special city while avoiding the need to get another Covid test after the one we did in Romania.
Click on the Links below or Markers on the map above to go directly to a specific part of our trip and follow our first international trip after the start of Covid, to Romania and Turkey.
- Ten days in Cluj, quarantined and then freed
The trip does not start auspiciously as we are forced into quarantine for a few days before being able to explore the city - Central Park to Cetatuia Hill exploration
We spend half day exploring the Central Park and then walking up the Cetatuia Hill for great views and a few ruins - One day exploring Sebes from a historic hotel
We explore historic Sebes for a day enjoying our stay at a 15th century hotel while switching between families - The surprisingly interesting Sebes Museum
With our relatives sleeping we spend an hour in the more interesting than expected Municipal Museum in Sebes - Sebes Fortified Church
With our relatives now awake we visit with some difficulty the nearby historical Fortified Evangelical Church - Calnic Fortress, a well deserved Unesco WHS
Last stop today is Calnic Fortress an Unesco WHS and an impressive well preserved medieval fortified church - The Fortified Church of Valea Viilor, an Unesco WHS
Today the major stop is the Fortified Church in Valea Viilor an Unesco WHS while also visiting a friend and relatives graves on the way - On the way from Bilbor to Tusnad
Today returning from Bilbor To Bucharest we stop in Tusnad to eat some local specialties and look for bears - The famous and special Bran Castle
We end the day with a visit to Bran Castle the most famous castle in Romania and linked to Dracula even though there is little truth to that - A fun boat ride in Comana Natural Park
We make a short visit to Comana to meet relatives and to take a boat ride on the lake and see birds and wildlife - Capidava, a mystery Roman fortress
On the first major stop of the day we visit the interesting Capidava fortress which was recently partially reconstructed - The impressive restored Tropaeum Traiani at Adamclisi
Adamclisi was a place we always wanted to visit to see the famous Tropaeum Traiani represented on Romanian stamps and coins - A visit to St Cassian Monastery and Cave
There are many new monasteries here and we visit one of them, St Cassian Monastery, which has a nearby cave where the Saint meditated - Exploring the fun Bat Cave
We stop at an actual wild cave to see bats and also visit the nearby hermitage in a beautiful natural setting - Exploring the wild Vadu Beach
Late afternoon we visit the wild beach at Vadu to see birds, walk on the shore and enjoy the beautiful weather before eating at an exceptional fish restaurant - The weird Buried Church of Istria
With the Histria ruins closed we visit the nearby weird buried Orthodox church built that way to follow the Ottoman rules at the time - A nice hike exploring the unknown Argamum ruins
On the way north we stop at a ruin that we know little about but the Argamum ruins are worth the stop with great views and some nice ruins at a cost of free - Impressive hilltop Enisala Fortress
On the way up the coast we stop at the only surviving Genovese fortress on the coast Enisala fortress on a special location on top of the hill - Halmyris Fortress, a key Roman castle
We end the day at the northernmost point of the Roman limes Halmyris a major fortress for hundreds of years - A day long boat tour of the Danube Delta
Today it is the day to explore the Danube Delta passing through innumerable canals and seeing lots of birds while enjoying the beautiful nature - The wild horses of Letea forest
We spend a few hours exploring Letea from an open truck seeing the old forest and the dunes as well as the famous wild horses - Tulcea Museum of History, a worthy stop
The Tulcea History Museum is larger than expected with many interesting exhibits including the objects found in treasure hoards throughout the county - The well known, in Dobrogea, Celic Dere Monastery
We make a brief stop at the large Celic Dere Monastery one of the more famous ones in Dobrogea before buying some good Dobrogean wine - The special Paleochristian Basilica in Niculitel
Stopping in Niculitel we visit the impressive Paleochristian Basilica housed in a modern building - The hidden and abandoned fortress of Dinogetia
Our last major stop for the trip is at Dinogetia fortress which seems forgotten and abandoned with ruined sections accessible via overgrown paths - One day in Bucharest before our Turkey adventure
We spend the last day in Bucharest exploring the town a bit visiting the grave of relatives and getting our covid certificates for the return trip - Out of the world Dolmabahçe Palace
Our first stop in Istanbul is the Dolmabahçe Palace, the last, oppulent palace of the Ottoman sultans and a major tourist destination - From Taksim Square to Galata Tower and beyond
From Dolmabahçe Palace we climb to Taksim Square and then continue towards our hotel enjoying the sights and eating dinner along the way - Starting with Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
In the morning we start with th Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia the two major and impressive houses of worship in the historical center - The marvellous Topkapi Palace
We spend the majority of today exploring Topkapi Palace the seat of power of Ottoman sultans for hundreds of years - Exploring the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
Last stop of our trip is the interesting Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum worth visiting for the beautiful exhibits and objects