Tag: mountain

  • Dambovicioara

    Dambovicioara

    We’re heading today towards the center of Romania. Our
    stopover is a tourist resort of national interest, the commune of Dâmbovicioara.
    The area is recommended to all categories of tourists, for relaxation, but also
    for active tourism. Climbing, mountain cycling and agritourism can be practiced
    there. Also, in the region you can watch genuine pageantries of traditional apparel,
    or you can take part in festivals that promote the local cuisine.


    It is a
    place replete with traditions, it is a destination for the entire family. With details
    on that, here is an official of the National Tourism Information
    and Promotion Center, Raluca Busioc.




    Dâmbovicioara
    is a wonderful commune, with breathtaking scenery and I’m not the only one
    saying it, as here it feels like home to me and there are also many other people
    saying it, those who arrive here. Geographically speaking, Dâmbovicioara is
    part of Wallachia, it is a commune in Arges county, lying on the border with Brasov
    County, in Transylvania. The mountain ranges surrounding our commune are part
    of the Southern Carpathians, namely Piatra Craiului, Iezer-Păpușa and Leaota. So,
    the invitation we ‘re extending is for you to see spectacular landscapes existing
    in those mountain trails. The trekking routes are very many, and extremely varied.
    Also, you can practice bouldering in the Brusturet Gorges, a segment of the gorges
    which is part of a complex of eighteen gorges in our area. Apart from tis
    adventure tourism, relaxation is, by all means, welcome in our area because it
    is a very quiet area, it is not crowded at all. In recent years, jointly with
    the people in the community we have succeeded to lay our emphasis on experience
    tourism. We have been trying to promote, and we’ve succeeded, together with
    groups of tourists, to stage all sort of activities related to the life here,
    to life in the countryside.


    Experience-based tourism is an innovative
    approach to travelling, for which center-stage is being able to experience and
    understand culture, places and people, instead of only visiting traditional
    tourist objectives. This kind of tourism provides
    a deeper perspective on the destination. In Dâmbovicioara, you’re sure to
    experience the local culture and the local way of living, which, definitely,
    means unforgettable memories, says the official
    of the National Tourism Information and Promotion Center, Raluca Busioc.


    We experienced stitching on etamine, wood
    sculpture, tourists can see for themselves how to sew the ie, the traditional blouse
    specific for our area. Even the cooking workshops based on the recipes in our
    region have worked very well, while people have begun to be strongly attracted
    by everything related to experience tourism. Apart from the scenery or the leisure
    of the guesthouses, people want to have their own memories of their stay here. Usually,
    such activities target groups of at least ten people. So far, we have worked
    with tourism agencies that had the role of organizing that group. I have been approached
    and, jointly with the people here, in the community, with other partners, I have
    created tourism programs for those people. So a connection between tourists, the
    community and these activities in the community can be the Dambovicioara
    Tourism Center. The Center’s Facebook page can be accessed at Turism Dambovicioara
    and there it is the fastest way to contact me, but you can also contact me by phone,
    that’s for sure.


    You will also find a little museum with the Turism Promotion
    and Information Center.


    It is a room that has been arranged
    according to tradition. I thought, together with my colleagues and with the
    other people I have been working with, that it could act as an introduction to tradition.
    There is, in the region, a museum which is a lot more complex than tis room in
    the tourism center, yet the role this room had was, in fact, a meeting point
    for the women in the community. Later, tourists also came, they wanted to see
    for themselves how this demo of sewing and weaving work, actually, as we also
    have a weaving loom here, at the tourism center. So, the main role was to give
    an impetus of village women’s evening sittings that have of course got a new
    shape, yet what we had in mind were the village evening sitting of the old
    days.


    The Dâmbovicioara river cut down, into the rock, an eight-kilometer-long
    canyon, while in some of the segments the walls of the valley are more than 200
    meter high. There are more than 50 caves in the region. However, Raluca Busioc
    of the National Tourism Information and Promotion Center recommends that we
    visit the Dâmbovicioara Cave, which offers a varied karstic relief. It was
    discovered in 1579 and has electric lighting since 1980. Right at the entrance,
    you will find a restaurant with a traditional menu. Access can be made through a
    floodlit walkway, made of metal, on which tourists can walk the 250 meters that
    are available for visiting.


    Coming here, every year,
    are tens of thousands of tourists who are simply impressed by the legend of
    this cave. Briefly, it is about two outlaws, Fulga and
    Budac. The two outlaws stole the fortunes from the rich and gave them to the poor.
    So the legend is very interesting for those who come over. However, the most important tourist assets with us
    remain the tourist trekking routes, especially in Piatra Craiului, since it is
    one of the most spectacular mountains.


    If you intend to plan a holiday in Dambovicioara in 2024,
    it is advisable that you get there when a local event is held. Palm Sunday, The
    Assumption of Saint Mary, but also December 1st, the National Day of
    Romania, are an opportunity for a great feast or holiday. Also, another local event
    that has been very successful in recent years, an event which began in 2016, is
    the Day of the Peasant Embroidered Blouse, the ie in Romanian, staged on June
    24.


    It is a very interesting day,
    as the guests make contact with the people of the community, and it is also a
    merry-making opportunity. We have succeeded, together with the people in the region,
    to remind tourists of the simplicity of the days of yore, to better present the
    traditions that are specific to the region. By and large, the key element in
    all these activities has been the contact tourists had with the people in the
    region. We are here with our arms wide open for you, in a bid to show you the
    beauty of the region, to speak about us, to tell our story to the best of our
    abilities and, of course, to make you enjoy quiet and relaxing stay.


    So here we have a destination for all nature lovers, a
    destination where you can see unique assets, where you get to know special people and where you can charge your batteries for the whole year.

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Athlete Mădălina Florea came in 6th in the women’s Mountain classic event as part of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championship in Austria’s Innsbruck-Stubai. Madalina clocked one hour, seven minutes and 25 hundredths of a second, in the 15.5- kilometer event, held at an altitude of 760 meters, The winner was US athlete Grayson Murphy, with a timing of one hour, four minutes and 29 seconds, As part of the same event, Magdalena Bosânceanu came in 46th, Adelina Panaet came in 48th, while Liliana Dragomir came in 54th.



    For her remarkable feat in the recently-held Championships, Radio Romania International has designated Mădălina Florea the Athlete of the week.



    30-year-old Madalina Florea was born on February 3rd, 1993 in central Romania’s Sighisoara. Initially, Madalina was into rhythmic gymnastics for three years, trying her hand at the ribbon, rope, ball and the pair of clubs. Madalina Florea took a completely different career path in sports, taking up athletics and also playing football with her colleagues while on training sessions. In her senior’s career, Madalina scooped gold in the semi-marathon held in Bucharest, in 2014. Then in Great Britain’s Birmingham, in 2016, Madalina walked away with silver, also in the semi-marathon. Also in 2016, she won bronze in the teams’ competition as part of the European cross-country Championships in Chia, Italy. In 2017, in Abidjan on the Ivory Coast, Madalina took part in the Francophony Games, where she came in 4th in the 5,000m race. As part of the same event, Madalina Florea came in 3rd in the 10,000m race.



    In 2018, Madalina sustained a serious ankle injury and the ensuing surgical operation kept her away from the track for one year. In 2019 however, she had a vigorous comeback and won the semi-marathon in Bucharest, reenacting her performance of 2014. Also in 2019, at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championship held in Angostura, Argentina, Madalina walked home with bronze in the nations’ competition. In 2022, Madalina Florea’s record included a silver medal in the World Mountain Running Championship in El Paso, Spain.




  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Athlete Mădălina Florea came in 6th in the women’s Mountain classic event as part of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championship in Austria’s Innsbruck-Stubai. Madalina clocked one hour, seven minutes and 25 hundredths of a second, in the 15.5- kilometer event, held at an altitude of 760 meters, The winner was US athlete Grayson Murphy, with a timing of one hour, four minutes and 29 seconds, As part of the same event, Magdalena Bosânceanu came in 46th, Adelina Panaet came in 48th, while Liliana Dragomir came in 54th.



    For her remarkable feat in the recently-held Championships, Radio Romania International has designated Mădălina Florea the Athlete of the week.



    30-year-old Madalina Florea was born on February 3rd, 1993 in central Romania’s Sighisoara. Initially, Madalina was into rhythmic gymnastics for three years, trying her hand at the ribbon, rope, ball and the pair of clubs. Madalina Florea took a completely different career path in sports, taking up athletics and also playing football with her colleagues while on training sessions. In her senior’s career, Madalina scooped gold in the semi-marathon held in Bucharest, in 2014. Then in Great Britain’s Birmingham, in 2016, Madalina walked away with silver, also in the semi-marathon. Also in 2016, she won bronze in the teams’ competition as part of the European cross-country Championships in Chia, Italy. In 2017, in Abidjan on the Ivory Coast, Madalina took part in the Francophony Games, where she came in 4th in the 5,000m race. As part of the same event, Madalina Florea came in 3rd in the 10,000m race.



    In 2018, Madalina sustained a serious ankle injury and the ensuing surgical operation kept her away from the track for one year. In 2019 however, she had a vigorous comeback and won the semi-marathon in Bucharest, reenacting her performance of 2014. Also in 2019, at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championship held in Angostura, Argentina, Madalina walked home with bronze in the nations’ competition. In 2022, Madalina Florea’s record included a silver medal in the World Mountain Running Championship in El Paso, Spain.




  • August 1, 2021 UPDATE

    August 1, 2021 UPDATE

    DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu Saturday had talks over the telephone with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, concerning the incident involving the Mercer Street vessel in the Hormuz Strait area, in which a Romanian and a British national were killed on 29 July. The Romanian foreign ministry says it is in touch with both the company managing the ship, and with the local authorities in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and is prepared to provide consular assistance. Also on Saturday, Bogdan Aurescu exchanged views on the matter with the UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab, and agreed on the need to clarify as soon as possible the circumstances of the incident. Dominic Raab voiced the willingness of the British authorities to coordinate with the Romanian party with respect to the repatriation procedures. A Romanian national and a British citizen from the crew of the oil tanker “Mercer Street were killed in an attack in unclear circumstances, as the vessel was sailing with no cargo onboard off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea. The Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned ship is managed by the London-based company Zodiac Maritime, headed by an Israeli businessman.




    COVID-19 On Sunday 152 new SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported, out of nearly 22,000 tests. The authorities also announced no new COVID-related deaths, but reported 5 previous deaths, over 400 people hospitalised and 59 patients in ICUs. Meanwhile, new COVID-19 relaxation measures took effect in Romania on Sunday. In places with infection rates below 2 per thousand, outdoor events may be attended by up to 75,000 people, private indoor events by 400 participants, and sports competitions may be held with crowds up to 75% of the venue capacity. Participants must be vaccinated, tested or must have recovered from the disease. A maximum of 500 people may take part in rallies, with mandatory face covering, which remains a prerequisite in all indoor or busy areas. Also as of Sunday, the COVID-19 vaccine platform allows appointments for youth aged 12 to 17. Over 5 million people have received at least one dose of anti-coronavirus vaccine in Romania. 7,330 people have got the vaccine in the past 24 hours.




    FESTIVAL Cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic, the Medieval Sighişoara Festival, the longest-lasting festival of its kind in Romania, bringing together artists, craftsmen and a large number of guests, came to a close on Sunday with a concert by the Romanian band Phoenix. The only medieval citadel still inhabited in southeastern Europe, Sighişoara saw over the weekend warriors, knights, ladies of the court and master craftsmen pouring in from all corners of the country and from abroad.




    MOUNTAIN RESCUE The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis posted a message on Sunday, on National Mountain Rescue Day, praising the “dedication and self-sacrifice of mountain rescue workers. The Romanian Mountain Rescue Association, known as Salvamont, the only mountain rescue service in the country, celebrated on Sunday 117 years since the first mountain rescue structures were established in the country.




    WEATHER Romania remains in the grip of a severe heat wave, with 16 counties and the capital Bucharest subject to code orange alerts for extreme heat and severe thermal discomfort valid on Monday, and a similar, code yellow alert in another 8 counties. The heat index is over the critical 80-unit threshold. Highs will be ranging between 37 and 40-41 degrees Celsius.




    MOLDOVA A new, pro-European and pro-reform government may be sworn in within days in the Republic of Moldova, after president Maia Sandu nominated Natalia Gavriliţă, from Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), for prime minister. She announced she would make public a proposed cabinet list in the following days, and voiced hopes that the new government will be sworn in as soon as possible. PAS, which holds a majority of seats in Parliament following the election of June 11, and the small party ŞOR, said they would support the new cabinet, whereas the Socialists and Communists warned they would vote against. Natalia Gavriliţă is the vice-president of PAS, a party founded by incumbent president Maia Sandu 5 years ago. She was an education minister in Maia Sandus cabinet in 2019, held several positions in Moldovas economy and education ministries, and worked for several years in private multinational companies.




    OLYMPICS Romanias rowing team returned on Sunday to the country with 3 medals—a gold and 2 silver—from the Tokyo Olympics. Romania finished the rowing competition on 4th place in the ranking after New Zealand (3 gold, 2 silver), Australia (2 gold, 2 bronze) and the Netherlands (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze). The 3 medals won by the Romanian team coached by the Antonio Colamonici (Italy) were brought home by Ancuţa Bondar and Simona Radiş—gold in women’s double sculls; Mihăiţă Ţigănescu, Mugurel Semciuc, Ştefan Berariu and Cosmin Pascari—silver in mens coxless four; and Marius Cozmiuc and Ciprian Tudosă—silver in mens two-frame event. The overall medal count for the Romanian rowers in the Olympics is 20 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze medals. So far in Tokyo Romania has won one other medal, silver for Ana-Maria Popescu in the epee event. (tr. A.M. Popescu)