Skip to Content

Romania

Turda Salt Mine, Romania. Review and Tips

A few days ago I woke up with feet so itchy I just couldn’t stand still. A Romanian road trip, a voyage of discovery, was on my mind and I knew just the place. The amusement park in a salt mine that I’d seen pictures of online, an amazing James-Bondesque underground cavern turned tourist attraction, …

Read More about Turda Salt Mine, Romania. Review and Tips

Dinner at the Sheep Station. Sheep Farming and Romanian Shepherds in Maramures

Before approaching the sheep station we had to take precautions, the Romanian sheepdogs (AKA Romanian Shepherds) would be loose so we had to call the shepherd (human) to meet us and make sure the dogs didn’t see us as a threat to their family or flock. These dogs can take down bears and wolves, and …

Read More about Dinner at the Sheep Station. Sheep Farming and Romanian Shepherds in Maramures

The Ploughing Festival Hoteni, (The Tanjaua) Maramures

Every May, the Tânjaua the spring ploughing festival, is held in the village of Hoteni, Romania. In 2018 was held on 17 th May 2018.  (see video below)  I’ll find out the date for 2021 as soon as I can. The villagers, all in traditional summer costume, process and leap through the village to glorify the …

Read More about The Ploughing Festival Hoteni, (The Tanjaua) Maramures

January in Breb. Life in the Freezer

We’ve been waiting for this. When we first had the idea of basing ourselves in Romania, locals told us winter temperatures can easily drop to -25C. We checked online, we couldn’t find any records of temperatures that low, so we kind of didn’t believe it but wanted to find out what winter weather in Maramures …

Read More about January in Breb. Life in the Freezer

Lunch in the Tuica Shed. Making Tuica in Maramures

Our village, Breb, is full of fruit trees. The hills roll on for mile after mile, each a patchwork of narrow strips owned by individual families. Some grow grass for winter hay, some potatoes, cabbages, carrots, tomatoes and beans, but most grow fruit. In the harsh winters nothing grows and villagers rely on their stores …

Read More about Lunch in the Tuica Shed. Making Tuica in Maramures

The Brasov Bear Sanctuary Romania (Heartbreaking)

Romania has plenty of bears. Half of the European brown bear population lives on the forested hills of this beautiful country. When we talk about saving bears, we’re not talking so much about the wild Romanian bears, as the ones who have had a terrible existence, held captive by private owners and in small Eastern …

Read More about The Brasov Bear Sanctuary Romania (Heartbreaking)

The Haystacks of Maramures. Hay Making in Breb

Haystacks are an unmistakable icon of Maramures. You will see them here all year round, punctuating the landscape on white, brown or green fields. For haystack lovers, and I count myself as such, you want to be in Maramures at this time of year to watch just one of the annual traditional processes going on. …

Read More about The Haystacks of Maramures. Hay Making in Breb

Homeschooling or Worldschooling in Romania

Homeschooling, doesn’t officially exist in Romania. As far as I know it’s not actually illegal, it just doesn’t exist, all children must go to school. My research is hampered by the language barrier, so please correct me if I’m wrong, I’d love to hear about families homeschooling in Romania and I know that some do …

Read More about Homeschooling or Worldschooling in Romania

Breb Maramures (Living in a Magical Village in Romania)

In the far north of Romania, nestled in a valley below a long-extinct volcano, lies the little village of Breb Maramures County. We first came to Romania, Maramures and Breb in May 2015 and fell in love. Today, we are still unable to fully call it home due to visas and officialdom, but to us, …

Read More about Breb Maramures (Living in a Magical Village in Romania)