Brasov, Romania, is a Transylvanian city with an outstanding historic center. Founded by German settlers in the 13th century, the city is known in German as Kronstadt, meaning “crown city.” The crown in question is made up of the lovely central square, Piata Sfatului, and the streets that lead off its northern side. The …
The Szekely area of Romania is unique and unpredictable, in terms of both its population and its natural environment. It’s the most densely populated Hungarian-speaking part of the Transylvania region, despite being the furthest away from today’s Hungary. It’s also a volcanic area full of springs, bubbling mud, and mineral deposits. The Szekelys are a …
Romania is one of the largest and most interesting countries in Eastern Europe. It is blessed with stunning scenery ranging from the forested mountains of Transylvania, through the rolling hills of Moldavia, to the extensive Black Sea coast. It also has many interesting historic cities, as well as colorful villages where age-old traditions are still …
Russia is a great tea-drinking nation, and no Russian living-room is complete without the distinctive samovar bubbling away in the corner. Ever-present in the home interiors of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky novels, the appliance remains a fixture of Russian contemporary life, from Moscow to Siberia. The one concession to modernity is that nowadays it is usually …
In the eastern part of Transylvania, a region of Romania, are two unusual geographical features that are results of the volcanic nature of this area’s geology. While one of them – Saint Anna Lake -is slowly changing, the other – Mohos Lake- is an example of what it is going to turn into. Lake Saint …
Imagine the scenario. Two Americans are visiting England and have just finished their meal in a fairly down-to-earth cafe or pub. Studying their bill, they lean over toward an Englishman at the table next to theirs and ask him how much it would be customary to tip. He is mystified. “Tip?… In this place?” But …
Driving in the UK holds many challenges for an American tourist – starting with the fact that using the left half of the road instead of the right is far easier said than done. It can play havoc with your sense of positioning, especially if you rent a right-hand-drive vehicle, which will give you an …
Herrenberg is a gorgeous town in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany. Its town centre is full of hundreds of immaculate medieval half-timbered houses, their dramatic triangular gable-ends facing the streets. The uniform character of many of these houses is explained by the fact that much of the town was reconstructed following a devastating …
One of the nice things about being a tourist in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is that you can stop for a coffee as often as you like and claim that it’s all part of the cultural experience. Hopping from one Budapest café to the next, you can sample a range of different versions of …
Cluj, in central Romania, is among the best-served cities in the country when it comes to dining and drinking. The city even has its own dish, Varza a la Cluj, which contains cabbage leaves and minced meat in alternating layers reminiscent of lasagna. Following is a list of a few personal favorite places to imbibe …