Word for the traveler, previous issues

January 2007

So here we are inside the European Union. Many, maybe the majority of the inhabitants rejoice. And this is normal. But there are some who don't. One of them is the wolf. I mean the wild beast living in the forest. The forest that is abused, destroyed, burned, commercialized, cleared legally or illegally, just not taken care of. .... more >>

October 2006

I'm woken up early by disco-like noises. Oh, it's again my neighbor above ... Even early on Sunday he plays loud music. Usually I wake up early, but this time I would have liked to sleep longer. Shall I knock at his door ? I did that before several times and without result .... more >>

June 2006

Once upon a time, in the summer of 1995, in the Western Carpathians. After a few adventures we reach the train station in Turda, the old Transylvanian town, from where we were supposed to take the train to Campeni. And then, as if emerging from the ancient tales with fairies and dwarfs, here it is the little green train on its narrow gauge, which we heard about, but never saw .... more >>

May 2006

Why do I love Romania ? On one hand it's so easy to answer, but on the other hand I'm afraid I'll not make myself understood to many. More than 10 years back, during the peak of economic crisis in Romania, when poverty pushed many to the verge of desperation, during my trips all over the country I met wonderful people .... more >>

January 2006

I remember the warmth of their hands wrapping around my own little hands. I remember the pine smell of the woods. I remember the puppies living next to the mountain cabin, for which we used to bring food each time we went to the cantina. I remember the summer sun filtered by the big trees, for me true giants .... more >>

August 2005

High floods sweep everything in their path. The houses are shattered like matchboxes. The valleys are flooded, all around the water has no end, it's as if a new sea is born. A sea of mud, animal corpses, a lifetime of work which is now gone, a sea of tears .... more >>

June 2005

The road. The calls from far away. The adventure. The road is flowing through my veins. I feel it pulsating, calling me. Where are you taking me, my road ? To the unexplored paths or to the beaten tracks ? To the blue sky or to the green forest, to the white peaks or to the yellow cornfields ? more >>

May 2005

No matter where you go - Bucharest, Transylvania, Moldova, Bukovina, Banat, Dobrogea - you'll notice the influences of the many minorities living in Romania for centuries. These influences manifest at all levels of society: in architecture, in music, in dance, in traditions, in dress, in language, even in cooking and definitely in people's behavior. What would be Transylvania without the majestic Saxon fortresses, our traditional cuisine without the Hungarian goulash, our traditional dances without Sarba, our language without the soft Slavic sounds, our religion without the Byzantine rites ? more >>

March 2005

The spring is here, with the myriad of bugs waking up from the winter and buzzing all over, with the blooming nature, with the warm fertile wind, with the pastures turning green, with the numerous folkloric events dedicated to the new season. April 23, Saint George's Day, marks the beginning of the traditional pastoral summer, a day celebrated in the villages all over the country. Also, don't miss the celebrations of May: the Orthodox Easter, the spectacular Brasov's Juni or the ancient Sambra Oilor celebration. more >>

February 2005

I think that the history of Romania is a lesson of survival. What else can it be since Romania managed to resist over the centuries to invasions, earthquakes, wars, the communism ... For much of its history, Romania was surrounded by three empires: the Ottoman from South, the Russian from North and East and the Austro-Hungarian from West. And not only managed to survive, but the Romanians never lost their sense of humor, their friendliness and hospitality. more >>

November 2004

Getting deep inside the soul of the traveler reveals unspoken impressions and feelings almost impossible to tell in words. Amidst the high tempo of the day-to-day life, engulfed by the hectic pace of the society, who doesn't cherish the moments of peace and serenity spent in a remote corner of nature or among the best friends ? It's hard to rank these feelings, they are equally important to you, but one thing is sure: that you'd like them to repeat over and over again and never end. more >>

October 2004

"May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand." more >>