2. International Travel

Amsterdam to Bucharest & Transylvania

We explored Amsterdam’s streets, shopping districts and cruised in it's interior canals. We visited the oldest windmill in Kinderdijk the magnificent Cologne Cathedral, castles along the middle Rhine both in ruins and those converted to hotels, toured Miltenberg, Wurzberg and Bamberg, before continuing down the Rhine to Regensberg and Passau. We toured the war time underground art storage facilities in Nuremberg and continued our journey to Melk, Krems and Vienna, Austria before scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley. From there we continued on to Budapest, Hungary where we changed ships to venture further into Eastern Europe. We stopped in Kalocsa, Hungary before continuing to Osijek, Croatia and then Belgrade, Serbia. Continuing East we passed the Iron Gates and cruised magnificent gorges on the way to Vidin and Russe, Bulgaria. Continuing, we went to Bucharest and Brassov, Romania and then to Transylvania to enter the legendary home of Count Dracula, Bran Castle. We enjoyed a lifetime’s worth of experiences on a single four week voyage, June of 2019. Hope you enjoy the images as much as we enjoyed being there and taking them.
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Entrance and exit path to the Snagov Monastery, Romania. Originally founded in the 14th century and later excavated in 1933, the monastery is a seemingly simple place of worship taking advantage of the calm its water-locked isolation brings. However, the story goes that after his notoriously cruel lifetime, Vlad Tepes III was buried in the church as per his request prior to his death. A number of archeologists and historians have worked to verify whether this tale is fact or simple apocrypha and none have been able to prove that the dictator was ever laid to rest on the island. After having dug up some of the site’s burial stones all that was found were a mix of horse and human bones, but nothing that confirms the possible Dracula’s interment.
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Entrance and exit path to the Snagov Monastery, Romania. Originally founded in the 14th century and later excavated in 1933, the monastery is a seemingly simple place of worship taking advantage of the calm its water-locked isolation brings. However, the story goes that after his notoriously cruel lifetime, Vlad Tepes III was buried in the church as per his request prior to his death. A number of archeologists and historians have worked to verify whether this tale is fact or simple apocrypha and none have been able to prove that the dictator was ever laid to rest on the island. After having dug up some of the site’s burial stones all that was found were a mix of horse and human bones, but nothing that confirms the possible Dracula’s interment.

  • Throughout Romania there are enormous fields of sunflowers. The local joke is; Iif you find a pile of sunflower shells on the ground there must be a Romanian around somewhere.
  • Just another street corner in Bucharest, Romania.
  • The Monument to the Heroes of the Air, located in the Aviator's Square, on Aviator's Boulevard, Bucharest, Romania, was built between 1930 and 1935.
  • Arcul de Triumf is a triumphal arch located in the northern part of Bucharest, on the Kiseleff Road. It is to celebrate Romania's Independence in 1878. It is a copy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.
  • This building was the Communist News Center during the Communist occupation years after WWII of Romania.
  • Walking up to the entrance gate to Mogosoaia Palace. Romania. The Palace is situated about 10 kilometres from Bucharest, Romania. It was built between 1698-1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu in what is called the Romanian Renaissance style or Brâncovenesc style. The palace bears the name of the widow of the Romanian boyar Mogoș, who owned the land it was built on.
  • Walking up to Mogosoaia Palace, Romania.
  • Part of the Mogosoaia Palace grounds outside Bucharest, Romania.
  • The out kitchen building for Mogosoala Palace, Romania. Out kitchens were common during the time this palace was constructed and it was done for the safety of the man structure should the kitchen catch fire.
  • Side gate to Mogosoaia Palace with statues on top.
  • Wifey taking pictures at Mogosoaia Palace in Romania.
  • Wall mural inside Mogosoaia Palace.
  • A model made to represent Mogosoaia Palace/Castle and grounds from 1716 - 1988. Romania.
  • Underground art storage facility at Mogosoaia Palace, Romania.
  • The view from the bridge to Snagov Monestary, Romania.
  • Entrance and exit path to the Snagov Monastery, Romania. Originally founded in the 14th century and later excavated in 1933, the monastery is a seemingly simple place of worship taking advantage of the calm its water-locked isolation brings. However, the story goes that after his notoriously cruel lifetime, Vlad Tepes III was buried in the church as per his request prior to his death. A number of archeologists and historians have worked to verify whether this tale is fact or simple apocrypha and none have been able to prove that the dictator was ever laid to rest on the island. After having dug up some of the site’s burial stones all that was found were a mix of horse and human bones, but nothing that confirms the possible Dracula’s interment.
  • The Snagov Monastery, Romania is located on a tiny island in a lake just outside of Bucharest. Local tradition states is the burial place of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. .
  • Art and religious murals decorate the walls Inside the Snagov Monastery, Romania.
  • More of the interior of the Snagov Monestary, Romania.
  • Side view of the Snagov Monastery, Romania.
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