Tha Blog ... care este ...

Romania - Nicolae Romanescu Park of Craiova

2012-01-30T23:10:00.002+02:00

The Nicolae Romanescu National Park (Romanian: Parcul Nicolae Romanescu) in Craiova, Romania, is the largest and best-known park in the South-West region of Romania. It is also considered to be the 3rd biggest natural park of Europe.

Through the initiative of Nicolae P. Romanescu, the mayor of Craiova at that time, the park was designed by French architect Émile Rendont. In 1900, the designs for the park won the gold medal at the Paris World Fair. Construction of the park began in 1901, and was completed in 1903.

Between the park objectives:

- "Suspended Bridge" (Podul Suspendat);

- "Magic Castle" (Castelul Fermecat);

- Zoo Garden (Gradina zoologica);

- Hippodrome (Hipodromul);

- Velodrome (Velodromul);

- aso.

... next, images of Nicoale Romanescu National Park:

Summer:

... and Winter...

Croatia - Plitvice Lakes National Park (Plitvicka Jezera)

2011-12-15T02:17:00.000+02:00

Plitvice Lakes National Park (Plitvicka Jezera) is the oldest national park in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia. The national park was founded in 1949 and is situated in central Croatia, at the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The protected area extends over 296.85 square kilometres (73,350 acres). About 90 percent of this area are part of Lika-Senj County, while the remaining 10 percent are part of Karlovac County.
Each year, more than 900,000 visitors are recorded.
In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register among the first natural sites worldwide.

images:

Croatia - Dubrovnik Fortress

2011-11-25T23:00:00.002+02:00

The Walls of Dubrovnik are a series of defensive stone walls that have protected the citizens of the proclaimed city-state of Dubrovnik (Ragusa) founded prior to the 7th century as a Byzantium castrum. With numerous additions and modifications, they have been considered to be amongst the great fortification systems of the Middle Ages (12th–17th centuries), as they were never breached by any army during this time period. Today's intact city walls have a length of approximately 1940m enclosing a 4300m perimeter and reaching a maximum height of about 25 metres. The walls were reinforced by three circular and 14 quadrangular towers, five bastions (bulwarks), two angular fortifications and the large St. John's Fortress (Sveti Ivan). Land Walls were additionally reinforced by one larger bastion and nine smaller semicircular ones. The city walls were also surrounded by a moat and they were armed by more than 120 cannons, and thus resulting in a superb city defense. In 1979, the old city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Next, images shot on July 2011 @Dubrovnik Fortress.

images:

Croatia - South Dalmatia, July 2011

2011-11-23T21:38:00.000+02:00

I had to post these due to extraordinary images taken on July 2011, Croatia.
Croatia is to be recommended to anyone who wants to see something really beautiful. You will see why from the next images. For more details regarding a trip there, do not hesitate to contact me. Also, checkout the other posts related to Croatia.

Next, images from 2 of the most beautiful cities of South Dalmatia region of Croatia: Dubrovnik and Cavtat.
Also, images from Bosnia-Herzegovina resort Neum and with Adriatic Sea near Makarska and Cavtat.

images:

Beach near Makarska

On the way from Makarska (Cro) to Neum (BiH)

Neum (BiH)

Dubrovnik

Cavtat

near Cavtat

Near Gruda (South of Croatia)

Croatia - Dalmatia by Night, July 2011

2011-11-21T20:23:00.000+02:00

I had to post these due to extraordinary images taken on July 2011, Croatia.
Croatia is to be recommended to anyone who wants to see something really beautiful. You will see why from the next images. For more details regarding a trip there, do not hesitate to contact me. Also, checkout the other posts related to Croatia.

Next, images from 4 of the most beautiful cities of Dalmatia region of Croatia shoot at night: Sibenik, Primosten, Trogir and Veliko Castle (near Split).

images:

Sibenik

Primosten

Trogir

Veliko Castle

(near Split)

Veliko Castle

(near Split)

Veliko Castle

(near Split)

Veliko Castle

(near Split)

Croatia - Kvarner - July 2011

2011-11-17T22:41:00.003+02:00

I had to post these due to extraordinary images taken on July 2011, Croatia.
Croatia is to be recommended to anyone who wants to see something really beautiful. You will see why from the next images. For more details regarding a trip there, do not hesitate to contact me. Also, checkout the other posts related to Croatia.

Next, images from 2 of the most beautiful cities and summer resorts of Kvarner region of Croatia: Opatija and Krk (capital of Krk Island).
Also, images with Adriatic Sea, as seen on the way from the Istrian Coast to Kvarner and from Rijeka to Krk Island.

images:

On thew way from Istria to Kvarner
(near Marcana)

On thew way from Istria to Kvarner
(near Labin)

On thew way from Istria to Kvarner
(near Brsec)

Opatija - Operetta House

Opatija

Opatija Beach - view to Rijeka

Opatija - view along the Beach

Opatija Beach

Opatija

Opatija - Girl with a Seagull statue

Opatija

Opatija - view from Preluk Beach of Rijeka

Rijeka - Center

Rijeka - Croatian National Theatre

On the way from Rijeka to Krk Island
(near Kraljevica)

On the way from Rijeka to Krk Island
(view from the Krk Island Bridge)

Krk, capital of Krk Island,
want a coffee near the old city wal ?

Krk, capital of Krk Island

Krk, capital of Krk Island, harbor

Krk, capital of Krk Island

Krk, capital of Krk Island,
Church Tower of Quirinus

Krk, capital of Krk Island

Croatia - Istrian Coast - July 2011

2011-11-17T01:06:00.002+02:00

I had to post these due to extraordinary images taken on July 2011, Croatia.
Croatia is to be recommended to anyone who wants to see something really beautiful. You will see why from the next images. For more details regarding a trip there, do not hesitate to contact me. Also, checkout the other posts related to Croatia.

Next, images from 3 of the most beautiful cities and summer resorts of Istrian Coast of Croatia: Porec, Rovinj, Pola.

*

Images

POREC, view to hystorical centre

POREC, hystorical centre,
Pentagonal Tower

POREC, hystorical centre

POREC, building architecture
(this building was on sale !!)

POREC, view from rightside of hystorical peninsula

POREC, rightside of hystorical peninsula

POREC, Round Tower

POREC

POREC, harbor

POREC, centre

ROVINJ, seaport,
view to old centre

ROVINJ, seaport

ROVINJ, centre

ROVINJ, rightside of old centre

ROVINJ, old centre

ROVINJ, architecture

POLA, seaport

POLA

POLA, Roman Temple of Augustus

POLA

POLA, The Arch of Sergii

POLA

POLA, Basilica St Maria Formoze

POLA

POLA, The Amfitheater Arena

POLA, view to the Church from Scalierova Ulica

POLA, the Amfitheater Arena

Romania, 2-Day Mountain Track in Cindrel (Cibin) Mountains (Day Two)

2011-08-29T23:45:00.004+03:00

Short Briefing
Cindrel (or Cibin) Mountains are located in the Eastern Carpathians, in the so called Southern Romanian Carpathians, in the center-west part of Romania, at about 30 km South-West of Sibiu (Hermannstadt) city. The heighest peak of the masiff is Cindrel (alt. 2244m).

Way of access
By plane: Sibiu has international airport
By road: Sibiu -> (DN106A) -> Rasinari -> (DN106A) -> Paltinis
From Paltinis you may access the track below

Track Description
I will split the track description in 2 articles, one for each day.
For the previous day you may access the link: Cindrel Mountains - Day One
Shortly, the second track follows the next direction on the map, thus, returning to Paltinis:
"Refugiul de sub Iezere" ("The shelter from under the lakes") -> Iezerul Mare (Big Lake) -> Iezerul Mic (Small Lake) -> Frumoasa Peak (alt. 2168m) -> Cindrel Peak (alt. 2244m) -> Cinaia Peak (alt. 2057m) -> Niculesti Peak (alt. 2034m) -> Batrana Peak (alt. 1911m) -> Poiana Muncel -> Paltinis.

Track Map - Day Two

So, after sleeping a night at "The shelter from under the lakes", we continued our mountain track in the lakes direction; the first of the lakes in the direction is Iezerul Mare ("The Big Lake"); to shorten the track, we left the blue triangle marker to the left (as it only climbs to Cindrel Saddle) and we followed the direct path to the lake; notice that this path is not marked, but it is very easy to arrive to the lake if you follow the river, watch to the lake glacial valley and maintain a S-S-E direction; after 45 mins (2-2.5kms) you find the beautiful green lake, located under mountain. We took a break here, as the sight is beautiful. Then, we passed the lake onto its north point and started climb to the west; the climbing is a little difficult, but not impossible; we got on the heights between the 2 lakes and after a last look to the Iezerul Mare lake, we followed the S-E direction on the so called "Devil's Plateau" to Iezerul Mic ("The Small Lake"); we arrived at this lake after about 1-2km from "The Big Lake"; we joined the track to the Frumoasa Peak (alt. 2168m), where a track intersection may be seen. Then, we returned, following the East direction and the red band marker on the Devil's Plateau to the Cindrel Peak (distance approx 2km); Cindrel Peak is the biggest Peak from these mountains, offering great sights around; we left for a while the red band marker, heading north to see "The Big Lake" from above; then we returned to the red band marker, heading to Cinaia Peak (alt. 2244m), via Cindrel Saddle (here is a track intersection - to the left it is seen the blue triangle marker track that we followed a day before; to the right is the Cinaia Shelter track); so, we took forward, passing the Cinaia Peak, then we passed the Niculesti Peak (alt. 2034m) beside its right; after Niculesti, the long Serbanei Saddle appears and we found the Cinaia Shelter indicator to the right; until here, we made another 7kms (from Cindrel Peak); we took forward, passing the Rozdesti Peak (alt. 1954) to the Batrana Peak (alt. 1911m); before the Batrana Peak we encountered 2 sheepfolds, but the track passes beside them to the right; we followed the red band marker that intersects with a forestry road and we passed beside Batrana Peak that remained to the left and started to descend via the forestry road to the forest; another 3kms passed till Batrana Saddle (from Serbanei Saddle); after about 3kms through the forest, where we lost about 300m altitude, we arrived at Poiana Muncel; here we found another intersection with other tracks (Gatul Berbecului chalet, Poiana Gaujoara, Poiana Oncesti, aso); heading forward and following mostly the North direction, after 3kms we descended on about 100m altitude to Paltinis, our destination; that was a total of approx 23-25 kms, made in about 8hrs.

Elevation Curve
From "Refugiul de sub iezere" ("The shelter from under the lakes") you easy climb 2-2.5km to "Iezerul Mare" ("The Big Lake"); you gain approx 300m altitude;
From "The Big Lake" you climb 1/3 - 1/2 km to the "Devil's Plateau" located between the 2 lakes; the climbing is a little difficult, but not impossible; you gain about 150m altitude; Then you continue about 4kms on the curve level until the Frumoasa Peak (nearest "The Small Lake");
From Frumoasa Peak to Cindrel Peak (alt. 2244m) you easy descend and then easy climb on about 1.5 km; you gain about 80 m altitude - this is the highest altitude you'll gain;
From Cindrel Peak you descend to Paltinis on about 15-16 kms; you will have easy climbs on Cinaia, Niculesti and Rozdesti Peaks.

Elevation Curve (Google Earth)

*

Images

... we left "The shelter from under the lakes"

and followed the river course to The Big Lake

on the way to The Big Lake

A look back to the Cindrel river valley

the glacial valley of the lake becomes visible

and The Big Lake

we passed it beside its North point...

... where we saw another small lake

we started to climb to the Devil's Plateau

and we saw a little peninsula on the lake

The Big Lake - view from Westside
(view from Devil's Plateau)

The Small Lake - view from Southside

The Small Lake zoomed

The Small Lake - view from Frumoasa Peak

Frumoasa Peak and track intersection
on the Devil's Plateau

on the way to Cindrel Peak
via the Devil's Plateau

A cross on Cindrel Peak

The official Cindrel Peak...

... and the real one (someone put his socks there)

A look to Steflesti from Cindrel Peak

(the Techno Festival that took place at Craciuneasa in 2010

moved in 2011 to Steflesti)

Cinaia, Niculesti, Rozdesti, Surdu and Batrana Peaks

(view from Cindrel Peak)

The Big Lake - view from Southside

on the way to Cindrel Saddle

view of the glacial valley of The Big Lake

Cindrel Saddle and track intersection

on the way to Cinaia Peak

Cinaia Peak

view to Niculesti Peak

Rozdesti Peak - view back to Niculesti and Cindrel Peaks

The 2 sheepfolds at Batrana Saddle

Poiana Muncel

Romania, 2-Day Mountain Track in Cindrel (Cibin) Mountains (Day One)

2011-08-23T03:29:00.003+03:00

Short Briefing
Cindrel (or Cibin) Mountains are located in the Eastern Carpathians, in the so called Southern Romanian Carpathians, in the center-west part of Romania, at about 30 km South-West of Sibiu (Hermannstadt) city. The heighest peak of the masiff is Cindrel (alt. 2244m).

Way of access
By plane: Sibiu has international airport
By road: Sibiu -> (DN106A) -> Rasinari -> (DN106A) -> Paltinis
From Paltinis you may access the track below

Track Description
I will split the track description in 2 articles, one for each day.
For the next day track, you may access the link: Cindrel Mountains - Day Two
Shortly, the first track follows the next direction on the map:
Paltinis -> intersection with Cibinului Gorges -> Craciuneasa resort -> Niculesti Shelter -> "Refugiul de sub Iezere" ("The shelter from under the lakes") -> (end of first day).

Track Map - Day One

So, we arrived in Paltinis (alt. 1450m), nearest the old ski resort; after final checking of equipment, we started to walk North, following the old part of Paltinis resort, hoping to find the red circle marker, or the so called "Students Way"; this is a small portion of the track (aprox 5km) which descends to the Cheile Cibinului (Cibinului Gorges). Following the red circle marker, after walking through forest, we arrived after 4km at a forestry road and turned to right, then, after 1km we arrived at a cross point - to the right there are the Cibinului Gorges; here we turned left and passed the bridge to Craciuneasa (on the bridge it is written with blue paint "Craciuneasa 4km"); pay attention, because this is an unmarked track, but all you have to do is to follow the forestry road and the river, in the West direction; at about 1.5 - 2km from the bridge the forestry road passes intersects another track, with an inscription "Bradul urias de 500 ani - 1.4km" ("Huge tree, 500 years old - 1.4km"); you continue the track, until you arrive to Craciuneasa; Craciuneasa is a small but beautiful resort, we counted about 15-20 chalets; we had here a 30 mins break; in Craciuneasa also took place a wave/techno festival in summer 2010. After the deserved break, we followed the forestry road to the Niculesti shelter (about 7km from Craciuneasa resort); the oldest chalet of Craciuneasa is located at about 2km of Craciuneasa resort, somewhere on the mountain seen at the left, but we have no time to get there. The track changes direction to South-West. At Niculesti, we found a marker to Stramba Shelter (red cross marker to the right, aprox 5km), but we followed our track forward, in the South-West direction. Normally, from Niculesti we should follow the blue triangle marker, but be aware, this marker is rarely present (probably due to the fact that we walk on the forestry road). On the way, you may admire an ensamble of 2 big stones (4km of Niculesti), called by locals "La Biserica" ("At the Church"); after these 2 stones, the track encounters an abandoned wooden shelter (7km of Niculesti). Then it follows an intersection of forestry roads where you turn left; the track direction is now South; you walk on the forestry road until you find a little abandoned sheepfold; here, the forestry road ends and you have to turn right, following the blue triangle marker which becomes visible; the track climbs through forest and you should pay attention because there are many intersections - you just have to follow the blue triangle marker; after about 4-5kms from the little sheepfold you will arrive to "Refugiul Iezerele Cindrelului" (alt. 1750m), or "Refugiul de sub Iezere" ("The shelter from under the lakes"); here, the first day track ends, after about 22kms and about 7-9 hours of walking (we made aprox 8 hours);

Elevation Curve
- from Paltinis you descend from 1450m to 1000m on a distance of 5km, until the intersection with Cibinului Gorges;
- from the bridge to Craciuneasa found at the intersection with Cibinului Gorges, you easy climb (forestry road) from 1000 to 1550m on a distance of 14km, until the little sheepfold where forestry road ends;
- from the little sheepfold you climb from 1550m to 1700m on a distance of about 2.5km, until "Refugiul Iezerele Cindrelului".

Elevation Curve (Google Earth)

Images:

Road to Paltinis (DN106A)

Paltinis Resort (1450m)

Chalet in old Paltinis Resort

Track starts in this intersection

Track follows the red circle marker

until Cibinului Gorges

Track descends on red circle marker

Red circle marker ends at the intersection

with the forestry road to Craciuneasa

(inscription on bridge with blue paint -Craciuneasa 4km)

Track follows the forestry road

Abandoned bridge found at the left of forestry road

Track follows the forestry road

Intersection with another track

(inscription "Huge tree, 500 years old - 1.4km")

Cibinului river, or "Riul Mare" (Big River)

Craciuneasa Resort

Craciuneasa Resort ("Wheel of Fortune")

Craciuneasa Resort

Track follows the forestry road

Red cross indicator to Stramba Shelter

Niculesti Shelter

Stones and little waterfall on Big River

"La Biserica" (At the Church)

Abandoned wooden Shelter

Blue triangle marker,

rarely visible on this track portion

Forestry road intersection,

turn left here

Little abandoned sheepfold where forestry road ends

and blue marker becomes visible

Track climbing on the blue triangle marker

Following the blue triangle marker

Inscription with protected natural area of Cindrel mountains

"Refugiul de sub Iezere"