Romania is well endowed with natural beauty which stretches from the tideless Black Sea to the impressive Carpathian Mountains which have good skiing in winter. The plains of the country are crisscrossed by a myriad of lakes, rivers and streams which are good for all sorts of sports. This country has a region known as Transylvania which once was home to the notorious Vlad Dracula about whom many stories and tales have sprung. Festivals in the country and good cultural activities in the cities provide the visitor with much to do.
Capital: Bucharest
Population: 29,670,000
Area: 91, 720
Language: Romanian
Time: GMT +2
Electricity: 220 Volts Ac, 50 Hz
Geography: The country is bordered on the east by the tideless Black Sea, in the south by Bulgaria, in the west by the former Yugoslavia and Hungary and in the north by Moldova and the Ukraine. The topography of the country is somewhat that of a citadel. The center is a high plateau that slopes gently down to its borders except in the north where it encounters the Carpathian Mountains.
International Airport:
Bucharest - Otopeni Airport (BUC) is located 12 miles from the city. Bus service is well scheduled. Taxis are plentiful.
Tipping: Many restaurants still do not include service charges in the bill so watch for it. Tipping should be 10% is the service is not included. Porters should get loose change as well as taxi drivers.
Shopping: Shops are open by 8:30 am and close at 6 pm MOnday through Friday. On Saturday shops tend to close by 2 pm and remain closed until Monday.
Food and Drink: Romanian dishes are rather spicy and aromatic. Romanian cuisine still reflects much of what you might have found decades ago but is becoming more interesting and flavorful. International restaurants are popping up and are doing quite well. Try Romanian sausages and something called 'mamaliga' which is a firm corn meal. This is typically Romanian. Beers of all kinds are to be found here particularly in BUcharest and other larger cities where there is foreign traffic. Soft drinks are available and in familiar names and well as local brands which tend to taste more like bubble gum than soda pop.
Social: Romanians have a hard time for all of the 20th century. Other than Poland, Romania probably has the bleakest history over the last century. In spite of this the people are fairly outgoing and engaging but for the most part have not picked up English. In Bucharest many do speak English, but German is better known. Handshaking is the most common form of greeting and the use of the full names in conversation rather than just the first or last names as common in the west.
Business: Business suits are necessary. Romanian business people are strait forward and are somewhat sensitive of being taken advantage of by outsiders. Knowledge of English is sporadic. German is more common. Appointments are necessary well in advance giving them an opportunity to find out about you in advance will make the meeting more productive. Business cards are essential and can be in English.
Climate
The winters are cold and dry with snowfall occurring sporadically and heavy at times. The spring is pleasant and mild but somewhat rainy. Summers are hot (often very hot) and dry. The fall is mild and pleasant and less rainy than the fall. | 