EXPLORING ROMANIA...

Hello everybody I'm Roxana as you know and on this post I'm going to talk a little about Romania, of its most beautiful historic places, traditions, traditional meals, etc.

As you suppose, I have chosen this country because it is the place where I was born and I'm very proud of it.

First, Romania  is located at the intersection of Central and Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea. Romania borders Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and Moldova to the northeast and east, and Bulgaria to the south. It is the ninth largest country in the European Union by area, and has the seventh largest population of the European Union with over 19 million population and as you know, Its capital and largest city is Bucharest. 

The flag of Romania is a tricolor consisting of three vertical bands: blue, red and yellow and the coat represents a blue field, where figure a golden eagle with beak and claws holding in its beak a golden Orthodox cross and, with his claws, a scepter and a silver sword, symbols of sovereignty. On the eagle's breast is a shield quartered with the emblems of the Romanian historical provinces (Wallachia, Moldavia, Transylvania, Banat and Crişana) with cheurrón which contains two dolphins symbol of the maritime region.
 The anthem is called Deşteaptă-te, române! (Wake up, Romanian!).

Now I'm going to talk about some historical places of my country.

• Historical places

ARCH OF TRIUMPH.

ARCH OF TRIUMPH


It is located in the north of Bucharest, It was made in wood in 1878, immediately after Romania obtained its independence, thinking that the victorious troops could parade under it.











 
Bran Castle (The Castle of Dracula).

Is a medieval fortress located in Transylvania, is a national monument and one of the key points of Romanian tourism. As you know, many people think that  in this castle lived Count Dracacula and that he was a vampire, but this is only a fictional character and the stories told about him are legends from antiquity. I have never visited it, but I would like to visit it because of its legends, that I think that are very impressive and in my opinion is one of the places that I like the most.




Palace of Parliament

It is a building of multiple uses situated in  the Libertaty Boulevard in the heart of Bucharest It was built in 1985 and you can always visit it if you do a previous call for reservation.






. 


Natural places

Bigar waterfall

Is a protected  Is located at the south-west limit of the country, in the south of the Anina Mountains and is one of the most unusual and beautiful waterfalls in the world.








The Blue Lake

It is a natural monument, a protected area of national interest  located in Maramures. In no other country in the world there is a lake that change color depending on the light that beats him or the people who swim here. It is very beautiful and a lot of people visit it.
















Traditional meals

Filled pappers

Filled peppers are a Romanian food which is usually prepared with sweet peppers or red peppers filled with minced meat (usually pork), rice, onions, herbs and spices and sometimes can you can add mushrooms.

Filled pappers

Boeuf Salad

Boeuf Salad

Boeuf Salad is a traditional Romanian  that accompanies meals Romanians in festive occasions such as in Easter and in Christmas. It was first prepared in 1860 by chef Lucien Olivier Hermitage restaurant. Boeuf salad consists of carrots, parsnips, eggs, and cooked potatoes, peas, usually comes from canned, pickled cucumbers, and olives , all these ingredients are cut into small pieces. Then in the composition is added a lot of mayonnaise and it is usually decorate.


Sweet cheese pie

 Is a Romanian traditional pastry resembling a thin, small round or square-shaped cake, usually filled with a sweet soft cheese. These is one of my favourite food of Romania.

Sweet cheese pie

"Cozonac"

"Cozonac "


The "cozonac is a traditional Romanian sweet bread.  It is usually prepared for Easter, Pentecost, New Year and for Christmas. The main ingredients are egg, butter, flour, milk, chocolate and nuts.










Traditions and celebrations 


Saint Nicholas


 










It is celebrated on December the 6th, on the night of 5 to 6 December, the old Saint Nicholas wave his beard for the first snow fall in Romania, and also children receive presents.
Like many Spanish children celebrate "Papa Noel" and "the Three Wise Kings", many children receive gifts in Romania on 6 and 25 December because we do not have the tradition of the Kings.

Orthodox Easter
Romania is one of the Orthodox countries that has the tradition of painting Easter eggs. Boiled eggs are painted in various colors: red, yellow, blue ... but anciently they were painted red, the color that signifies the blood of Jesus Christ. These eggs can be eaten, of course, because they are boiled. Normally Orthodox Easter is celebrated a few weeks after Catholic Easter although in some years can coincide. But,my point of view,  it would be better if they are  celebrated on the same date. On Sunday, people clash eggs to each other saying the phrase: "Hristos a inviat" ("Christ is risen"), in which the other responds while he hits the egg with the other : "adevarat to inviat" ("truly risen" ).

 

Here you can see a video of  the traditions of Romania. traditional food, natural and historical places, etc.

Questions

1)What is your opinion about the historical and the natural places of Romania?
 2)For what reason do you think people from other countries like to visit Romania ?
 3) I suppose none of you have tried the Romanian food, but have you tried something similar to it?
 4)What is the place that you would like to visit if you get the chance to go there? 
5)Have you ever heard anything about Dracula and his castle? What thing? 
6)Did you think that Dracula existed in the past?

Thank you for your attention, see you in class!