Romania - Day 3

On Sunday, October 30th, we packed up our things and were heading off to Peles Castle.  It wasn't too long of a drive, but once we arrived, our tour guides got off the bus and headed at a run and I wasn't sure why.  So we all just walked and headed towards the castle.  They told us to meet up in about 30 minutes.  So we decided to go and check out the surrounding area.

My boys and their lions!  I LOVE IT!!!!

Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883, the castle served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947.  Peles Castle was the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current. The electricity was produced by the castle's own plant.  The first movie projection in Romania took place in 1906 in the castle's Theater Room.

As you can see it was a little cold, so the fountains weren't working, but they still looked great, especially with the two handsome boys in front!

Michael wanted to sit on the lion to get his picture taken - my lion cub!!!

Then it was AJ's turn, after that we were told to stay off of the statues.  Oops.

They had many statues all over the outside of the castle.  Peles is surrounded by seven terraces decorated with statues (sculptured by the Italian, Romanelli), stone-made-wells, ornamental vases and Carara marble.

Always up for another picture with lions!

AJ and mom enjoying our time together!  So once we met up with the group, we found out that it was a holiday in another country and they had brought hundreds of people to visit the castle.  So we had to make a decision, whether to wait hours for a tour and then not be able to see the rest of the days tours.  So as a group we decided to head on with the tour and miss this one.

So picturesque - gorgeous!!!

My three handsome boys!!!!

Next we headed to the Snagov Monastery.  This is the place where Vlad is buried.  It is on an island, which is now accessible by a bridge.  It was a beautiful crossing.  They also practice Olympic rowing on this lake!

The boys heading into the Monastery.  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.

I think this was one of the boys favorite stops - and you can see why here - there were tons of dogs to pet and love on!!!

Snagov Monastery was enlarged by Vlad the Impaler during his reign from the second part of the 15th century.  He added fortification walls, a bridge, a belfry that still exists today, and is said to have ordered the construction of an underwater tunnel.  He also built on the island a jail for highwaymen and traitors.  The original paintings were done by Dobromir the Young in 1563.

The inside was very impressive with all the paintings on the walls!

On the left side is Dracula's grandfather and the right the founder of the monastery and the prince underneath.

A couple more pictures of the inside!

The family at Vlad's "grave."  They can't prove he is buried here, but that is the myth.  They have tried to prove it, but still not definite.

AJ found another puppy!!  They were very cute!!!

Michael on the other side of the Monastery.

This is a giant Easter egg on the island.  Usually they are painted red.

Didn't I tell you the puppies were cute?!?

Michael was in dog heaven!!!!

Some beautiful leaves on our way back to the bus.  After that we headed off to the town of Bucharest.

Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literally means "joy." His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place. This is called The Military Club.  It was built in 1912 to serve the social, cultural and educational needs of the Romanian army.  Banquets and official events are still hosted in the ballrooms, while the upstairs area is reserved for the army's library, as well as offices and classrooms for officer instruction.

The downtown area has many of these quaint places with dining outside.

This is the central bank of Bucharest.  You can see the17th century ruins underneath on the right.  The structure was built in the 19th century.

This is the financial district.

There is the same statue here as in Rome.  It is a replica gift from Italian government to remind them of their roots. It is the story of the wolf feeding two brothers, Ramos and Remus, the founders of Rome.

This is the church of the old court, built in 1551.  It is a Catholic church close to the ruins of Dracula's old court.  It is the historical heart of the city.

This is the Manuc's Inn.  It is the oldest hotel in Bucharest built in 1804 by the wealthy Armenian trader Emanuel Marzain.  The inn has the preliminary talks concerning the Peace Treaty that put an end to the Russian-Turkish War.  They still have wooden pavement at the entrance.  It was also called the Wasp Nest because all spies met there to do business.  They did all sorts of things including poison in the tea and poison snakes under the windows.

This is where Vlad, "Dracula," ruled.  He was said to have nailed a guys hat to his head.

Michael standing next to the statue of Tragen - Roman emperor who conquered Dacia.  He was the founding father of Romania and is holding the same female wolf. 

This is a CEC Bank - first commercial bank in Romania.  Pretty fancy bank.

This is the Manastirea Stravropoleos or in English Stravopoleos monastery.

It was founded by a Greek monk, Loannichie in 1724.  This small courtyard with graves in it, built in 1899.  It is a working monastery.  Four nuns, a priest confessor and three sisters live here.

After that we headed to one of the oldest and most famous restaurants - the Caru' cu Bere.

They had some live music to entertain us.

And a gentleman that came along with different hats and fun stuff to decorate you.  Michael had a great time!

So I know this is not the drug - but it is kind of hilarious!

This is the statue of King Carol I built in 1939.  It was destroyed in 1947 for the communists and rebuilt in 2010.  It was a great last full day in Romania.