Romania

Kutrubes Travel planned an exquisitely complicated tour for me through “eastern” Europe, and I started out in Romania.

Country Information:

The capital of Romania is Bucharest and the country has about 20 million citizens. The official language is Romanian. Christian denominations are the primary religions, with the dominant religion being Eastern Orthodox.  

Jim’s Perspectives:

A wonderful place to visit in Romania is Libearty Bear Sanctuary Zarnesti in Brasov. This is not a zoo; it is a bear rehabilitation center to help declining bear populations, especially brown bears which are virtually extinct in many parts of Europe. Travelers who love outdoor challenges will also enjoy Parc Aventura Brasov, an adventure park filled with fun challenges for navigating the forest area.

Also worth a visit is Peles Castle in Sinaia, a magnificent castle where the rooms are styled differently with architecture and furnishings influenced by other countries in Europe and the Middle East. On busy days there can be a long wait, but once inside the views are gorgeous.

This is a country that I definitely want to return to visit the fantastic castles!

Argentina

Skiing in Bariloche, Argentina, 2014 Country Information: After gaining independence in 1822, Argentina became the second largest country in South America and is home to 45 million Argentines. The capital city is Buenos Aires. The official language is Spanish, but...

Albania

Overlooking Albania in 2015   Country Information: The country of Albania was founded in November 1912 and its capital is Tirana. About 3 million people live here. The main language is Albanian and the largest religions are Islam followed by Christianity. The...

Ecuador

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, 1995 Country Information:  In Ecuador, there are roughly 16 million Ecuadorians in a country slightly smaller than Nevada. The capital is Quito which is situated at the base of a volcano, making the city prone to earthquakes! In fact the...