General

How do we optimize our transport needs?

It is clear that the need for transport won’t disappear anytime soon, and until teleportation is invented, I believe many more generations are destined to rely on traditional means of travel.

Owning a car solves a large part of the need for short and medium-distance transport, while the airplane covers our need to travel long distances; but what do we do when we don’t have a car and don’t want to turn to friends or relatives for a journey of tens or hundreds of kilometers?

I am not going to launch into a critique of the Romanian railway system, with its obvious disadvantages; instead, I am going to try to lobby for the type of services provided by Transilvania Driver.

Passenger transport via chauffeur-driven car rentals is a relatively new field on the Romanian transport market. While legislation for it does exist, it isn’t very comprehensive (being something of an ‘unwanted child’ of the taxi industry), and I will proceed to present several obvious advantages of this type of service:
– The speed of travel from one point to another over short and medium distances is due to the fact that passengers board the car at a pre-established point and disembark at a destination known and studied by the driver during the trip preparation stage; of course, the speed of travel never conflicts with passenger safety, as drivers possess advanced defensive driving skills and the most important thing is passenger SAFETY;
– Passenger comfort is one of the major advantages; knowing the passengers’ needs in advance (their number, the amount of luggage, the necessity of legal or optional accessories for children or persons with disabilities), these can be adjusted according to the specifics of each individual case, resulting in a pleasant experience. Breaks for stretching, meals, smoking, or restrooms simply satisfy natural needs… last but not least, the cleanliness and comfort of the cars (including those in the economy class) are irreproachable;
– The predictability of the service provided is based on a simple principle: you pay what you agreed with us, you receive a fiscal receipt, and you know exactly what to expect. This is a service a taxi driver cannot provide because they cannot offer a fixed price while simultaneously operating legally.

The list of obvious advantages could go on, but let’s see how we can minimize the only obvious disadvantage of the chauffeur-driven car rental service.

Sharing costs with other potential passengers seems to be the most accessible solution for paying less; with friends, acquaintances, or even strangers interested in the same destination during the same period as you… you know in advance when you are going, where you are going, and how much it costs. If you can’t find an acquaintance, friend, or colleague (through word-of-mouth or social media), you still have one of the most ‘trendy’ and widely used methods for sharing transport costs: hitchhiking classified sites (http://www.ia-macutine.ro/ or http://www.autohop.ro/ … just two of several sites developed in this direction). Before making a firm reservation for a car, you can find out if there is interest from others for that specific route during your preferred timeframe, and if you trust that the person (or persons) will show up… you travel cheaper and perhaps with interesting people.

After all, we live in times where we want as much and as high quality as possible, for as cheap as it can be.

SO, BE CREATIVE AND DEMANDING!!!

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Reasons I love Transylvania

Reasons why I love Transylvania

We are born into a family and grow in one or more places on this wonderful planet; as a child, everything around you affects you, you shape and become part of a whole (Humankind) … become the sum of all external influences which may add a bit of DNA.

We are what we are because of our ancestors, who modeled the places in which we live and in which we are glad to raise our children; it is true that we don’t choose where we are born but once the dice stop you stay with the family and the area in which they are; as we grow up we try to understand ourselves better, to understand our parents, grandparents and our ancestors … I think that understanding is absolutely necessary for us to be able to live in harmony with ourselves and those around us.

Well I take great pleasure to discover some of the reasons for which I am who I am … Transylvania is my native land, where I grew up and where probably I’ll die… here is the only place where I feel at home (I grew up and live in Targu Mures but I have spent 4 years in Alba Iulia, 5 years in Sibiu and 2 years in Turda).

So … these are my reasons why I love Transylvania:

1. The Carpathian Mountains: surrounded from all directions by Carpathians, drained by sparkling rivers which makes it both a pleasant place for a relaxing holiday and an exciting place for adventure-seeking travelers. Transylvania (meaning… the land beyond the forest) offers a variety of choices for mountain enthusiasts; exploring these mountains by foot, by bicycle or by car could be an unforgettable experience. By hiking, trekking even horse-riding on these mountains (one of the last wilderness of Europe) you can enjoy a charming scenery: gorges, lakes, peaks, old remote villages, caves, national parks, the fauna and floristic heritage – are there … waiting to be discover.

2. Fortified Churches dating back to 13-16th centuries are an example of a great variety of architectural styles. You can walk along the walls of the Saxon fortified churches and climb their towers, explore the churches and villages and taste the medieval atmosphere which surrounds these wonderful places.

3. Medieval towns such as Sibiu, Sighisoara, Brasov and many more are just a few reasons to taste an urban medieval experience; their interesting history and architecture, narrow streets, charming plazas and churches attract an increasing number of tourists.

4. Transylvanians are warm, honest and hardworking, happy to share with you a local meal or to have a pleasant conversation, to guide you to the local points of interest and even offer a local spirit.

5. Culture and traditions: you can find them in remote villages, in museums and in our way of living; just listen to a “doina”, a “Csárdás” and you will understand why we live and die, why we love our land and ancestors; you will find a cultural mix between Romanians, Hungarians and other small minorities living in harmony, peace and trying to preserve traditions.

6. Local cuisine and local drinks… try them whenever possible, taste the real Transylvania not just in ethnic restaurants but even in peasant households; they work hard for every piece of food and use traditional methods and recipes.

In the following posts I will try to describe some of my experiences in this wonderful part of the world, to promote sustainable tourism and an authentic image of TRANSYLVANIA.

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Why Transylvania ???

WHY   TRANSYLVANIA   ??

So …. WHY TRANSYLVANIA ????  …  why you  should spend few days of your life in these  freaky ( by his name ) land ?

Every time  I spent  some time with a foreigner and the discussion came to my birthplace ( which of course is Transylvania)  the feedback I received from my interlocutor was at least a big surprise  that a place called TRANSYLVANIA  even exist  and after  few beers everybody wanted to have some pictures with a person who is born in the land of Dracula….that  doesn’t mean that those people is ignorant …it’s just Bram Stoker’s fault , that we , the Transylvanians ,  live in a rather mythical  place like Transylvania.

For my first post here  , on this blog , i do not want to sell the idea of Transylvania by my own words  but by  some interesting documentaries made by Charlie Ottley ( one of many British people who love this lands)

Attention !!!  after three hours of Transylvania and Romania you might be overwhelm   🙂

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