<p lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Invitation Romania, a specialized incoming Romanian tour operator</strong>, took part in organizing a unique event: Liege – Bucharest – Sofia – Liege Rally. The traditional rally started in the Belgian city August 20th and gathered 38 collection automobiles, the most expensive being evaluated at 1, 5 million euro. In Romania the circuit passed by the cities of Oradea, Sibiu and Brașov, and the stops included visits in the traditional villages of the Apuseni Mountains, the Bran Fortress and the Peleş Castle, the Urlati Wine cellars etc. The drivers reached Bucharest, the Capital city of Romania, on 27th of August.</span></p>
<p lang="en-GB">“<span style="font-size: large;">The participants at the rally belong to the elite class. They are members of influent politician families, also noble families in Belgium and other West European countries. Some of them have visited before Romania” - said Gheorghe Fodoreanu, president of Invitation Romania travel agency.</span></p>
<p lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The event was organized base don a partnership of the Romanian tour operator and the Belgian Trajectoire. </span></p>
<p lang="en-GB"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">SIBIU – 1<sup>st</sup> edition of Gastronomic Transylvania</span></strong></p>
<p lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The Association My Transylvania organized in Sibiu, September 4- 20th, the first edition of Gastronomic Transylvania – Food Culture Festival. The event brought together traditional specialties of the ethnic communities in the area in Neighbourhood Cooking, of the rural regions of Sibiu in Rural County Brunch, of the surrounding Transylvanian regions in Five Regions Picnic, but also of the further away Romanian historical regions in Taste of Romania. Sibiu City Menu united 10 restaurants in the city that offered traditional cuisine; New Transylvanian Cuisine showcased live cooking sessions and a seasonal brunch – the Gourmet Brunch. The specialists where able to participate at presentations about several “tasty” routes: The Sibiu Cheese Route, The Wine Trail Prahova, Saxon Greenway - Cultural Foodscapes and Foodways, etc. </span></p>
<p lang="en-GB"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">ORIENT EXPRESS crosses Romania</span></strong></p>
<p lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The ”Venice Simplon - Orient Express” travels on the line Venice – Budapest – Bucharest – Varna - Istanbul and back. The train reached the North Train Station in Bucharest August 31st and again on its return journey September 8th. The 103 passengers, paying over 7000 Euros for a luxury journey, are served by an on-board team of 63 persons. The Orient Express has a stop in Romania in Sinaia where guests visit the Royal Peleş Castle, the stop in Bucharest includes a 1920s dinner served at the Hilton Athenee Palace. Pascal Deyrolle, the new director of Venice Simplon Orient Express Company participated at this year’s journey. Invitation Romania is the tour operator of this product in Romania.</span></p>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="es-ES">H</span><span lang="ro-RO">ANUL ANCUȚEI - Tradition and investments</span></span></strong>
<p lang="ro-RO"><span style="font-size: large;">Hanul Ancuței is a legendary Romanian inn, built arround 1718 in Tupilați, near the city of Roman (Neamț county), in Moldavia region. The place is famous due to its unique atmosphere, created by great celebrations, wines and traditional cuisine. The inn was featured in a classical Romanian novel ”La Hanul Ancuței” by Mihail Sadoveanu. </span></p>
<p lang="ro-RO"><span style="font-size: large;">In 2015 Hanul Ancuței was enlarged and given a new terrace with a capacity od 400 seats, entirely made out of wood, in the style of the traditional inn. The investment was of about 400.000 euro and basically the new terrace doubled the accomodation and serving capacity of the restaurant. </span></p>
“<span style="font-size: large;">We<span lang="en-AU"> needed</span><span lang="es-ES"> such a development as we receive now so many groups of tourists from G</span>ermany, France, Poland, Italy, USA, and Japan<span lang="ro-RO">.</span><span lang="es-ES"> The restaurant has 300 seats inside, plus the terrace now and the complex we also offers 28 beds</span><span lang="ro-RO">” - said Nușa Chiriac, the owner of the complex and of the ”Roman Plaza” Hotel in the nearby city of Roman.</span></span>
<p lang="ro-RO"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">HAFERLAND WEEK</span></strong></p>
<p lang="ro-RO"><span style="font-size: large;">The Haferland Festival took place beginning of August, in Transilvania, being the largest evet of its kind. Thousands of tourists and former locals (that migrated to Germany) came in Brasov County to remember the rich in traditions and prosperous life they once left behind in Romania. The Haferland Festival had as a cultural center the village of Criț, and connected events in all the County of Barley comprised by the villages between Rupea and Sighișoara: Fișer, Saschiz, Viscri, Criț, Meșendorf and Roadeș. Just as an idea, the last day of the festival attracted over 1500 visitors that participated in one or more of the events: bikeriding contest, the religious service in the the fortified church of Criţ, organ concert, guitar concert, an exhibition dedicated to the Year of Schools, the Traditional Saxon Ball of the village etc. </span></p>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ro-RO">This years edition of Haferland</span> concentrated on education and had as a motto “History is our teacher!”<span lang="ro-RO">. Michael Schmidt Foundation and Tabaluga Foundation have been the the organizers of the festival, all the events concentrating on promoting the Saxon patrimony of the former German communities in Romania.</span></span>
<p lang="ro-RO"><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">PATZAICHIN: ”Tulcea awaited for us with open arms!”</span></span></strong></p>
<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 5<sup>th</sup> edition of the Rowmania Fest took place August 28 – 30, having as organizers The Ivan Patzaichin – Mila 23 Association, Tulcea local Council and Tulcea City Hall. The entire weekend was dedicated to professionals and water sports lovers, showcasing rowing competitions on the Danube River, and International Triathlon and a European triathlon Cup for Juniors, exhibitions, lectures on the potential of the Danube, open air concerts <span lang="ro-RO">etc. ”</span>Tulcea received us with open arms five years ago when we started this adventure and I trust more and more in the idea that ecotourism is the solution for this corner of the country, the Danube Delta, to grow and reach prosperity. My wish is this festival to contribute in promoting the Danube Delta and Tulcea County, my native region<span lang="ro-RO">”- s</span>aid Ivan Patzaichin, the initiator of Rowmania.<span lang="ro-RO"> Several times World and European Champion Ivan P</span>atzaichin<span lang="ro-RO"> is one of the most appreciated Romanian sportives of all times.</span></span></span>