53^rd World Congress FIJET – September 17 – 25 / 2011

Congress Theme:  World Cultural Heritage in Travel Press(explore the Carpathian garden)

Day 1: September 17 – Saturday

• Arrival of delegates, transfer to Radisson BLU Hotel and registration for the Congress
• Accommodation. Visit Revolution Square or a shopping center
• EC meeting
• 20:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner at Radisson BLU Hotel
• Overnight in Raddison BLU Hotel

Day 2: September 18 – Sunday

• 07:30  Breakfast at the Radisson BLU Hotel
• 08:30   Board of Directors meeting
• 10:00  Opening Ceremony at Palace of the Parliament (VIP Meeting)
• 11:00  General Assembly
• 12:30   Visit Palace of the Parliament
• 13:30   Lunch – Palace of the Parliament
• 14:15  Drive to Cotroceni Palace Museum
• 14:45  Visit to Cotroceni Palace Museum

Cotroceni Palace (the official residence of the president, hence the tight security) was built by Carol I in the late 19th century, and became the loveless home of Ferdinand, his nephew and adopted heir, and the young Queen Marie, but has undergone many transformations since the initial designs were executed: During Ceausescu’s dictatorship it was used as the „Pioneer’s Palace,” where young leaders were schooled in the ways of Communism, and – after the devastating earthquake of 1977 – restored as a guesthouse, although it never served this function. You will pass through a host of reception rooms, sleeping quarters, and private chambers, each styled to a particular theme: the German New Renaissance dining room, private dining quarters of Carol I in Florentine style; Oriental painting room used by Queen Marie and her children; the hunting room which showcases trophies hunted by King Ferdinand, as well as bearskin rugs hunted by Ceausescu. Interestingly King Ferdinand’s apartments are done out in a far more dainty, feminine style than Queen Marie’s, whose quarters are quite austere – living proof of who wore the pants in this relationship.

• 15:00  Educational sessions, lectures, workshops and meeting sessions (EC & BofD if needed)
• 20:30  Dinner

Day 3: September  19 – Monday

• 6:30     Breakfast at Radisson BLU Hotel
• 7:00     Depart to Baneasa Airport to fly to Bacau
• 9:00     Arrival to Bacau (time for off airplane and get laggage)
• 10:00   Visit Bacau by coach
• 10:30   Drive Bacau–Cotnari   – 105 km / 1h40
• 12:15   Visit Wine Cellar Cotnari
• 13:00   Lunch in Campanela Castle
• 14:30   Drive to Falticeni – Gura Humorului   – 128 km / 2h20
• 17:00   Visit Humorului and Voronet Monasteries
• 19:30  Accommodation in very nice pensions
• 20:30   Dinner

Total day: 233 km – 3h

Day 4: September 20 – Tuesday

• 8:30     Drive  Gura Humorului – Marginea  – 44 km / 1h
• 9:30     The Black Ceramics of Marginea

Marginea Ceramics is already a well-known brand. Historians date the beginning of pottery at Marginea in 1500. Pottery appeared due to the necessity of storing food. The pottery had its role in primitive society development because it made possible the storage of food. Imagine your kitchen without these ordinary objects. Due to its geographical position, Marginea commune is surrounded by forestes, its soil is argellaceous and it is crossed by the Sucevita river. All these features are fundamental for the craft born from the magical triangel of clay, water and fire. Before the communist oppression in Marginea there were at least 60 families of potters as declared an old potter who reached Munich to present his craft.

• 10:30   Drive Marginea – Moldovita   – 39 km / 0h55
• 11:30   Visit Moldovita Monastery (Golden Apple 1975)
• 12:30   Trip by old train (Mocanita)
• 13:00   Go with Phaetons to outlaws village
• 13:30   Visit at Hutzuli, lunch. Very BIG surprise and show.
• 16:30   Drive  Moldovita – Sucevita   – 37 km / 0h50
• 17:20   Sucevita Monastery (Special Hospitality)
• 19:00   Dinner at Popasul Turistic Sucevita
• 21:00   Drive Sucevita – Gura Humorului   – 52 km / 1h
• 22:00   Overnight in Gura Humorului pensions

Total day: 172 km – 3h45

Day 5: September  21 – Wednesday

 

• 08:00   Breakfast at hotel
• 08:45   Drive Gura Humorului – Ciocanesti   – 68 km / 1h15
• 10:00   Ciocanesti – visit museum, village, photos
• 12:00   Drive Ciocanesti – Piatra Fantanele  – 58 km / 1h05
• 13:00   Lunch at Piatra Fantanele in Dracula’s Castle Hotel
• 14:30   Drive Piatra Fantanele – Bistrita (Visit villages on the route) – 46 km / 1h
  
• 15:30   Drive Bistrita – Sighisoara   –146 km / 2h25
• 18:00   Sighisoara – Accommodation in very nice medieval buildings – Hotels as: Sighisoara Hotel, Fronius Residence, Casa Wagner, Casa cu Cerb.
• 20:00   Dinner in medieval wine cellar.

Total day: 318 km – 4h45

Day 6: September  22 – Thursday

• 08:00   Breakfast
• 09:30   Visiting Sighisoara fortress city

Europe’s best-preserved medieval town.
Sighisoara, which Vlad Tepes called home, is one of the most beautiful towns in the heart of Transylvania. German architectural influences are visible throughout the entire city. Sighisoara was for several centuries a military and political stronghold. One of its most famous attractions is the Clock Tower (Council Tower), built in the 14^th Century. This was the control tower of the main gate of the 2,500 feet long defensive wall. The tower has seven foot thick walls and was used to store ammunition, food reserves, archives and the city’s treasures. The clock was placed in the tower in the 17th Century.

Highlights include: Guild Tower, Venetian House (built in the 13th Century), Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) House, Antler House, Wooden Covered Staircase, Hill Church, Hermann Oberth Square.

• 11:30   Shopping, free time
• 13:00  Lunch in Traditional Medieval Restaurant
• 16:00   Very nice artistic folklore and Medieval Festival. Visit of Count Dracula.
• 20:00   Dinner

Day 7: September  23 – Friday

• 08:00   Breakfast
• 9:00     Drive to Soroundings of Sibiu (Sibiel) – 112 km / 2h
• 11:00   Visiting Soroundings of Sibiu -“The most romantic region of ecotourism in the World” (Forbes Magazine)
• Museum of Glass Icons, biggest collection in the World.
• 12:30   Traditional Wedding – Lunch (Traditional food)
• 15:30   Drive  Sibiel – Sibiu  – 22 km / 0h30
• 16:00   Accommodation in Ramada Hotel
• 16:30  Visiting Sibiu (European Capital of Culture 2007)
• Sightseeing/Shopping
• Meetings
• 20:00 BIG Gala Dinner at Ramada Hotel

Total day: 134 km – 2h30

Day 8: September  24 – Saturday

• 08:30   Breakfast
• 09:00   Drive Sibiu – Brasov (Bran) – 142 km / 2h
• 11:00   Visit to Bran Dracula’s Castle
• 12:30   Lunch at “Vila Bran” Restaurant

• 14:30   Drive Bran –  Sinaia –  51 km / 1h
• 15:30   Visit to Sinaia

Sinaia and Peles Castle.
Considered by many one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883, Peles’ interiors are an opulent display of elegant design and historical artifact. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures.
The town of Sinaia (elevation: 2,500 ft.), home to the Peles and Pelisor castles, is nestled at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, in the Prahova Valley.

• 18:00   Buffet Dinner at Cantacuzino Castle Busteni (Music with George Enescu Festival artists)
• 19:30   Drive to Bucharest  – 127 km / 2h
• 21:30   Otopeni – Accomodation  in Angelo Airporthotel Bucharest 4*

Total day: 320 km – 5h

Day 9: September  25 – Sunday

• Non Stop – Breakfast in Angelo Airporthotel Bucharest 4*
• Departure scheduled flights – 15 min. to the Otopeni Airport and 30 min. to Baneasa Airport
• Post tour – Danube Delta

General Total: 1.177 km – 19h