Two last days in Romania would be spent on the Danube Delta; a mecca for birders (which Steve and I are not) who come to see migrating birds that come from as far away as China and Africa. The Delta Biosphere can be explored as part of a Danube River Cruise, on day trips or boat excursions from Tulcea and has the third largest biodiversity in the world; only the Great Barrier Reef and Galapagos Archipelago in Ecuador exceed it.
The mighty Danube runs through: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine.
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Romanian church
selling pickled fruits and vegetables along the road, Romania
working the fields, Romania
But first, we had to get there. Driver Marinel pulled away from Bacau in the early morning and headed south to Tulcea, gateway for Danube explorations. Steve and I think that often, road sights can even be more interesting then what is seen at your destination. Locals were harvesting, selling gigantic cabbages from car trunks as well as pickled fruits and vegetables, and migrating storks nested on street light poles in large nests while their young poked heads out.
horse in field wearing red to keep away the “evil eye” in Romania
Our Explore Worldwide bus stopped in Galati to board a 10-minute ferry across the definitely not Blue, Danube River. Ferries operate every 30 minutes, one in each direction, and a decent road continued on the other side of the Danube to Tulcea with a few new sights along the way.
Galati ferry port on the Danube River in Romania
fishermen along the Danube River in Romania
Galati area farm cart picking up provisions at the ferry, Romania
Once in metropolitan Tulcea, Cristi suggested a few lunch spots along the river before the Danube Delta cruise began. Hotels, restaurants and cafes lined the riverbank along with ice cream stands and takeaway shops. Steve and I spotted a Shawarma/Gyros/Kebob stand (however you choose to refer to them), bought two large sandwiches, sat on a nearby park bench and snarfed away. Romanian weather was finally on an upturn; sunny and hot!
happy face on Steve, carrying our favorite Shawarma sandwiches in Tulcea
Tulcea, Romania fountain
Tulcea is known as Romania’s “Gateway to the Delta” and have been an important harbor since ancient times. Founded in the Seventh Century BC by the Dacian, Tulcea was conquered by the Romans, ruled by the Byzantine, Genoese, and Ottomans until becoming part of Romania in 1878. There are different museums and sights of historical value in Tulcea of which we saw none. Tulcea was the group’s cruising gateway, plain and simple…