ANOTHER OF JOHN FARRAR'S VIRTUAL TRAVEL WEBSITES
A PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY OF THE DOBROGEA
REGION OF ROMANIA AND
THE AMAZING DANUBE DELTA
As many visitors to my travel websites will know I try to include places that the average traveller wouldn't think to visit Words cannot fully describe the beauty and tranquillity of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in the Dobrogea region of Romania The mighty Danube river winds its way through Europe and before ending its long journey at the Black Sea it lays out a natural paradise which is unparalleled in Europe Its lakes, reed islands, pastures and sand dunes cover over 5,165 sq km (2,000 miles) This amazing wetland is home to over 300 species of birds, countless fish from royal sturgeon through to carp and perch, while its 1,150 kinds of plants range from sinuous lianas suggesting tropical forests to gently blossoming water lilies It is small wonder that UNESCO has designated the Delta a "Reservation of the Biosphere". This vast area, where the only transport is by boat, is also home to about 15,000 people who make their living from fishing, livestock breeding, reed harvesting and proudly showing visitors this natural paradise Meeting these friendly people and visiting their villages is like stepping back in time - I had no idea how beautiful this place was when I set out for a few days travelling around Romania - It truly took my breath away and my only regret is that I only had a few days to take in the beauty of this very special place. My journey to the Danube Delta started with a three hour drive from Bucharest, the capital of Romania, to Constanta, the regional capital of Dobrogea where I spent an enjoyable two days photographing this beautiful city and its neighbouring resort Mamaia From there we drove to the Delta where a small boat was waiting to take us to our hotel - In the morning I awoke to find that I was visiting one of the most beautiful places on earth To give some idea of the abundance of wildlife in the Delta, all the wildlife photographs on this website were taken in only three days If you are a photographer - go there and witness nature at its finest but please stay for longer than I did If bird watching is your pleasure - go there and see for yourself the huge variety that inhabit this peaceful wetland If you are a keen fisherman - go there and enjoy these waters which will leave you with tales to tell for years to come If you simply want to get away from it all in a wilderness area with no roads, no pressure but an abundance of peace and calmness - go there - I will certainly return
I decided to place my pictures on this
website without any explanation I hope my photographs will encourage you to make Dobrogea one of your 'Must Visit Places' PARALELA 45 I would like to again thank the Romanian travel company Paralela 45 for all the help they continue to give me on my visits to Romania
If you are considering a trip to Romania I would be very happy to recommend
them as they are one of the largest and best known travel agents in
Romania I would also like to thank Ana in the Bucharest office who continues to arrange all my travel and also my guide and driver Ion whose enthusiasm for this project made it even more enjoyable Paralela 45 will arrange everything for your visit and their staff will make every effort to see that you have a perfect holiday Please click on the picture above to visit their website |
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John M. D. Farrar - Member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists