1936 On the Continent

some places it is difficult to walkthrough them even in single file. They may be approached either by starting from the shelter “Caminul Turistirol” (3,000 feet above sea-level), which is on the coast of Lake Ghilcos, or by road from Piatra Neamt.
    The Bucovina mountains and the rest of the Carpathian range are connected by the Bucegi mountains, which consist mainly of chalk cliffs that glisten in the sun like the ruins of some mighty fairy palaces. The Bucegi mountains are only three hours’ journey from Bucarest and can be reached in the greatest comfort, thanks to the arrangements made by touring clubs. The Bucegi range includes a number of health resorts, and Sinaia, the Royal Residence, is also in this range, as well as the castle of Peles, which contains a priceless collection of old masters.
    Thanks to the efforts of the Touring Club and the Carpatina Society, two of the most important touring organisations in Roumania, there are a number of shelters in the Bucegi range. These include the “Casa Pesterii,” set in most beautiful scenery, the “Casa Bolboci,” in the valley of the Ialomnitza, between the “Tatar” and “Zanoaga” gorges, which present a savage picturesqueness that must be unique. “Casa Malaesti” and “Casa Mihail Haret” are other shelters in this range, the latter being situated on a high peak from which a glorious view of the surrounding—and far distant—country can be obtained.
Valley of the Olt
    In the Fagaras mountains the valley of the Olt is the most famous. It is here that painters from all over the country congregate at all seasons to paint the scenery, which offers beauty and variety in equal measure. Shelters are provided in the Fagaras range at various altitudes. Some peaks of this range are 8,000 feet high, and the principal shelters are situated as follows: Urlea (4,500 feet), Sighisoara (4,200 feet), Casa de Piatra Balea (6,150 feet) and Balea de Jos (3,700 feet).
    Another range of mountains that the tourist might care to visit is the Apuseni range, interesting groups of which can be reached by train from Arad, Alba-Iulia, Turda,Huedin and Oradea-Mare. Shelters are available on most peaks.
    In the Banat, all parts of which can be reached by train from Timisoara, the district of Hateg should be of interest to the tourist. The district offers much of ethnographical interest and if you possess a camera you will not be able to resist the temptation to take photographs at every turn. One of the picturesque peculiarities of the people of Hateg is the quaint manner in which the women wear their hair. Old women plait their hair and arrange the plaits in the form of horns in front, while young women wear buns over the ears. The men’s skeepskin waistcoats, which are beautifully embroidered in many colours, are also striking. A speciality of this region is a musical instrument—a sort of reed—called “tulnici” which gives a prolonged, wailing sound and is used both for making music and for signalling to lone shepherds in the mountains.
Watering-places
    Roumania has a very large number of watering-places, including Herculane, Calimanesti, Govora, Slanicul, Moldovei, Vatra-Dornei, Borsec, Tusnad, Ocna Sibiului, Felix, Sovata, etc., which by their therapeutic properties and situations rival the most reputed watering places of other countries. Most of the watering-places enumerated here have adequate hotel accommodation for the foreign visitor, or are so near to a town that the problem of accommodation presents no difficulty.
Danube Delta
    The Danube Delta presents an unforgettable sight of poetic beauty. The region can be reached from the port Braila. Half-an-hour’s journey from Braila is the Filipoiu Canal, which connects one arm of the Delta with Lake Serban. In the heart of the Delta is Valcov, a town entirely inhabited by fishermen. Like Venice, Valcov is built on a small archipelago.
    Balcic, on the Black Sea coast, is a piece of Turkey, more Turkish than anything left in Turkey to-day. The minarets, fezes, veils and lazily dreaming and smoking Turks are still there. The “Silver Coast of Balcic” is one of the most beautiful and picturesque spots on earth.
Accommodation, Food, Tips
    As the coast approaches Constanza the number of seaside resorts increases. Constanza, Mamaia, Eforie, Carmen Sylva are the best known, in addition to Ecrene, which is the most beautiful seaside resort in Roumania, though possessing the fewest bathing facilities.
    It must be