Starting Our European Adventure

 Week 1

We begin the Adventure with the

ISCSC 50th Anniversary Conference

(International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilization)

at Dimitrie Cantemire Christian University

Bucharest, Romania

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Aug. 31, packed and ready to go

We arrive Bucharest Sept. 1.

Taxi through downtown Bucharest

City Center 

Novotel Hotel lobby

Sept. 2 - 1st day of conference

Breakfast at Novotel at 7 am

We meet Lynn Rhodes and Clare Crook for breakfast and briefing for the day.

At 9 am a bus picks us all up and takes us to DCCU

DCCU
located along the Dâmbovita River

After registration and introductions, there are keynote speakers, then lunch.

A few more talks, then breakout session of panels.

During the panel sessions the Bucharest Press interviews the notables of the conference.

Lynn Rhodes, ISCSC President, being interviewed by Bucharest TV

John presenting his talk on Catastrophe and Philosophy...
"Never let a good disaster go to waste"

John talking with John Grayzel at lunch
in the Faculty Lounge

After the meeting, we have a 2 hour musical program of Romanian music; contemporary and folk -  Interesting

Casa Doina Restaurant

Then we are bussed to Casa Doina Restaurant for dinner.  Beautiful patio restaurant with fountains around, strolling singers and musicians plus delicious food.

Sept. 3 - Final day of conference, a VIP tour of House of Parliament and a lunch

Final remarks and conference resolutions
Ramona Mihâilâ moderating

Now we go on to tour to the House of Parliament

Now to lunch...

Isolleta Restaurant
A lakeside restaurant in Herâstrâu Park

Sept. 4 - Day trip to Transylvania

We are masked and ready to go

On the way into the Carpathian mountains we see lots of rivers and roadside homes.

Walking up to the Castle

First view of Bran Castle 

We enter the city of Bran and get a first glance at Bran Castle sometimes called the Dracula Castle because Ivan the Impaler is associated with this Castle.

Old etching of Castle
Not so scary now

Now to taste some wine at Azuga Rhein Cellars

A tour of the Azuga Rhein Cellars and see that they are
producing sparking wines. 

Wine in racks for 
settling and sparkling

Restaurant and grounds

Beautiful lunch

Now on the bus to Busteni...

We walk through the town of Busteni where we were supposed to tour the Castle, but we didn’t have time, so we just walked through the town square, took photos had a refreshment.

Last look at the Transylvanian Mountains.
Bus back to Bucharest to pack, gather travel documents
and rest for our 4 am wake up call for the airport pickup

Next posting...Week 2

arrival in Florence!