The CLASSIC DRACULA & HALLOWEEN 2010 in TRANSYLVANIA

Oct. 26, DAY 1 / SUNDAY / In the safety of innocence

We assume you have the standard apprehension of Dracula, of vampires in general – derived from many films and few books. You may, on the contrary, be well informed, but you did not yet measure your knowledge up against the reality.
Welcome in Romania!
Spend a safe night in Bucuresti (Bucharest). At dinnertime, a senior member of the Society will hand you the “Transylvanian Diploma”, to be stamped along the route to castle Dracula, or who will believe you otherwise?

• arrival in Bucuresti, capital of Romania
• transfer to hotel; welcoming cocktail and briefing
• dinner attended by a senior member of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula
• overnight in the safety of innocence

Oct.27, DAY 2 / MONDAY / The Historic Dracula

Morning:
The horse-caravans in the Middle Ages covered 60 kilometres between sunrise and sundown, in a summer day. Bucuresti is 60 km. from the Danube.
Visit the ruins of the Princely Palace and touch the vaults built by prince Vlad Dracula.
Prince Vlad the Impaler-Dracula had a small palace here; sightseeing of mediaeval and modern Bucuresti.

Afternoon: 
Cross the vast Danubian plain to the foothills of the Carpathians, then to the Gorge of the river Arges, guarded by the fortress of Poienari – rebuilt by Vlad Dracula in 1459 with the hands of traitor boyars.
In 1462, prince Vlad, his wife and a few soldiers took refuge here, besieged by the Ottomans. Vlad sent for help in the neighbouring village of Aref, across the hill. His wife did not believe escape was possible and threw herself into the river. Under cover of night, the Arefeans managed to take the prince to safety, across the high Carpathians, into Transylvania. On the crest, Vlad made them owners of 16 mountains (a document issued 100 years later re-confirms the donation).

• sightseeing tour of Bucuresti – Society style
• lunch in Bucuresti (of your own)
• Case 1: with groups under 10 persons – overnight in Aref (private farm-houses, bathroom, TV, telephone)
• Case 2: group over 10 persons – overnight in hotels near-by
• Dinner, folk show

Oct. 28, DAY 3 / TUESDAY / TRANSYLVANIA

(There is no way to enter Transylvania and leave unchanged – CMJ)

Optional morning climb to the ruins of fortress Poienari (1456 steps).

Cross into Transylvania via the spectacular Rucar-Bran Pass (traditional connection between Valahia and Transylvania). On the way, behold the fortress “King’s Stone”, where Vlad was made a prisoner of Mathias Corvinus, king of Hungary (1462).

Visit Castle Bran, 1377, defending the Transylvanian end of the Pass. This is the “American Castle Dracula” (since 1960), as it “looks very much like the vampires’ castles in the Hollywood movies” (TSD survey). Anyway, Bran does stop the mobs from pestering the solitude of the Count in his remote Borgo Pass abode.
Sightseeing of mediaeval Brasov (the second city of Transylvania) – of many and sometime awesome memories of Vlad.

Overnight in Brasov/Poiana Brasov.

Oct.29, DAY 4 / WEDNESDAY / The Count of Dracula - The Castle in Burgo Pass

Departure to the centre of Transylvania, to Sighisoara – the best-preserved 15-century walled town in Europe, under UNESCO care.
Proceed to the buffer-zone separating Count Dracula’s domain (the county of Bistrita-Nasaud) from the rest of Transylvania.
Prince Vlad dims out into history; Count Dracula emerges from nightmares, terror and fright.
Cross the buffer-zone (some turned around) and arrive in the mediaeval town of Bistrita.
One hundred and seventeen years ago, in the pages of Bram Stoker’s novel, “Dracula”, a young English solicitor, Jonathan Harker, took a train from London to “the post-town of Bistritz” – on his way, and doom, to castle Dracula in the Borgo Pass, Northern Transylvania.

Look at mediaeval Bistrita through the eyes of Jonathan Harker.
Leave Bistrita for the final 45 km to the Borgo Pass and the castle. Unlike Harker, who set off unaware of the dangers, you are now prepared to meet the vampire – should he be home, and not in his “beloved London”.

Cross villages, rivers mentioned in “Dracula”, then start the climb into the pass. The farm houses here are so rare, that each has its own, private cemetery – living and dead within whispering distance.
By sunset we should be there. Sunsets in the Borgo Pass, watched from the Moon Tower of the castle, are cosmic shows.

“Enter freely and of your own will” into the castle of the Count of Dracula, remembering what he said: “The old centuries had, and have, powers of their own that mere ‘modernity’ cannot kill”.
You will be told the rules of survival at Castle Dracula. Visit the public parts (you do not wish to see the others) and answer the invitations of the guide only (no-one else’s). It is already night outside. As Chelsea Quinn Yarbro put it: “If you ask if I believe in vampires in the daytime, I would say it is not true; but if you ask me at night, my answer could be different”

Oct. 30, DAY 5 / THURSDAY / The Witch-trial (I) - “Lady Transylvania pageant” (II)

I. True, things at Castle Dracula get oftenly out of hands (that’s why the castle has its own, private cemetery).  Whit no reflection in the mirror, some of you may have difficulties shaving or powdering – minor inconveniences of your new status. Some will change later.
The survivors will return to Sighisoara for a Witch-trial. The Catholic parts of Transylvania had hundreds of them. Jules Michelet said some 200,000 women and men were burnt as witches and wizards, in Europe, between the 15 and the 18 centuries. The last witch-trial in Transylvania took place as near as 1753.
Should the witch outlive the trial (it happened), we shall ask her for some herbs, potions or charms. After all, the witch and the vampire share a lot in common: they have supernatural powers, they can shape-shift, can fly…
The witch (if alive) and a fortune-teller will keep us company for a while in Sighisoara.

II.  How comes the serious, scholarly Transylvanian Society of Dracula busies itself with such a thing as “Lady Transylvania” pageant?
The answer is overly simple: you know how the Count is – always on the look-out for the fairest maidens. Well, he has to do it at night, of course, peering into houses, as a bat – knocking TV aerials, wires and telegraph poles. Fed up, he ordered his society to organize a pageant, a beauty contest (something the society loathes) and thus save the bumps on his forehead).

This particular “Classic” tour invites you tonight to witness the secret election of “Lady  Transylvania 2011” who will be the pair of the Count for the next year (beauty contest, fashion parade). You may even take part in the contest (why not?).
Tomorrow night, the winner will be invested – during the Halloween party – “Countess Dracula”, to be the pair of the Count for one year.

Oct. 31, DAY 6 / FRIDAY / Halloween in Transylvania

Most of the day is yours, to prepare for the spookies of the nights.
The Halloween party of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula takes place, this year, in Sighisoara. The Count said so.
Will the Count be there? Yes, to meet his new countess, to meet you, as well. Under some sort of disguise or another.

The contents of a TSD Halloween are generally reserved for the attendees, but we can tip you on a few things: the Little Shop from Hell (opened one night  a year) will offer again “After-Life Insurances” and “Indulgences” for 5 sins each; there is a prize for “The Halloweenest” costume & mask; sale and Auction of rare Count Dracula Treasure; book a dance with Countess Dracula if you dare (former Miss Transylvania).

More tips for this year’s Halloweeners:
   # Don’t look for them; they will come for you
   # Psychic vampires hate stupid people
   # Bite at will. You have a problem if they don’t bleed.

Nov. 1, DAY 7 / SATURDAY / Any lucky survivors?

Almost as a bonus, the survivors of this tour have a chance, rather unique, to add a nobility title to their names – to join The Order of Transylvanian Knights, should they be able to pass the 6 chivalry tests (5 – for TSD members): archery; strength of arm; walking on a beam; jumping through a fire; answering a riddle; dancing a minuet. Lady-knights are not uncommon in Transylvania, either.
Proceed to mediaeval Brasov. Free for strolls, shopping. No more Dracula – please return among the living.

Optional – tests for knighthooding; if you can pass them, investiture ceremonies will be activated – oath, sword-on-shoulder, diploma and coat-of-arms (Euro 70) pers., minimum 5 persons).
Farewell dinner at “The Citadel”, with a mediaeval floor-show.

Nov.2, DAY 8 / SUNDAY / HOW ABOUT A GRADE 2?

Early departure to the airport.
Departure from Romania – maybe as knights, or TSD members, but certainly as friends of Romania.

You have been on a tour sharing the information gathered by the Society at its congresses and symposiums, from scholars and researchers, from thousands of Dracula romantics. Many returned for a Level 2, most are in touch – and we hope to change you even more

----------
The price includes  the cost of the “Classic” tour, of  the pageant  and of the Halloween party.
The land price covers: transfers upon arrival/departure; transport by a/c deluxe bus; accommodation; half-board; guide service; shows – as mentioned in the programme; museums.

Land price:
The price includes the cost of the "Classic" tour, of the pageant and of the Halloween party.

The price per person is: Euros 895 (sharing a double); single suppl. Euros 155.
The price includes:
* transfers from / to the airport (railway station)
* land transport by de-lux bus
* accommodation in 4 and 3 star hotels (as described in the itinerary)
* accommodation in private houses in the village of Aref (Day 2)
* breakfast and dinner (available for vegetarians too and for any request)
* Halloween party
* museums fee
* shows as mentioned in the itinerary
* guide and driver expenses (accommodation, meals, fee)

The price does not include:
* optional ("Order of Transylvanian Knights" ceremony and investiture - Euros 55 per person, minimum 4 pers)
* optional (reception ceremony in The Transylvanian Society of Dracula - Euros 75 per person: membership kit, silver pin, TSD yearly fee)
* lunch
* drinks
* refreshment

The land price covers: transfers upon arrival/departures; transport by a/c de-luxe bus; accommodation; half-board; guide services; shows - as mentioned in the program; museums.




Excerpt:
The Company of Mysterious Journeys will penalize the tourists who renounce their bookings as follows (subtracting bank-transfer charges):
1) for cancellation of 30 and more days before the tour start: full refunding (minus banking charges)
2) for 29-21 days cancellation: 30% penalty
3) for 20-14 days cancellation: 50% penalty
4) for 13-7 days or less cancellation: 100% penalty in favour of the CMJ.