ROMANIA

LIGHT INTO EUROPE

&

THE CALEDONIAN BALL BUCHAREST

Over the years I have travelled the world on many occasions, for work, for pleasure, visiting family and friends, many reasons. There are some trips that stand out in my mind as being particularly memorable, and rather special. Sometimes due to the sheer natural beauty of the place that I am visiting, the friendliness of the people, or simply down to the people that I am travelling with. My recent visit to Bucharest was one such memorable trip.

I have visited Romania on a number of occasions and have found it to be a most beautiful country, diverse landscape and an abundance of wildlife which is seldom seen anywhere else in Europe. My visits to Romania have always taken me out into the countryside, to the spectacular Carpathian mountains, and the delightful castles and villages of Transylvania. It often seemed like stepping back in time, to a bygone age where life was simpler, I love it!

However, on all of my visits, until now, I have never spent any time in Bucharest. I would fly into the airport, be picked up by car and whisked away to the countryside, never seeing anything of this historic city. Although I have promised myself many times that 'next time' I would spend some time in Bucharest, it took an invitation from the charity 'Light into Europe' to get me to fulfil that promise.

I first became aware of Light into Europe about two years ago, when I had the pleasure of meeting the founder Captain Stan Platt OBE. Stan started the charity back in 1986, initially setting up an air ambulance service to provide much needed medical assistance. The charity also took vital supplies, donated here in the UK, to Romania following the 1990 revolution.

Today, besides still regularly transporting donated items to Romania, Light into Europe concentrates its efforts on supporting the deaf and visually impaired. In recent years the charity has trained a number of guide dogs for the blind, and matched them to well deserved beneficiaries. Prior to the charity's involvement, guide dogs were a sight never seen on Romanian streets, and it is an on-going task to educate people and businesses to the needs of the blind.



Although the task ahead of the charity is immense, Stan, his wife Camelia, and their wonderful team of volunteers give nothing but 100% to improving the lives of blind and deaf people in Romania. This amazing, highly dedicated team work tirelessly, and they are extremely grateful of any help or donations. Which brings me nicely back to the reason for my visit to Bucharest.

For the past nineteen years the charity has held a Caledonian Ball, this ties in nicely with Stan's own Scottish heritage, it is also a fun and exciting way to highlight the wonderful work that the charity does, and help raise much needed funds. In recent years the ball has been held at the Intercontinental Hotel Bucharest, a fabulous and most welcoming 5 star hotel close to Bucharest Old Town. 

 



My wife and I arrived the day before the ball and would be staying for three nights, this would give us ample time to explore the city and enjoy the excellent facilities that the hotel had to offer. Arriving late afternoon we merely acquainted ourselves with the hotel before going out to dinner with friends.

The next morning, after an excellent breakfast, my wife and I decided to explore the Old Town. There is some wonderful architecture to be found in this part of Bucharest, along with quaint shopping arcades and inviting coffee houses. We happily spent a few hours just wandering around, taking in the sites this lovely city had to offer. At one point we lost our bearings and asked a passing stranger for directions. Not only did the stranger put us back on the right track, but she, literally, quite happily, walked us to our destination, even though it was in the opposite direction to which she was headed, extreme kindness indeed!



  









After lunch, I spent some time in the hotel's spa. This is located on the 22^nd floor, and along with some excellent facilities provides exceptional views of the city. It was then time for the reason for our visit. Dressed in our finest (thankfully the Tuxedo and Ballgown had survived the Ryanair flight), we made our way to the reception area to meet our fellow guests. A number of beneficiaries and their guide dogs were in attendance, and the whole, wonderful, affair was captured on film by: https://www.sensotv.ro/sanatate/Eveniment-7442/caledonian-ball-2016-light-into-europe-charity

The ball was magnificent, with wonderful food, great Scottish music and dancing, and delightful company, but above all, a fantastic way to both celebrate the truly amazing work of the charity and raise much needed funds. There was both a live auction and a silent auction, as well as a stall with most interesting items for sale which had been beautifully handmade by some of the deaf and blind beneficiaries. The British Ambassador to Romania was in attendance, and gave a supportive and heartfelt speech, as were many other dignitaries and business people. The dancing went on until the early hours and we all retired to our beds tired but extremely happy that the event had gone so well. A wonderful time was had by all.



Brunch the next day in the hotel's restaurant was a site to behold, a marvellous, sumptuous affair of some of the finest food I have ever tasted, washed down with a glass or two of extremely palatable Champagne. After the previous night's festivities and dancing into the wee small hours, we had little energy for exploring, so we rested before going out with friends to a traditional Romanian restaurant for dinner.

Our evening excursion proved to be an interesting one. We were a group of 13 humans and 2 guide dogs. As we walked through the streets of Bucharest it was noticeable by the look on peoples faces that they were not used to seeing guide dogs on the streets. On arrival at the restaurant, we were almost turned away due to having the dogs with us. Eventually, having had it explained to them that these were working dogs, and that it was allowed by law for the dogs to accompany their owners into the restaurant, the staff granted us access. The traditional Romanian food and atmosphere in the restaurant was wonderful, with live music, a singer, and a clown with parrots and all manner of props. A good time was had by all, including the dogs, the most loyal, intelligent, well behaved dogs I have ever had the privilege to meet.

After a good night's sleep in a most comfortable bed, an excellent breakfast and another walk around the old town, it was time to leave Bucharest. It was a relatively short taxi ride to the airport and we were soon on-board our flight. During our flight back to the UK, my wife and I had a very interesting conversation with a young Romanian woman. The young lady was living and working in London, having previously studied at the University of Essex. She was most interested in our visit to Bucharest, and the work of Light into Europe. She commented on how she would often see guide dogs on the streets of London, but had never seen a single guide dog in Romania, in all the years she had lived there. This one thought provoking comment highlights, perfectly, the importance of the wonderful work that Light into Europe is doing.

If you can help or would like to find out more about the charity, please visit www.lightintoeurope.org or visit the charity's Facebook page or Twitter account.

STENALINE

HARWICH TO HOOK OF HOLLAND

 

It had been over six years since I last sailed with Stena Line from the Essex port of Harwich to the Dutch port of Hoek Van Holland. Since that last trip, Stena Line has introduced two new ferries, Stena Hollandica and Stena Brittanica. Launched in October 2010, these are two of the largest super ferries in the world. The scale of the ferries is very impressive, measuring 240 meters in length, and with a maximum capacity of 230 cars and 1,200 passengers.

It is not just the sheer size of these ferries that is impressive, the on-board amenities and accommodation is of a very high standard. Public areas for passengers to relax in are both plentiful and spacious. From the main lounge and C View Lounge, to the Newsroom and Magazine Lounge, the options for guests to find a place to relax are varied. For a small additional charge guests can gain entry to the Stena Plus Lounge, this is a very comfortable area, accessed using a door code supplied at time of check in, or on request at the information desk on-board. Once inside the Stena Plus Lounge, guests can take advantage of complimentary drinks and snacks, as well as various newspapers.
 

 

 

 

 

 

There are ample facilities on-board for passengers to amuse themselves, and while away the time during the crossing. There is a Cinema, Casino, Children's Play Area, Teen Town, and a very well stocked Stena Shop. Restaurants and bars are plentiful, ranging from the Metropolitan Restaurant and Bar through to the Barista and Wine Bar.

For those choosing an overnight crossing, a cabin is compulsory. Cabin grades range from single and two berth inside cabins, through to five berth family outside cabins, all are very well equipped and comfortable, but for ultimate comfort why not treat yourself to the luxurious Captain's Suite? On this trip I had booked my wife and myself into a two berth inside cabin, and my wife's parents into a four berth outside cabin. Both cabins were more than sufficient for our needs, with the four berth cabin being generously spacious and comfortable.

 



As we were travelling on the night ferry, departing Harwich at 11pm, we arrived at the port at around 7.15pm. Boarding normally starts at 8.30pm, with vehicles being checked in from around 8pm. Once our vehicle had been checked in, a very quick and efficient process, we waited with our fellow passengers in the car lanes to await boarding. There are facilities nearby for purchasing food and drink etc, and also a rest area and customer toilets. Foot passengers are boarded in the main terminal building which is adjacent to the Railway Station.

Once the incoming passengers and vehicles have been unloaded, the port staff will instruct car drivers to board the ferry. As the ferry also takes lorries, coaches and vans, the order of loading is dependent on vehicle numbers and size of vehicle. We were on-board by 9pm, which meant we had plenty of time to stow our overnight bags in our cabins before heading off to explore the ship.

After exploring the rest of the ship and familiarizing ourselves with its layout, we made our way to the Stena Plus Lounge. The Stena Plus Lounge is a very comfortable area, somewhere to rest and get away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurants, bars and shop. The lounge really comes into its own on the day crossing, helping the weary traveller obtain some peace and quiet. As we had cabins to retire to, our visit on this occasion was brief, although I did have enough time to relax with a complimentary glass of wine.

 



Back in our cabin, I set my alarm for the morning before retiring for the night. We would disembark at around 8am Central European Time (don't forget to put your clocks forward one hour), and as we had booked breakfast, we would need an early start. The staff do make an announcement in the morning, to advise passengers to prepare for arrival in Hoek Van Holland.

Next morning, after a surprisingly smooth crossing, we were up bright and early and made our way to the Taste Restaurant for breakfast. Breakfast was self service and consisted of cereal, fruit, hot and cold food, fruit juice, yogurts, and hot drinks. The standard of the food on offer was very impressive.

It was soon time to disembark and we made our way to the car deck. Disembarkation was smooth and reasonably quick, once off the ferry we made our way through customs and passport control. We were then on the open road with a 463 mile drive ahead of us. I was feeling well rested, and confident that we would be able to get at least a couple of hours driving in before the need for a break.

We had travelled out on the Stena Brittanica and would be returning on the Stena Hollandica. We would again be making the overnight crossing, leaving Hoek Van Holland at 10pm and arriving back in Harwich at 6.30am. The facilities on-board Stena Hollandica are identical to those on Stena Brittanica. The return journey was just as efficient and comfortable as the outward journey. We were on-board by 8pm, which meant we had time for dinner in the Metropolitan Restaurant. The choice and presentation of the food was excellent and was much enjoyed by all those in my party.

Again, another smooth crossing, good breakfast, and quick and efficient disembarkation at Harwich, a most enjoyable end to our holiday. All of my party were extremely impressed with the standard of accommodation and the facilities on-board.

For more information please visit the Stena website at: www.stenaline.co.uk

FLYING OUT OF LONDON STANSTED

RAMADA LONDON STANSTED

With its close proximity to London Stansted Airport, a mere 3 miles, the Ramada London Stansted is an ideal pre or post flight hotel. Located just off junction 8 of the M11, within the Welcome Break service area, the hotel and surrounding area has all the facilities that the discerning traveller would need for a comfortable stay.

The Ramada London Stansted is part of the Wyndham group of hotels. Having been built as recently as 2009, it is one of many new hotels and passenger services to be built in the Stansted Airport vicinity over recent years. This recent increase in traveller facilities in the area has greatly improved the experience, both for visitors to the airport and to travellers on the M11 and A120 routes.

Among the many on-site facilities, hotel guests are able to enjoy free wi fi, free parking (during your hotel stay only), baby facilities, ATM, laundry, dry cleaning, currency exchange, bar and restaurant (serving hot and cold food and drinks), and a Starbucks. There is also parking available for caravans, coaches and lorries. For an additional charge, guests can leave their vehicles at the hotel during their time away, collecting the vehicle upon their return. However, guests leaving their vehicles here will have to rely on public transport or taxi to get to and from the airport. Unfortunately, there are no shuttle buses serving this location.

Adjacent to the hotel is a food court, shopping area and a petrol station. The hotel also boasts a business center and 24 hour reception. There is a choice of rooms ranging from Executive Rooms to Interconnecting Family Rooms. Family rooms can sleep up to four people. All rooms feature walk in wet room, tea/coffee making facilities, and digital freeview flatscreen TV. Free newspapers are available on request, as is an early morning wake up call.

 

 



Check in time is from 2pm and check out time is by 11am. Breakfast is served from 6.30am to 9.30am Monday to Friday, and 7am to 10am Saturday and Sunday (a continental breakfast can be arranged for earlier departures). Dinner is served from 6pm to 9.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 6pm to 9pm on Sundays.

Apart from being ideally situated for the airport, the Ramada London Stansted is also an ideal base for exploring Essex and Hertfordshire. Bishop's Stortford town center is only a few minutes drive away, Cambridge just 14 miles, London Docklands only a 25 minute drive, and Hatfield forest is virtually on the doorstep.

I had booked a standard double room for the night, for my wife and myself. We were flying out of Stansted to Bucharest in Romania on an early morning flight. To eliminate any pre-flight stress due to hold ups on the road, we thought this would make for a much more leisurely and restful start to our holiday. We would have a 5 minute drive to the airport as opposed to over an hour, and an extra hour in bed at that time of the morning is most welcome!

We arrived at the hotel late afternoon and check-in was very quick. Antoniya and her team were very welcoming, polite and helpful, and extremely efficient. We took our small overnight bag to our room then went off to explore the hotel and surrounding facilities. The site is what you would expect from a service area, most travellers needs are catered for but it is not an environment that one would wish to spend too much time in. There are of course numerous places of interest in the local area, and further afield, but my wife and I would not be visiting these on this occasion. Back at the hotel, we found our room to be most comfortable and more than adequate for our needs.

 

The next morning, having had a comfortable nights sleep, we were awoken by the prearranged early morning call. It was 5am and it was our intention to leave the hotel at 6am. As it was too early for us to have the full cooked breakfast, service starts at 6.30am, we made do with just a cup of tea and coffee in our room. We intended to have breakfast at the airport once we had checked in for our flight. As I had already pre-booked the 'Meet & Greet' car park through the Stansted Airport website, I would not be leaving my car at the hotel. We left at 6am as intended and had a quick and easy 3 mile drive to the airport car park. It was then a simple matter of dropping off the vehicle keys at the car park office, and then a short walk to the terminal and on to check-in

I am a big advocate of pre and post flight hotel stays, I truly believe that we should make our holidays as stress free as possible, so why leave driving to the airport to just a few hours before your flight? This way, my wife and I arrived at the airport in good time, feeling much more rested and relaxed than had we driven all the way from home that morning. The Ramada London Stansted is an ideal pre or post flight hotel, easily accessed from the M11 and A120. It would also make a good short stay hotel for visiting the surrounding area. My wife and I were both very happy with out short stay, and we will most certainly consider the Ramada London Stansted next time we fly out of London Stansted Airport.

 

For more information visit: www.welcomebreak.co.uk/hotels

The post code for Sat Navs is: CM23 5QZ.

A TUDOR MANOR HOTEL

MARYGREEN MANOR

It was late in the evening, on a cold dark November night, when my wife and I arrived at the Marygreen Manor Hotel in Brentwood Essex. We had travelled from London after a long and very tiring day, and all that was on our minds was a hot shower and a comfortable bed for the night. As we pulled into the car park and the hotel came into sight, our spirits lifted. Here was a most beautiful and welcoming hotel, and we knew immediately that we were in for a treat.

Marygreen Manor is a wonderful 4 star hotel and restaurant. The hotel is situated in the Essex town of Brentwood, just off junction 28 of the M25. With easy access to both the M25 and A12, the hotel is ideally situated for visiting London (under an hour by train or car), Lakeside (a mere 20 minute drive), or Bluewater (only 40 minutes drive).

Steeped in history, the hotel was originally a Tudor Manor House, built in the early 16^th century. Initially home to Henry Roper, a gentleman servant to Catherine of Aragon, the hotel proudly boasts many original features, including an abundance of oak beams. Besides the attraction of these beautiful old timbers, guests can also marvel at the ornate ceilings and wood paneled walls, there is even a secret door hidden by the paneling, which is best viewed from the outside. There is also a delightful courtyard garden, surrounded by the Garden Rooms. These spacious and attractive rooms are all connected to the main building by means of a covered walkway. The garden is well worth a visit, no matter what time of year, but if it does happen to be a bit chilly out, guests can warm themselves by the roaring open log fire.

 





 

 



Our visit to Marygreen Manor was in early November. My wife and I had travelled from London, where we had been attending the World Travel Market at London Excel. Our journey had taken us approximately 45 minutes by car, arriving at the hotel around 8.30pm. We parked in the free car park directly in front of the hotel. As we were only staying one night, we were travelling light. So, carrying only our overnight bag we made our way to reception. The staff were very welcoming, friendly and polite, and in no time at all we were checked in and on our way to our room for the night. A member of staff very kindly escorted us to our room, carrying our overnight bag for us.

 

 

This was the first time we had stayed overnight at the hotel, but as we had already eaten earlier in the evening, we would not be dining in the restaurant on this occasion. However, having previously dined in the restaurant on several occasions, I can wholeheartedly recommend the food and ambiance. I was, therefore, thoroughly looking forward to sampling the food once again at breakfast the following morning.

Accommodation at this delightful 44 bedroom hotel comprises 3 categories, Luxury Tudor Rooms and Suites, which are located in the main building, Delux Garden Rooms overlooking the courtyard garden, and Executive rooms located in the Brampton Lodge. All rooms are extremely well furnished and have all the features necessary for a comfortable stay. Features include freeview TV, tea/coffee making facilities, complimentary toiletries, telephone, iron, hairdryer, and free wi fi, fresh fruit and bottled mineral water. In addition to all these features, Executive rooms and Suites also have bathrobes and slippers, and some rooms feature four poster or canopy beds.

Our room for the night was a most comfortable and tastefully decorated Executive Double Room, located in the Brampton Lodge. The complimentary fruit and mineral water was very much appreciated, and the slippers and bathrobes (only available in Executive rooms and suites) were a nice touch.



Other features at the hotel include the AA four star rosetted restaurant. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Diners can choose to dine from the A La Carte Menu, the Chef's Tasting Menu, or Menu Du Jour. Guests can also enjoy light meals and snacks in the Lounge, or perhaps indulge in a delicious afternoon tea (booking is essential). There are also private dining rooms available for hire. Dinner is served between 7.15pm and 9.30pm Monday to Saturday. Lunch is served between 12.30pm and 2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 12.30pm to 4pm Sunday. The restaurant is closed Monday lunchtime.



  



For business guests, the hotel has a choice of 3 conference and meeting rooms. With a maximum capacity of 50 delegates, the hotel can meet most business needs. Various equipment for use in the conference and meeting rooms is available for hire.

 

 

The next morning, following a most comfortable and restful nights sleep, my wife and I made our way to the restaurant for breakfast. Breakfast is served between 7am and 9.30am Monday to Friday, 7.30am and 10am Saturday, and 8am and 10am on Sunday. We were shown to our table by a very helpful member of staff who took our tea and coffee order, and then left us to help ourselves from the self service buffet of cereals, fruit, yogurts, fruit juice etc. There is also a wide choice of hot food available from the menu which is cooked to order.

We left Marygreen Manor mid morning, feeling rested and relaxed. This had been a perfect overnight stay, we were only sorry that we were not staying longer. I thoroughly recommend this hotel to anyone wishing to stay in the Brentwood area. I certainly hope to return in the not too distant future.

For more details on the hotel and restaurant, room rates and availability, please visit the hotel's website at: www.marygreenmanor.co.uk
or email: reservations@marygreenmanor.co.uk

Postcode for Sat. Nav: CM14 4NS Telephone number: 01277 225252