The 2011 FIJET World Congress will be held in magnificent Romania. The program will include some very special and exciting visits to the most important, romantic and exciting locations in this ancient and fascinating country.
The Congress begins in Bucharest where delegates will stay at the beautiful radisson BLU Hotel. The frist day brings the Opening Ceremony and General Assembly. Thanks to a very special arrangement with the government, those events will be held at the Palace of the Parliament. This amazing building – said to be the second largest government building in the world – is normally reserved for use by the government for official functions and the daily running of the government. (The U.S. Pentagon is the largest government building.)
The next day we will fly to Bacau in Moldovia where we will visit a wine cellar in Contnari, enjoy lunch at the Campanela Castle and the see the famous monasteries of Humorului and Voronet.
Other events include a trip on a vintage train, special hospitality at the Sucevita Monastery and a visit to Sighisoara – Europe’s best-preserved medieval town.
For many, the highlight will be a visit to Dracula’s Castle. The organizers say there may even be a visit by Dracula himself!
FIJET owes a special thanks to Elena Udrea, Minister of Tourism of Romania, for her generous help and assistance in hosting the 53rd FIJET World Congress.
It should be noted that all journalist members of FIJET who attend a World Congress are required to write and publish at least one story about the Congress location.
53rd World Congress FIJET – Romania
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September 17 – 25, 2011
Day 1: September 17 - Saturday
- · Arriva, transfer to Radisson BLU Hotel and registration for the Congress
- · Accommodation. Visit Revolution Square or a shopping center
- · EC meeting
- · 20:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner at Radisson BLU Hotel
- - Overnight in Radisson BLU Hotel
Day 2: September 18 - Sunday
- · 07:30 Breakfast at the Radisson BLU Hotel
- · 08:30 Board of Directors meeting
- · 10:00 Opening Ceremony at Palace of the Parliament (VIP Meeting)
- · 11:00 General Assembly
- · 12:30 Visit Palace of the Parliament
- · 13:30 Lunch – Palace of the Parliament
- · 14:15 Drive to Cotroceni Palace Museum
- · 14:45 Visit to Cotroceni Palace Museum (for the companions and those who do not need to attend the meetings)
- · 15:00 Educational sessions, lectures, workshops and meeting sessions (EC & BofD if needed)
- · 20:30 Dinner
Day 3: September 19 - Monday
- · 6:30 Breakfast at Radisson BLU Hotel
- · 7:00 Depart to Airport for flight to Bacau by Blue Air
- · 9:00 Arrival in Bacau (time to deplane & get luggage)
- · 10:00 Visit Bacau by coach
- · 11:00 Drive Bacau – Cotnari
- · 12:15 Visit Wine Cellar Cotnari
- · 13:00 Lunch in Campanela Castle
- · 14:30 Drive to Gura Humorului
- · 17:00 Visit Humorului and Voronet Monasteries
- · 19:30 Accommodation in very nice pensions
- · 20:30 Dinner
Day 4: September 20 – Tuesday
- · 8:30 Drive Gura Humorului – Marginea
- · 09:45 The Black Ceramics of Marginea
- · 10:30 Drive Marginea – Moldovita
- · 11:30 Visit Moldovita Monastery (Golden Apple 1975)
- · 12:30 Trip by old train (Mocanita)
- · 13:00 Go with Phaetons to outlaws village
- · 13:30 Visit at Hutzuli, lunch
- · 16:00 Drive Moldovita – Sucevita
- · 17:00 Sucevita Monastery (Special Hospitality)
- · 18:30 Dinner at Popasul Turistic Sucevita (Interactive Show – Fire in Garden)
- · 20:30 Drive Sucevita – Gura Humorului
- 21:30 Overnight in Gura Humorului pensions
Day 5: September 21 - Wednesday
- · 08:00 Breakfast at hotel
- · 08:45 Drive Gura Humorului – Ciocanesti
- · 10:00 Ciocanesti – visit museum, village, photos
- · 12:00 Drive Ciocanesti – Piatra Fantanele
- · 13:00 Lunch at Piatra Fantanele in Dracula’s Castle Hotel
- 14:30 Drive Piatra Fantanele – Bistrita (Visit villages on the route)
- · 15:30 Drive Bistrita – Sighisoara
- · 18:00 Sighisoara – Accommodation in very nice medieval buildings - Hotels
- · 20:00 Dinner in medieval wine cellar.
Day 6: September 22 - Thursday
- · 08:00 Breakfast
- · 09:30 Visiting Sighisoara fortress city – Europe’s best-preserved medieval town.
Sighisoara, which Vlad Tepes called home, is one of the most beautiful towns in the heart of Transylvania. German architectural influences are visible throughout the entire city. Sighisoara was for several centuries a military and political stronghold. One of its most famous attractions is the Clock Tower (Council Tower), built in the 14th Century. This was the control tower of the main gate of the 2,500 feet long defensive wall. The tower has seven foot thick walls and was used to store ammunition, food reserves, archives and the city's treasures. The clock was placed in the tower in the 17th Century.
Highlights include: Guild Tower, Venetian House (built in the 13th Century), Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) House, Antler House, Wooden Covered Staircase, Hill Church, Hermann Oberth Square.
- · 11:30 Shopping, free time
- · 13:00 Lunch in Traditional Medieval Restaurant
- · 16:00 Very nice artistic folklore and Medieval Festival. Visit of Count Dracula.
- · 20:00 Dinner
Day 7: September 23 - Friday
- · 08:00 Breakfast
- · 9:00 Drive to Surroundings of Sibiu (Sibiel)
- · 11:00 Visiting Surroundings of Sibiu
“The most romantic region of ecotourism in the World” (Forbes)
