"Dracula's castle" and 150 meter bungee jump
Romania
150 meter bungee jump
150 meter Bungee Jump
Location: Cheile Rasnoavei
Here is a link from the actual jump that I have done on that day: https://vimeo.com/354393426
The idea for the one of the highest bungee jumps in Europe came out of nowhere over couple of beers … maybe few more.
I was just a phone call away from doing it and after few more beers….. I was unstoppable! Documentary filmmaking degree definitely widened up my horizons and enhanced my finesse. I could see all the cinematic effects and saw myself as a dare devil. I was definitely shaking a bit when decided to call and set it up for the next day. The key is to have just a minimum time for the consideration on what ifs…. I had only 18 hours so to limit that time even further I went to bed with all those hopes and expectations in my mind.
Next day in a morning I got up early and went for a trip of my life. Over 3 hours drive from Ramnicu Valcea to where the jump will take place. My biggest miscalculation: Romanian roads that sometimes tend to just disappear in front of you plus also a lot of animals, mainly dogs, on the road and other road users that tend to think that they are in some kind of competition. On the way over there I was thinking that driving to Cheile Rasnoavei was more scary and dangerous than the actual jump… but that has changed when I saw the place.
The owner of the place rocks literally looked like he was raised by wolves and lived in this mountain range since he was born. He probably drank fresh water from the springs and was fed by eagles in a nest above the clouds. Summarizing he was a man for the job for sure. Kind and helpful but also demanding where necessary as it was my life on the line. There are also two crew members on one of the mountain tops to pull your shaking pants to the top.
The jump area was a beautiful valley with two mountain peaks and a cable line going between them. Like everything in Romania to spice it up everything was more like Jeremy Clarkson so F-word health and safety let’s do it in the way before millennials took over the world. Few more scratches on your body is just the way it should be.
On the beginning I couldn’t wrap my head around it as it seems to be just a piece of a cable with a clip that came down…… but my master of the ceremony was a wizard and he pulled a pizza shape piece of metal out of his hat, or a bag, saying: That’s where we will be standing. Of course because of safety precautions there was also a metal ring waist high. At that moment I just knew that this will be the most hardcore thing that I have ever done in my life. Especially that the thunderstorm was approaching.
Me and my wizard were pulled up by two crew members sitting on a top of one of the mountains which took around 30 minutes as it was all done by hand. Crane jumps are so boring. I could fall asleep during it. Definitely too fast to go up and you would’t be able to consider what the hell am I doing here. God I love my life but on the other thing, there is a drug called adrenaline that is pushing you forward. You know it will put a smile on your face and open up your arteries for quicker blood flow that will lead to the time when you cherish every moment of your life.
Back to the boring part …. so the journey up took me almost half an hour but definitely worth it. Beautiful view way better than from the top of the Eiffel Tower but I couldn’t take any photos right. You ask why? Well, because I was trembling just thinking about what is going to happen next.
Eventually we have reached the top for the 150 meter (490 ft) bungee. Here comes the best part. He asked me: “Tell me when you are ready to jump and say okay”. I replied okay just to confirm that I have understood what he told me but the count started straight away … 3 … 2 …1 I knew I had to jump as the rope would kill me if I wouldn’t as it is so heavy that it will pull me down anyway. That’s how I became the quickest jumper in the history of Chile Rasnoavei. Inspired by a leading Aussie You Tuber I managed to shout something like F… me f…. me dead with a noises that can be translated into all languages just the same. After a first swing you are going back into the heaven for sure, something like 70 meters up swinging your hand like a mad man to keep the head down. Why is it so important? Your body will work like a pendulum and you will break your spine if there is too much force, that is a sad side, unless it was just me not knowing what’s up and what’s down. When you are up there for a second time you fall again but for a few seconds you feel like you are in an outer space and the gravity doesn’t exist. Few seconds later the rope will swing you back up again but this time only 40 meters into the sky followed by few more small swings you will stop head down around 50 meters above the ground. After the jump you have to pull yourself up in to a head up position. As if you stay with your head down you could suffer with brain damage as it takes more than 4 minutes to touch the ground. Just remember folks you are in safe hands and as I said he was born and fed by wolves or eagles in the most astonishing mountains. When you are on the ground you just have to help with the rope that has to be placed on the mattress.
After all that I was buzzing and so happy. I could sing P.O.D. “I feel so alive … for a very first time and you can’t deny it”. Definitely one of the best extreme sports experiences in my life.
The only sad part is that I have torn my ligaments and couldn’t walk for 3 days although after the jump I have managed to drive back for 4 hours pumped up by the adrenaline level. For anyone that will decide to do it I would say that it was still worth it as no pain no gain. Extreme sports are called extreme for a reason and that word carry a spectrum of meanings: from joy, adrenaline and happiness but also injuries, pain so sometimes recovery from that might take some time. I tend to say that if it hurts it is good as it means that you are still alive! Always along with that comes a big smile on your face and the feeling of achievement.
More information on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bungeejumpingcheilerasnoavei/
More information on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bungeejumpingcheilerasnoavei/
Dracula's Castle
Corvin Castle, also known as Hunedoara Castle or Hunyadi Casle is known as one of the largest castles in Europe but also as home of The Dracula, Vlad Dracula to be precise. He was also known as Vlad the Impaler as this was his method to deal with those who opposed him. Rather extreme measures made him famous. Along with the development of print he became more and more famous. There are written documents describing his cruelty. One was about impaling two monks to assist each other on the way to heaven but also ordering to impale a donkey that was braying for their masters. Another was about a special wagon where people were placed with only their heads over the solid wooden collars. From the neck down they were in water that was boiling…. extreme cruelty so don’t want to go into that in depth.
The Corvin Castle is definitely magnificent with it’s tall and sharp towers makes you feel very little. People that were standing there just in front of the gates in 15th century onward must have been overwhelmed by the size and the defensive potential. The moat along the castle’s fortification makes the castle stand out from the background even more and the stream highlights the natural beauty.
The castle is a definite must see in Romania. Just to mention that the recent horror film The Nun (2018) was filmed here along with many other paranormal activities film series that took place in the past. Summarising it’s the beauty on the outside and the beast inside if you go in depth into it’s history and look into the dungeons where the prisoners were kept.
Tickets and more information about opening hours at http://www.castelulcorvinilor.ro/info-vizitatori/?lang=en
Driving in Romania
Driving in Romania is definitely challenging. There is a large number of animals on the road especially homeless dogs. The driving times tend to be longer then your navigation tells you. Also the roads are quite bad although sometimes you will be lucky to drive on a motorway although through the mountains there are only single carriageways in a bad condition and with many turns. Driving will definitely help you to discover more and you have many possibilities to stop on the way and buy some local goods from local farmers such as wine, honey or jams. The most epic drive is definitely Transfagarasan that connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia. Highly recomender for the views and epic car or motorcycle rides.
First off all, yes the prices are cheaper but don’t expect to be Richie Rich or Pablo Escobar. Prices are cheaper than in Western Europe or Canada ( I find USA cheaper to Western Europe as a tourist because living there is a different pair of shoes ).
Summarising this blog is not about the prices and hotels but to have an adrenaline rush in every location of the world so this section will be short but I will try to make it understandable and fulfilling as there is a lot of up to date information on Google.
Nowadays to find a good accommodation is quite easy. Search engines like google, booking or airbnb along many others make it very easy to suit your needs.
You also definitely won’t complain about the prices for sure. More about specific groceries that you can find or need on https://www.globalprice.info/en/?p=romania/food-prices-bucharest-groceries