Witchcraft in EU Courts?

by Iva Skoch on

Just as soon as Romania has been let into the EU, there’s double, double, toil and trouble brewing. A Romanian judge has been fined and demoted for practicing witchcraft in her court.

Elena Simionescu is alleged to have splashed mud, water, “other liquids,” as well as salt and pepper, on fellow judges’ desks. Should one think it was a simple culinary event, she admitted to sprinkling “holy water” on her co-workers’ desks, “in the spirit of good Christians’ rituals.” Other folks are more concerned: some were “convinced that she was casting spells.” The official line was that she used “unorthodox methods” in her court.

But, I guess it’s not too surprising, considering (according to the Sofia News Agency) that that country legalized witchcraft as an official profession last year.

Romania to Buy Dracula’s Castle

by Iva Skoch on

The state of Romania has made one of its first announcements as a new EU member loud and clear: they want to buy the medieval fortress in Transylvania, Bran Castle (known also as “Dracula’s Castle“) back from the former royal family of Habsburgs, Reuters reports. The price tag? 60 million Euros.

The castle was confiscated from the Habsburgs by the communists after WWII and just last year the former royal family got it back through restitution.

The fortress was never actually part of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”. However, Romania’s 15th century ruler Vlad Tepes who visited there, served as an inspiration for the author. The castle has been a tourist attraction ever since.

Photo of the Day (12/25/06)

by Iva Skoch on

Here is one to Romania! It’s hard to believe they will be a part of the EU in no time…

I have never been but the mountains (Piatra Craiului) are supposed to be great. A few of my friends have gone there to hike and ski and loved it. Here is a photo of the countryside from Marek Wagner for the Czech travel mag Koktejl.

Romania and Bulgaria are the new hot places to travel in Europe. Adventure travelers fear that the EU membership will make them lose their edge. Real estate agents are buying property there like crazy because it’s still cheap but they know when those budget airlines start offloading (first students, bachelor party types, then families from Western Europe) by the thousands, it is officially over.