Hello. I wanted to tell you about our visit to Tampa Mountain on the second day of our Romania vacation. After having breakfast, we set off towards the city. We had actually planned to go the day before, but we couldn't due to the operating hours of the cable car. Somehow, the operating hours were until 4:30, which I don't understand. It would have been nice if it stayed open until at least 7-8 in the evening. People could have seen the city under the evening lights. You can also hike up. It seems like only those who want to do mountain climbing or those who are a bit crazy go up. Because it's quite a steep climb, it could take a few hours to reach the top.
Braşov is one of the country's top ten largest cities. The Braşov community of Romania has made significant contributions to the country's cultural development. They also helped publish the first Romanian newspaper in 1838. During a fire, much of Braşov's old buildings were destroyed. It took a hundred years for repairs and reconstruction. However, even today, buildings with 17th to 19th-century architecture still stand.
The city is known as one of the cultural and historical centers of the Transylvanian Saxons. The Transylvanian Saxons were ethnic Germans who constituted the main population of the historical Burzenland region. Braşov strategically located due to its commercial relations with Moldavia and Wallachia and it became one of Transylvania's most important economic centers.
We wandered the streets of the city for a while. We came across partially abandoned buildings. There are people living on the second floor. There isn't yet a café on the ground floor because this is not a touristy place.
We walked along the old streets to reach the observation platform. We could see that Tampa Mountain is mainly made up of limestone formations. It's a high mountain in the Southeastern Carpathians, completely covered in forest, rising 995 meters and towering over Braşov by 400 meters. Bears, lynxes, eagles, squirrels and Romanian butterflies can be found on the mountain. Much of the mountain is protected as a nature reserve due to its rare animal and plant species.
There were several routes to the summit, including 25 winding paths opened by the forest administration. The cable car line was made up of a long queue. After waiting for about an hour, we started ascending.
From above, we had a magnificent view of Braşov. After enjoying the view, we began to climb up the stairs. The atmosphere was beautiful. We were so absorbed in the beauty of the scenery that we didn't even notice the marriage proposal happening on the side. We only realized what was happening when we heard applause after a while.
Tampa Mountain visit is something I'd recommend allocating at least 2 hours for, if possible. Firstly, you'll need time to wait in line for the cable car (for us, it was about 60 minutes). Secondly, once you reach the summit, you'll find several hiking trails in the forest, which will take another hour to explore. Thirdly, there are observation terraces and resting areas at several points. The mountain is an intriguing place, with a magnificent view of the city. Additionally, finding a quiet corner away from the crowds and silently observing the life of the old town is a nice bonus. It's a great place, especially for those who enjoy contemplation. Many locals come here just for picnics, so if you bring snacks, you won't feel out of place.
I think this place is more enjoyable for nature lovers, but not very suitable for the elderly and children. There are no paved roads, only rocky paths. You shouldn't choose uncomfortable shoes and clothes for climbing. From the mountain, you can see the entire old town of Braşov, as well as the new neighborhoods and suburbs. You get a good view of the center, the Town Hall and the square. It's recommended to bring binoculars to see everything in detail. I saw all the small details perfectly thanks to my phone. You can walk down directly to the old walls of the city.
After descending, we enjoyed walking around Braşov, from tourist spots to shops. The city is very clean, well-maintained and we always found ourselves discovering a new street with its unique architecture.
The weather was very hot. We entered a mall. On the first floor, there were familiar places like Starbucks and Zara. On the second floor, there were more resting areas, fast-food restaurants and a large balcony overlooking the Carpathians. On the third floor, there was a cinema, gym and other entertainments.
We headed to Burger King. We ordered a Cheeseburger menu. We were glad to find a familiar restaurant.
Then we wandered around Carrefour for a while. There was a wide selection of olives. Here were my favorite cheeses and other food products.
Not only in Braşov but throughout Romania, they prefer a circular movement around a central island decorated with flowers and green grass instead of signalized intersections. It was interesting to observe that road markings are always updated and they prefer to indicate the direction of vehicles directly on the lanes of the roads in cities.
When we returned to the rented apartment, we noticed our neighbors were having a barbecue. After a while, they knocked on our door and offered us a plate as well. We really appreciated it.
I had a pleasant impression of this city and felt comfortable. The next day we went to another city and spent four days in different cities. Thank you for reading.
