Day 1 - Thursday, October 9
Evening departure From Toronto

Day 2 - Friday, October 10
Afternoon: Arrive in Timisoara, Romania
Check in, Hotel Timisoara

Day 3 - Saturday, October 11
Timisoara Tour (2 hours)
Visit the old town center, formerly known as "Innenstadt" (Inner City - because it was completely surrounded by fortress walls, which we'll also see now). We begin the tour in the Dome Square, "Timisoara's baroque treasury", as a local writer once said, then walk towards the nearby "Bastion" (a remain of the huge former city fortress) and to the Liberty Square. We pass the "Banatia" building and the "Prefectura" and head for the picturesque Fabric neighborhood. We see the synagogue and the Millenium's Dome, in a place where Baroque and Jugendstil remind of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire.

We're supposed to stay off our feet today, so we'll keep the walking to a minimum. You will see more of this beautiful city's architecture tomorrow, during the race. Do not worry about your race package: it will be personally delivered to your room by your friendly Tour Leader. Words of encouragement are also included!

Let's carbo-load - it's time for the Pasta Party! (included)

Day 4 - Sunday, October 12
Race Day!
The Timisoara Marathon and Dracula Half Marathon start at 10am.
Awards ceremony: 14:30

Race Highlights
Run a marathon in a former German region with wonderful architecture and cultural background. The German Ambassador is one of the marathon's patrons and enthusiasts.

Fast times are guaranteed - you won't find any hills anywhere you look!

The marathon is a Member of AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Road Races), and this is its 9th year in existence. The event is chip-timed.

The Start and Finish lines are in the center square of Timisoara, about 100m apart.

Water stations are positioned every 5km, and are stocked with water, bananas and sponges.

All finishers will receive a medal and a diploma, and there are also prizes up to 500 Euros for the marathon top finishers and 300 Euros for the half marathon.

Last year the best time was 2:40 for men and 3:30 for women.

You will be inspired by the beauty of the old city of Timisoara, and you'll be delighted to experience the well-known hospitality of the Romanian people.

Congratulations! The race is over and yes, you're sore, but it was well worth it, wasn't it? What better way to celebrate then going for some beer-tasting!
The city of Timisoara was one of the first places where the "Industrial Revolution" appeared in the Eastern Europe, so we find here the famous "Timisoreana" brewery, built in 1718. We will now have a chance to sample the local beer and fabulous food.

Day 5 - Monday, October 13
Wine Tasting Tour in Recas (4 hours)
Replenish the calories lost in your race yesterday with excellent food and wine - all inclusive!

It's the best way to enjoy some pleasant moments in an intimate, classy atmosphere together with your friends.
The Recas village lies about 30 Km east of Timisoara and it has a complicated history.
A brief visit to the small local museum will introduce to us to the way the locals live.
A short visit to the Catholic Church to see the famous "black Madonna" of Recas could also be interesting (optional).
We'll then visit the vineyard and wine cellars of Recas, located outside the village on a sunny hill.
Peak point of the tour is the wine tasting (eight different wines) followed by a rich traditional meal with dishes specific for the Banat region.

Day 6 - Tuesday, October 14
We fly to Bucharest, the capital of Romania (one hour flight) where we start the four-days Dracula Tour!

The bus will pick us up at the airport and we'll be on our way to the Sinaia resort where we visit the Peles Palace - this chateau was the summer residence of the royal family of Romania.
We're then transferred to Bran, where we visit the Bran Castle (Dracula Castle), where Vlad the Impaler was imprisoned for a few months and where the novelist Bram Stoker placed Count Dracula's house.
On our way to Brasov - visit the Black Church and Saint Nicholas Church
Accomodations at the Poiana Brasov resort - a four-star hotel.

Beautiful scenery guaranteed - beautiful mountains all around us, this is a well known area for skiing in the winter.

Day 7 - Wednesday, October 15
Transfer Poiana Brasov - Sighisoara - the city where Vlad the Impaler was born (2h30')

City tour of Sighisoara citadel with The Clock Tower, The Museum of Medieval Weapons, The Covered Stairs
Accommodation in 3* hotel in Sighisoara.

Day 8 - Thursday, October 16
Transfer Sighisoara - Sibiu (3 hours)

City Tour of Sibiu, visiting Bruckenthal Museum and the Evangelical Church
Transfer Sibiu - Arefu (3 hours), visit Poenari Fortress
Transfer Arefu - Curtea de Arges
Accomodation in 3* hotel in Curtea de Arges

Day 9 - Friday, October 17
Curtea de Arges

Visit Arges Monastery in Curtea de Arges
Transfer Curtea de Arges - Targoviste
Visit the Priceley Court, established by Vlad the Impaler, and Chindiei Tower in Targoviste
Transfer Targoviste - Bucharest (1:30 hours)

Day 10 - Saturday, October 18
Bucharest Sightseeing Tour

• 09:00 - 10:00 - tour of the city by car
• 10:00 - 11:00 - Visit the House of the People / The Parliament Palace
• 11:30 - 12:30 - Visit to Cotroceni Palace - the presidential palace
• 12:30 - 13:50 - Walking on Lipscani commercial area, passing by Stavropoleos Church and the old part of the town, The Old Princely Court complex
• 14:00 - 15:00 - Visit the Village Museum - one of the first ethnographical museums in the world. It displays different kinds of rural constructions: houses, inns, stables, water mills, farms, roadside crosses, churches from all over Romania
• 15:00 - 16:00 - Visit the Romanian Peasant's Museum - it was declared in 1996 the European Museum of the Year because of its special type of museology and of the original poetics developed in relation to the object

Optional: Dinner with the Canadian Ambassador in Romania, Mrs. Marta Moszczenska - Her Excellency would like to meet our group of Canadian athletes, if her schedule will allow it.
Optional: Nightclub - dancing and fun. Bucharest's nightlife is vibrant, to say the least: there are bars and pubs, casinos, discos, even cabaret shows. Or maybe we can bar-hop the whole night, trying not to think about our trip back home tomorrow!

Day 11 - Sunday, October 19
Going home...We board our plane and head back to Toronto, with enough memories to last a lifetime. Goodbye!