A week in the Danube Delta

If it’s June, than it’s the best time to visit the Danube Delta; and this is what our team did (if you follow us on facebook you got daily updates from the trip). By this time, all the migratory birds have already arrived and started hatching; during the breeding season, their colors are at their most brilliant so it’s safe to say that this is a wildlife enthusiast’s heaven.

Water and amazing skies never stopped fascinating us! Source: BD

Besides the birds, there’s also a rich community of wild animals, which we were quite lucky to take a glimpse at while boating through the labyrinth of lagoons, rivers, canals and lakes. Foxes, deer, and a few wild boars are a common sight in the Delta, although we’ve even heard stories about wildcats and wolves. You just need to be quick with the camera if you want to immortalize any of these, which I have to admit – we weren’t. We were so fascinated by the beauty and novelty of it all, that simply forgot about taking pictures. But the images will be forever with us.

On our walks we found such peaceful spots. Source: BD

You may think that one week is too much to just watch birds or scenery, but to us, it was too little. Every day brought something new, and there just wasn’t enough time to do everything we’d planned. Each place has its own magic and its own particular attractions. From Chilia Veche in the North (right next to the Ukrainian border), to the Sulina channel in the middle, and then to the remote Sfantu Gheorghe in the South, there are a handful of traditional guesthouses or small resorts where you can rest and reinvigorate after a day of boating, horse-riding, cycling, safariing or even wine tasting.

Going by boat is a must! Source: BD

All the villages in the Danube Delta show a strong Turkish influence, and you can spot Greek, Roman and Byzantine vestiges everywhere. The roads are some of the best in Romania, with scenic landscapes rolling before your eyes every step of the way.

The people here are simple and welcoming just like in other parts of Romania where we traveled so far. Since the living conditions during winters are quite harsh here, the Delta population is scattered among the port of Sulina, the city of Tulcea, and the 27 villages, with an average density of about 2 inhabitants per square kilometer. One can find here a fascinating mix of cultures, and besides the majoritarian Romanian population, there are also some Ukrainians and the distinctive and rare ethnic community of the Lipovans, who arrived in Romania in the 18^th century, fleeing from religious persecution in Russia.

Once here, you can’t help but fall in love with the local cuisine, which is mainly based on fresh fish and paired with amazing wines. Speaking of wine, there are several wineries in the Delta that organize wine tastings for travelers; here you can witness the production process, listen to fascinating stories, and even get the chance to go into the vineyards and pick the indigenous grapes yourself. If you get hungry after the all that wine, why not indulge in a traditional lunch consisting of home baked bread, local cheese, ham, and freshly picked tomatoes?

After a week in the Delta, you will definitely feel like your entire body and soul have recharged, and you will want to come back here again and again. One piece of advice, though, make sure to bring your mosquito repellant!