Healthy is the new cool. Give it a try!

Transcription

1 Healthy is the new cool. Give it a try! Iași, România 7-16 July 2016 Survival Guide

2 Content About Romania About Iași Transport How to get to Romania Travelling by air Travelling by car Travelling by train Travelling by boat How to get from Bucharest to Iași Practical information Communication What to bring Useful words and expressions Contact

3 About Romania

4 About Romania At 238,391 square kilometers, Romania is the ninth largest country of the European Union by area, and has the seventh largest population of the european union with 20.1 million people. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest, the sixth largest city in the EU with about two million people. Romania shares a border with Hungary and Serbia to the West, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the North - East, and Bulgaria to the South. In the middle ages, romanians lived in three distinct principalities: Wallachia(romanian: Tara romaneasca Romanian land"), Moldavia ( romanian: Moldova) and Transylvania.

5 About Romania

6 About Iasi

7 About Iasi Located in a hilly area of the north eastern part of Romania, respectively in the central zone of Moldavia, Iasi has a population of , being the forth largest city in Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1564 to 1859, then of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia between and Romania between

8 About Iasi Known as the cultural capital of Romania, the city of great loves, the city on sevenhills, Iasi is a symbol of romanian history. The historian Nicolae Iorga said "there should be no romanian who does not know of it".

9 About Iasi The second largest university centre in Romania, Iasi is home to the oldest romanian university and accommodates over 75,000 students in 5 public and 7 private universities.

10 About Iasi The social and cultural life revolves around the Vasile Alecsandri National Theater (the oldest in Romania), the Moldova State Philharmonic, the Opera House, the Tatarasi Athenaeum, a famous Botanical Garden (the oldest and largest in Romania), the Central University Library (the oldest in Romania), the high quality cultural centers and festivals, an array of museums, memorial houses, religious and historical monuments.

11 About Iasi The Palace of Culture in Iasi represents the last and most eastern manifestation of the European neogothic style, expression of romanticism in the "official" architecture specific to the end of the century. The city of Iasi is a perfect combination of history and new, of dynamic day-life and peculiar night life.

12 About Iasi

13 Transport HOW TO GET TO ROMANIA? You can decide to arrive to Romania by several ways: by train, by air, by road and by sea. It depends on your desired level of comfort. Flying it's the best way to get to romania, but maybe the most expensive, unless you are coming from a long distanced country. The national air company is air transport Tarom which has flights in major urban centers. They serve many destinations, mainly european and middle eastern ones. Due to the fact that Bucharest is the centre point of the airway network, it might be possible to have to return here if you want to flight to other cities.

14 Transport If you're coming by plane, you will arrive at one of the Bucharest's airports ( ( ( Bucuresti Baneasa, Bucuresti Otopeni), or to other major city airport ( Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara etc). The international airport Henri Coanda is 18 km from the center of the capital and it has been recently modernized becoming one of the finest airports in europe. You will find here major air companies such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways etc that operate direct flights from here to all over the world. You can use to find the cheapest flight for you.

15 Transport If you fly to Bucharest airport: Do not exchange all of your money in Bucharest airports, because a lot of exchange offices there are tourist traps (you will get a very low rate for euro or they will have hidden commissions) exchange only a few euros for the bus ride). We also do not recommend you to take taxi rides from the airport to the north railway station Gara de Nord". Most of the taxi cabs there are illegal and don't belong to a company, so you will get charged triple for the ride or even more ( euro). Even those who have a license will overcharge you for being a tourist. Tip: make sure if you choose a taxi that you agree on the price with the driver, because you might be extra charged for the ride. The best way to pay the correct price, which is quite reasonable, by the way, is to ask the driver to set the meters.

16 Transport Also you can take an express line to Gara de Nord (north railway station). Take the 780 line express (linda expres 780) bus that stops in both airports (the price for a return ticket - 2 trips - is 7lei/ 1.7 euro). Tip: buy the ticket first, it's just 1,7 euro Many romanians speak fluent English (mostly young people) or at least they know the basics, so don't hesitate to ask for directions if you're not sure where you're going.

17 Transport TRAVELLING BY TRAIN CFR operates services from many european cities to Bucharest. First and second class sleepers are available. The wiener waltzer takes around 20 hours from basel to bucharest, operating in summer only (june to september). There are sleeping cars from vienna to both Bucharest and Constanta on the Black Sea coast. There are also through trains from other eastern european cities. More information

18 How to get from Bucharest to Iasi *BY CAR The trip by car from Bucharest to Iasi takes around 5-6 h, depending on your speed. Navigation is not difficult if you have a GPS. Some roads aren't that good but if you stick to the european ones there should be no problems. *BY BUS Another possibility is to travel by bus from Bucharest to Iasi. The price and timing are similar to the train ones (around 20 euros, 6-8 h). For more information just visit Note: there are also regular buses to/from Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece), Istanbul (Turkey), Chisinau and Balti (Republic of Moldova), Prague (Czech Republic) and Budapest (Hungary). You can also travel, by bus, from Iasi to Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Germany etc. If you need any more information about transportation, just drop us an and we will provide it to you.

19 How to get from Bucharest to Iasi *BY TRAIN There are several trains on the route Bucharest Iasi/Iasi Bucharest. The train ticket is about 90 lei (about 20 euros) and you can get more information directly from the train station. Once you will arrive in Iasi, you will be welcomed by us and led to the Local BEST Group Iasi.!!! You can also send us and or find us on facebook and we will provide you more information once you are in Romania.

20 Practical information TRANSPORT IN IASI The city of Iasi has a wide net of public transport. That's why it is quite easy to get from one location to another. You have to buy tickets in advance from newspaper stands or special stands that have a big "Vindem Bilete" sign. The price of one fare is 2 lei( 0,45 euro). The ticket must be stamped when used. There are many taxi companies in town. Prices vary between 2 lei/km (0.45 euro) during the day and 2.2 lei/km (0.50 euro) during the night. There is also a starting price representing the cost for 1km.

21 Practical information THE WEATHER The climate is highly temperate and continental with temperatures varying between -25 Celsius degrees and +40 Celsius degrees and an average rainfall of 500 and 600 mm per year and regular eastern winds. In July - August the weather is usually hot and sunny, the temperature is around 35 celsius degrees, but sometimes it mai rain or get cooler at night. Choose your clothes adequately. Also be prepared with equipment for some mountain hiking (easy routes).

22 Practical information HEALTH We strongly recommend you to have a travel - health insurance. In Iasi are many hospitals if anything were to happen ( hopefully not :D ) EMERGENCY NUMBER : 112

23 Practical information MONEY THE NATIONAL CURRENCY IS THE LEU (RON)(PLURAL LEI). FOREIGN CURRENCY CAN ONLY BE EXCHANGED AT BANKS OR AUTHORIZED EXCHANGE OFFICES. THE BANK COURSES CAN HAVE FLUCTUATIONS. THESE ARE THE CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES (AT THE TIME WE WROTE THIS SURVIVAL GUIDE, FEBRUARY 2014): 1 EUR = USD = 4.02 For updated information about exchange rates, visit There is a slight variation from one exchange office to another. You can find exchange offices (including traveler checks) almost everywhere opened all week.

24 Practical information PRICES IN PUBS/RESTAURANTS: PRODUCT PRICE IN LEI PRICE IN EURO COFFEE 2,5 5,0 0,55 1,11 BEER (0.5L) 3,5 8,0 0,77 1,8 SOFT DRINKS 3,0 10 0,68 2,25 MINERAL WATER 2,5 5,0 0,55 1,11 VODKA (shot) 7,0 10 1,55 2,25 PIZZA ,25 6,70 HAMBURGER 5,5 10 1,22 2,25

25 Practical information PRICES IN STORES: PRODUCT PRICE IN LEI PRICE IN EURO CIGARETTES ,44 4,44 BEER (2L) 5,5 10 1,22 2,25 SOFT DRINKS (2L) 3,5 8 0,77 1,77 MINERAL WATER (2L) 2,5 5,0 0,55 1,11 VODKA (1L) ,33 7,77 CONDOMS ,33 3,11 Every price here is approximate so that you can have an idea about how much you would need. The prices may vary depending on the store you go and also by the currency on that month.

26 Communication You can use your own gsm mobile phone in romania with the roaming service. Always make sure you check the prices for making and receiving calls with your home operator. Usually they are quite expensive. If you plan to use the phone a lot while in romania we recommend you to buy a pre-paid sim card from a romanian operator ( Orange, Telekom or Vodafone). You can make cheaper calls and receive as many calls as you want for free. The sim cards are quite cheap (depending on the initial credit - from 2,5 to 10 euro) and rechargeable. Before you buy a sim card make sure your mobile phone is not sim-locked on your home operator. EMERGENCY NUMBER 112

27 What to bring Documents (passport/ id card, visa if required). Travel and health insurance. If you're from an EU member country make sure to request and bring your european medical card. We will cover your basic living expenses (food, housing, etc) and all group activities. However, it is advisable to bring some money in case you might want to make some extra expenses like souvenirs, etc. Medicine (some medicine from your country could require a prescription here). Fancy clothes for parties, a warm sweater or hoodie (because it may be cold sometimes), comfortable shoes (especially for girls), a towel and a toothbrush and whatever you need for you own confort. A camera and a cable for it. A lot of happiness and something originally from your country if you want to impress us.

28 Useful words and expressions Hi / Hey / Hello How are you? Good morning Good afternoon Good night See you tomorrow See you later My name is Bathroom Salut / Buna Ce faci? Buna dimineata Buna ziua Noapte buna Ne vedem maine Ne vedem mai tarziu Numele meu este Baie

29 Useful words and expressions Where is ( )? How do I get to ( )? What time is it? I need help! May I have the menu, please? How much is it? Thank you! Cheers! I am sorry! Unde este ( )? Cum ajung la ( )? Cat e ceasul? Am nevoie de ajutor! Imi puteti da meniul, va rog? Cat costa? Multumesc! Noroc! Imi cer scuze

30 Contact Main Organiser President of BEST Iasi Laura Erhan Mădălina Lăcătîș Phone : Phone : laura.erhan@best.eu.org madalina.lacatis@best.eu.org