Turkish Tourists Invaded Poiana Brasov Ski Resort

Some 1,200 Turkish tourists chose Poiana Brasov mountain resort for their Bayram vacation, over Austrian or Swiss resorts, given lower prices in Romania.

"For a seven-day vacation I paid 400 euros; this included plane tickets and ski training sessions," said Adinan Turgay, one of the Turkish tourists in Poiana Brasov.

The resort had a full season: Romanian tourists celebrating Christmas and New Year were followed by tourists from Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, who celebrated the two dates two weeks later. This is why on Saturday 13 Russian music, but also Romanian music bands as O-zone, Zdob and Zdub, or Pavel Stratan filled the night air, and loud parties turned the other tourists curious. Some joined the parties, some protested the noise, but did not succeed to calm down the enthusiasm of those celebrating the New Year this week-end.

Strangely enough, the Turkish tourists did not take advantage of the ski lessons their vacation ticket included. "We have no idea why they do not come to ski," said Emil Farcasanu, head of the Ana Ski School.

But ski trainers do not lack clients: West European tourists are crowding the tracks, since Poiana Brasov is a cheaper resort for them too, when compared to resorts in Austria or Switzerland, and even in Romania. It costs 12 lei (RON) to climb the Postavarul Mountain in a gondola, and 1.5 to 3 lei (RON) to go up the ski tracks.

Saturday morning was foggy, hence not very inviting for tourists to crowd the ski tracks, but those choosing to go up the Capra Neagra Mountain peak did well: at the end of the seven-minute journey by gondola they could find a clear view, which from 1,800 meters height allowed them to see far and away the Bucegi and the Fagaras mountain chains. Many did not rush down on ski tracks, but took out their cameras to capture the view.

The ski tracks were there waiting for them, with Kanzel ski track for the most daring. This is why maybe the Sulinar, Ruia, Drumul Rosu and Subteleferic ski tracks were the most sought after tracks.

Translation by Anca Paduraru