Why Brasov?
Transylvania evokes powerful images of vampires and Gothic castles, yet few visitors actually make it to the region to spend time among its real-life mountainous landscapes and medieval cities, chief among them the picturesque Brasov, surrounded on three sides by peaks.
Established by Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, Brasov has plenty to offer visitors, from old fortifications, city walls and watchtowers to churches, hiking trails and traditional food, not to mention a nearby bear reservation and Bran Castle, one of Romania’s main tourist attractions and billed as Dracula’s Castle (though the 13th-century Vlad the Impaler, on whom Dracula is loosely based, had little interaction with the place).
For centuries, the city was dominated by its German inhabitants, who called the city Kronstadt, the “City of the Crown”. Even today, it retains aspects of this German culture, which blends intriguingly with Romanian influences among its winding alleys and ancient buildings.
A comfortable bed
It would be difficult to get more central than Bella Muzica (www.bellamuzica.ro; 0040 268 477 956), an ornate hotel located in a 400-year-old building right on the main square in the city. Doubles cost from €60 (Dh233) per night, including taxes.
Nearby, Casa Albert (www.casa-albert.ro; 0040 722 886 054), a more modernist boutique hotel just off the pedestrianised Strada Republicii, boasts a handful of stylised rooms. Doubles cost from €55 (Dh214) per night, including taxes.
If you're seeking additional pampering, head to the four-star Kronwell (www.kronwell.com; 0040 368 730 800), with its plush spa and wellness centre. Rooms cost from €85 (Dh331) per night, including taxes.
Find your feet
Brasov is easy to explore on foot, just be prepared to get lost among the many winding lanes. Start at the tourist office in Council Square (Piata Sfatului), swing by the Black Church, one of the largest Gothic churches in south-east Europe, then down Strada Republicii, with its many outside terraces and attractive architecture. Five minutes’ walk from Strada Republicii, you’ll find Rope Street (Strada Sforii), the narrowest street in Europe, at just 1.3 metres wide.
If you want a bird’s-eye view of the city, take the cable car up to Panoramic Tampa, the peak overlooking the city. Alternatively, follow the winding footpath up to the summit, which takes about an hour to walk.
Meet the locals
Most evenings, locals and visitors alike congregate in Council Square, at the heart of Brasov’s old town, or stroll around the pedestrian lanes in the centre. Council Square also hosts regular outdoor events, including photo exhibitions, weekend craft fairs, Christmas markets and concerts.
Book a table
Brasov has plenty of small restaurants in which to try traditional Romanian food. If you’re looking for somewhere more atmospheric and don’t mind a bit of a wait, head to Sergiana (sergianagrup.ro; 0040 268 419 775), which offers hearty Romanian staples for a reasonable price. Try the beef loin with tarragon, or the deer steak in wild-berry sauce with rice. Main courses start from 25 Romanian lei (Dh22).
Alternatively, pop in to Festival 39 (www.festival39.com; 0040 743 339 909), a lively city-centre restaurant with jazz performances and an impressive international menu. Try the duck breast with aniseed sauce and baked pineapple (48 lei [Dh42]), or the salmon tagliatelle with orange (28 lei [Dh25]).
For a light snack, La Ceaun (www.mancarelaceaun.ro; 0040 371 197 147) is a cosy restaurant just off the main pedestrian street that offers homemade soups and savoury pies (starting from 9 lei [Dh8]). The menu changes daily, so you'll have to see what they have on offer when you go.
Shopper’s paradise
Brasov isn’t exactly a shopper’s city, but Strada Republicii offers the best options for high fashion, ski-wear and local specialities, including traditional snacks and other foodstuffs. Take a stroll to the indoor produce market on Strada Nicolae Balcescu to check out fresh local cheeses and meats.
What to avoid
Brasov is a laid-back, safe place, so about the worst that’s likely to happen to you is getting ripped off by a taxi driver with a dodgy meter.
Don’t miss
Thirty minutes’ drive from the city is the supposed real-life inspiration for Dracula’s Gothic castle in Bram Stoker’s novel. Bran Castle, the former residence of Romanian royalty, is a stunning medieval castle that’s seemingly built out of the rock face, and a must-see for anyone visiting Romania.
Go there
Flydubai (www.flydubai.com) flies from Dubai to Bucharest from Dh1,850 return, including taxes. The flight time is five hours. The Romanian airline Tarom (www.tarom.ro) has twice-weekly flights from Dubai to Bucharest from Dh1,520 return, including taxes. Private car transfers from Otopeni Airport in Bucharest to Brasov (www.otopenitransfers.eu) cost from €105 (Dh408) for a three-person vehicle, and take about two hours and 40 minutes.
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
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FA CUP FINAL
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
RESULTS
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THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5