Sibiu, RO 🇷🇴 to Sofia, BG 🇧🇬 - Day 15

Today, sadly, we left Romania 🇷🇴, a country that we have thoroughly enjoyed.
We had over 500 kms to make and the roads were very busy. Extremely long traffic jams and I was happy we were on a motorcycle.
Romania 🇷🇴 has some very good motorcycle roads (twisties, mountainous) but they are pretty bad as it relates to fast highways and this lack of infrastructure is not good for the development of the country.
We rode most of the time on the valleys following the river but towards the end on our Romania portion we went into very rural country and even had a scare with a lady driving a horse-pulled cart. She just drove it like there were no other vehicles on the road.
Our entry into Bulgaria 🇧🇬 was done on a very old ferry. We then went through Bulgarian immigration (which we still are trying to find out why because both Romania 🇷🇴 and Bulgaria 🇧🇬 are part of the European Union 🇪🇺). No hassles just the time spent which was not ideal in such a long day.
We got a shock entering Bulgaria 🇧🇬 in that part of the country. Roads were awful, houses were in very bad condition and it felt we had gone back in time. It is by far the poorest country we have travelled on this trip.
However as we neared Sofia (the capital) things improved and we were impressed with the city.
We stayed in a very modern hotel where they have used technology to do the most amazing things. As an example you call a number and it opens the front door. Pretty handy when you arrive late in the evening.
We had a very good dinner and went to have a well deserved rest after a long day on the bike.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos and videos of DAY 15 !

Prologue of the Romaniacs in Sibiu, RO 🇷🇴 - Day 14

Today we left bike parked and we went to see the prologue of Red Bull Romaniacs, which is an enduro off-road motorcycle race.
The prologue stage is always held on the "Bulevard Coposu", one of the main streets in the city center of Sibiu. A different course is set every year with different obstacles for competitors to race over.
We spent the whole day moving from obstacle to obstacle and seeing the various riders divided into classes (based on their skill level) tackling the course.
It is amazing what looks so effortless to a Gold Class rider, it becomes a nightmare that an Iron or Bronze Class competitor.
There were occasional showers which kept the course wet and “interesting”, specially the sections with logs and wood due to lack of traction.
I follow the series quite closely but most of the time all we see on television is the Gold Class race and as the real heroes are the other classes it was nice to spend the whole day cheering them on.
We also enjoyed Sibiu. It is a small enough city to get your “arms around” and it has a good vibe to it.
We would recommend a visit and if you can do it in July when the Maniacs are in town even better.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos and videos of the Prologue of the Romaniacs on DAY 14

Bucharest to Sibiu, RO 🇷🇴 - Day 13

Today we left Bucharest and travelled north to Sibiu.
We rode the Transfagarasan again but this time with great views. What an outstanding ride. One of the iconic ones that we will never forget.
At night went to see the course for the Romaniacs prologue tomorrow. Absolute madness ...

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 13 !

Bucharest, RO 🇷🇴 - Day 12

Today spent the day seeing Bucharest, RO 🇷🇴. We used the Hop-on Hop-off bus which is about 6€ for 24 hours.
We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Found the city small (compared to other European capitals) and very beautiful.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 12 !

Brasov to Bucharest, RO 🇷🇴 - Day 11

We left Brasov and turned south today as we moved to the largest city and capital of Romania 🇷🇴.
Our entry into the city in the north took us through the Arcul de Triumf.
We had some time before dinner so went to have some delicacies.
For dinner we went to one of the most well known restaurants Caru cu Bere and we walked and had the opportunity to take some nice shots of the city.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 11 !

Transfagarasan to Brasov, RO 🇷🇴 - Day 10

We continued our tour today riding the last half of the Transfagarasan on the way to Brasov.
Romania 🇷🇴 continued to impresss us with the winding roads, beautiful countryside and warm people. We can even understand the Latin-based language and everywhere we pass we can make sense of the signs.
It would also be the day that we visited Bran’s Castle (better known as the Dracula Castle). We did not see any evil spirits roaming around although they tried to overcharge us for parking so maybe that counts. The Castle is up on a hill with beautiful views and there are lots of stores with food and mementos you can buy and it is a real popular tourist attraction.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for first set of photos of DAY 10 !

Click HERE for second set of photos of DAY 10 !

Cluj-Napoca to Transfagarasan, RO 🇷🇴 - Day 9

After 9 days this was to be the highlight of the trip. As a motorcyclist there are iconic roads one looks forward to do. Today we would be riding two of these roads. The Transalpina and the Transfagarasan (considered by many as the best road in the world).
Both are pretty much parallel so to do both you have to ride many kms and as expected this would be one of our longest days.
With so many curves my hands were sore at the end of the day of working the clutch.
The Transfagarasan was ridden in dense fog and we also caught some rain at the end and it is an experience we shall never forget.
Truly epic !
We also visited the Salina Turda, which is a salt mine and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The air is very dry inside and it feels great to the lungs. The temperature is a bit chilly and when one comes out the body feels the difference and starts sweating until it readjusts. Well worth a visit.
We also took some time to eat lunch in the Transalpina and we are staying in an hotel in the middle of the Transfagarasan.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for first set of photos of DAY 9 !

Click HERE for second set of photos of DAY 9 !

Budapest, HU 🇭🇺 to Cluj-Napoca, RO 🇷🇴- Day 8

Best day of riding so far where we left Hungary 🇭🇺 and went into Romania 🇷🇴.
It is clear that although we have not done any of the iconic roads yet, Romania is the best of the countries so far for motorcycle riding.
Crossed an actual border eventhough both countries are in the EUROPEAN Union 🇪🇺.
Went to have dinner in a Portuguese restaurant with fado sung by a Romanian lady. She did much better than I would do in Romanian.
Saw a Lada. As my first car was a Fiat 125, which looked similar, this car brought great memories.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 8 !

Budapest, HU 🇭🇺 - Day 7

Today Rui and I went for a ride around the Budapest, HU 🇭🇺 area whereas the rest of the group went to do a Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and walk in Budapest, HU 🇭🇺.

Ate a Langos.
Great pics at and from the Citadella.

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 7 !

Bratislava, SO 🇸🇰 to Budapest, HU 🇭🇺 - Day 6

Great riding where we left Slovakia 🇸🇰 and went into Hungary.
Rode on a ferry.
Took a swim on a lake.
Learned about fishing carp. Saw a 10Kg and a 12.5 Kg carp being caught and let go.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 6 !

Prague, CZ 🇨🇿 to Bratislava, SO 🇸🇰 - Day 5

Great riding where we left Czech Republic 🇨🇿 , went into Austria 🇦🇹 and then stopped in Slovakia 🇸🇰.
Stopped for lunch in a small town and had great pizza.
Crossed the Danube River that borders Bratislava.
Arrived to see final thirty minutes of World Cup Final and suffer with the Slovaks who were rooting for Croatia 🇭🇷.
Nothing like a cold beer to help.
Had dinner in one of the largest restaurants in Europe and tried different Slovak dishes.
Visited the small city center and topped the evening with a McFlurry from the arches.
Our first impressions of Bratislava are very positive. Small (less than half a million people is one of the smallest European capitals) but quite modern city, very clean and well organized. In 2017, Bratislava was ranked as the third richest region of the European Union by GDP (PPP) per capita (after Hamburg and Luxembourg City) and you can see it. Service is better than expected.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE to see all the photos of DAY 5 !

Berlin, DE 🇩🇪 to Prague, CZ 🇨🇿 - Day 4

Beautiful ride through the countryside.
Visited the city center which being a Saturday was full.
Took a walk to Charle Bridge.
Had dinner on a boat.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 4

Visit BMW Motowerk Factory in Berlin, DE 🇩🇪 - Day 3

Went to visit the BMW Motorrad Factory where all BMW motorcycles are made.
Went to the East Side Gallery to see the wall.
Took memorable photos at Checkpoint Charlie.
Also had time to stop at a great chocolate place.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 3

Berlin, DE 🇩🇪 - Day 2

Rode City Tour bus and saw some more of this beautiful city.
Met with BMW Motorrad FANs at airport and went to get the bikes.
Went for dinner and saw amazing sights.
Walked back to hotel and had Berlin all to ourselves.
What a great day !
Difficult to choose among the hundreds of photos.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 2

Arrival in Berlin, DE 🇩🇪 - Day 1

Start of our Eastern Europe Motorcycle Tour.
Today we arrived from Lisbon, PT to Berlin, DE 🇩🇪 .

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Click HERE for all the photos of DAY 1

Eastern Europe with the BMW Motorrad FANs of Portugal

This post on BMW Motorrad FANs of Portugal sparked our interest to visit this part of the world, and learn about some countries we had never been before.

Dear FANS,

Our International Tour is approaching. This year we are going to take a trip that will take us to Eastern Europe.

We will start on July 12 in Berlin. We will visit the BMW Motorrad Factory, where all our Motorcycles were produced, then we will pass through Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Cluj-Napoca, Transfagarasan and we will end in Bucharest, returning to Portugal at dawn on July 24.

The combination of Berlin's glamor and determination is bound to fascinate anyone who wants to explore its vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture, intense festivals and tangible history, this is where we will see the factory where our BMW Motorcycles were built.

Prague, described as similar to Paris in terms of beauty and full of history and stories.

Bratislava, bathed by the Danube River, near the Austrian border intrigues us. In the middle of the capital of Slovakia, a flying saucer hangs on the edge of the forest. Its castle presides over an old city in pastel colors, but just behind it rises a cosmopolitan city. Despite the march of modernism, it is a green city.

Budapest is the explorers' paradise. We will keep our senses prepared and we will discover something wonderful in every corner.

Bohemian cafes, music festivals and bustling nightlife are the soul of Cluj-Napoca, the second largest city in Romania.

The Transfagarasan Road was built in the Carpathian mountain range, cutting off the Fagaras massif. It reaches a height of 2034 meters and is known to be the highest road in Romania. Tansfagarasan is known for being a challenge and for its tremendous scenery.

Gothic towers, medieval gates, the Braşov skyline is instantly attractive. Several watchtowers look at the city. Nearby is the Mt Tâmpa forest, boasting "Braşov" in huge white letters.

The capital of Romania is dynamic, energetic, fun and with good museums, beautiful parks and bohemian trendy cafes. Although much of the center is modern and extravagant, you will find monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the gigantic Parliament House and graceful Art Nouveau mansions hidden in quiet corners.