Episode Eight - Chisinau, Moldova

The singing traveling podcast is back! And is joined in Chisinau (it's the capital of Moldova would you know) by locals Max and Serghei. We meet Moldova, then get a bit closer, and then even a bit more closer, until we arrive in Transnistria. The Romanian and Russian influences and heritage are discussed, along with the soothing Moldovan wine, and bit of space travel too!

Pictured above, a couple of snaps from Chisinau, a concert during the "Limba-day", late night protesting, cooking placinte in the countryside, Cricova cellar, and a view from Orheiul Vechi.

Watch the trailer for Max's upcoming movie, 100 Risings, here.

Episode Seven - Student city Cluj! - Romania

Welcome to Cluj! Or Cluj-Napoca to be precise.

You may not have a clue(j) yet about this great city, but with the help of guests Ana-Maria, Natalia and Anna, you will light-heartedly stroll around Cluj and the area, under the sweet summer sun. If you're lucky, Anna might just grace the podcast with a couple of beautiful songs in Hungarian. Only after a Romanian language lesson, songs about beer and salt, and this instructive conversation!

Pictured above: The Cathedral and statue of Matei Corvin on Cluj's Unirii Square, the podcasting team Natalia, Anna, and Ana-Maria, the Cluj "mirror-street", the salt mines of Salina Turda, a quick pic from Alba Julia.

Episode Six - The Big Transylvanian Special

Join Ileana, a medium-sized Ukulele and myself for this new edition of the Ukulele Road Trips Podcast, in Transylvania !! It is set in one of it's fine jewels, the "crown-city" of Brasov. Or Kronstadt, as a certain Johannes would say...

With a fine tour-guide and a slightly "minte creața"  host, stroll around the castles and magical forests, as well as through the German streets of Brașov. You might not get too many vampires, but a local legend, as well as a very (very) special interview inside the "Black Church" !

Pictured above: The Brașov town square, the black church, Tour-guide Ileana with a few tourists, Johannes saying "Verdammt Elizabeth, I forgot my reading glasses on the entrance table again, throw them over", the "crown and the tree", the town crest, the Black Church Organ, and the studio for this podcast, the Kis Met Dao Hostel.

Many thanks once again to Ileana for this entertaining and instructive podcast. Don't forget join her on the Walkabout Free Tour Brașov when you come to these parts!

I nicked the organ bit here. Steffen Schlandt, Eckart's son is on the organ's four keyboards.

Episode Number Five - Romania and Bucharest

It has happened ! The Ukulele Road Trips Podcast has made it to  a new country ! It's a gift-(w)rapped Romania and Bucharest special, with exciting present and varied past.

From French Pâtisseries to North-Korean style buildings, from car-driving pre-Romans to the challenges ahead, let Romanians Claudia and Marius introduce the country and capital of this fine Eastern Latin Land.

Pictured above: Views of and from the Palace "of the People",  a couple of views in Bucharest and one of the 'moved it moved it' churches in the city center.

Do check out Marius's website www.tourofcommunism.com for more in-depth articles about XXth century Romania !