Intensive Applied Field Geophysics Workshop
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Applications
Southern Transylvania, Romania
Session 1: June 12 - June 18, 2022
Session 2: June 16 - June 25, 2022
Session 3: June 26 - July 2, 2022
Session 4: July 3 - July 9, 2022
Session 5: July 10 - July 16, 2022
Session 6: July 17 - July 23, 2022
Session 7: July 24 - July 30, 2022
Session 8: July 31 - August 6, 2022
Room and Board
Logistics and Housing
We house everyone in double or triple occupancy rooms in local hotels, near the target exploration site. Every room has its own private bathrooms.
The housing and excavation conditions are very safe. There are several fully equipped hospitals and stores near by. Generally speaking, you will have all the advantages of a country life with all the comfort of an urban environment.
Meals
Breakfast, and dinner are included in the fees for the entire session (Mon-Fri) and we will have them with the rest of our team in our dining hall at our archaeological base. Beware that Romanian cuisine is generally meat oriented, but we can accommodate vegetarian diets.
There are several stores around our housing facility, where you can purchase fresh cheese, various meat products, garden vegetables, bread, drinks, etc., as well as restaurants, pizzerias and supermarkets.
Projects Fees
Costs: US$1295 per 5-day intensive GPR session
Team size: maximum 3 participants per GPR system
The above fee is for each individual 5-day session. It includes a $695 non refundable registration fees, room and board as described above, lectures, training, most gear, site access, museum clearance. Once accepted to the program, participants are expected to pay the entire fee within 21 days after receiving the acceptance email to the program. No refund will be considered after March 14, 2022.
The program fees not include the trip to and from Romania. Participants must arrange their own travel to and from Romania, to our hotel within Romania, and health/travel insurance. Travel instructions will be provided with the travel kit in March 2022. Participants are responsible for their own meals during weekends, and lunch during the week, as described above
At the present time, no entry visa is required for Romania for up to 12 weeks for EU, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens.
Full Covid-19 vaccination is required to be allowed to participate to the program. If at any time, a participant tests positive for COVID-19 while in Romania, it is strictly the responsibility of the participant to fulfill all the conditions required by law by the host country at their own expense.
Getting There: Travel and Safety
In light of recent global events, questions of safety are on everyone’s mind. Romania is safe and Transylvania as a whole is very safe. In terms of the pandemic, the situation is under control overall, and our prophylactic measures ensure that our projects are safe for both participants and hosts.
Otherwise, most crimes in Romania take the form of petty theft or corruption. Very few violent crimes have occurred in the country. Most of the problems and crimes that are exposed in the media: poverty, gypsy problems, street kids, etc., – happen south of the Carpathian Mountains, mainly in Bucharest and Craiova.
There is no terrorist threat whatsoever in regards to Romania. Romania is a country with the lowest terrorism risk in the world - for references, check: Global Terrorism Index (http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2019/11/GTI-2019web.pdf), and associated reference map (http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2019/11/GTI-2019-A3-map-posterprint-1.pdf), as well as Global Peace Index (http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2019/10/PPR-2019-web.pdf). Also, have a look at the Department of State specific Romania page for more information: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/romania.html . Statistically speaking, as far as crime (and terrorist threats) are concerned, you will be safer in Transylvania than in any major city in the US (for reference on comparative crime rates, see https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp). Also, the current migrants/refugees are really not interested in Romania (poor social safety net and low average salaries) and Romania is only accepting a symbolic number of refugees. Since Romania was one of the last countries to join the EU, it still has active borders and it controls transit in and out of the country.
In terms travel arrangements, I urge you exercise caution, as quite a few airlines have adopted highly unethical methods and approaches. Flights through England especially, and less through Italy and Portugal are quite problematic. At the same time, you should currently avoid any flights that would have a layover in Turkey, Ukraine, Russia or North Africa, as they have become dangerously unreliable. I would recommend avoiding as well layovers in Spain, Greece, potentially Poland. The least surprises (and most promptly fixed otherwise) came from flights through the Netherlands (KLM), France (Air France), Switzerland (Swiss Air), Austria (Austrian), and Germany (Lufthansa) - and their respective US affiliates. British Airways has proven to be extremely unethical this past 2021 season, such as cancelling flights without refund, offering unacceptable alternatives requiring 1-3 nights in a hotel without covering the hotel cost, or simply ignoring the passenger after cancelling the flight. I strongly suggest you steer clear from dealing with British Airways for the foreseeable future, or flying through London.
Sightseeing
Depending on our target sit, our base is located either in the center of Hunedoara County, or Harghita County, both region of great historical significance in Transylvania. We strongly encourage you to take a couple of days after the project to explore the region.
If based in Hunedoara County, you will have a lot to choose from!
The Roman (and modern) bath complex of Germisara (now Geoagiu Bai) which was once a hub of Roman social life is now a popular tourist destination as well, and is only a few bus stops from Rapolt. The nearby fortresses of the Iron Age Dacians at Costesti, Blidaru and Piatra Rosie are some of the best preserved examples of Dacian military defenses here in the heartland of the Dacian Empire. The political, religious and economic capital of Hunedoara County, Deva, is easily accessible, home to the Deva History Museum, our collaborative partner and repository for all projects finds. The hilltop Deva Castle dominates the city center, and accessible by stair or cable car. Beautiful orthodox churches, restaurants, pubs and shops abound as well.
The two ancient capitals of Free and Roman Dacia, Sarmizegetusa Regia and Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, are also located in Hunedoara County. The ancient Dacian sanctuary and fortress complex of Sarmizegetusa Regia has long been a national icon of Romanian identiry. The royal capital of the Dacian people, its temples and fortified acropolis are located high in the Orastie Mountains.
Hunedoara is home to the famous Corvin Castle, first home of Matthias Corvin. It is one of the best preserved private castles in Europe, an archetype of every castle in every movie ever made!
If based in Harghita County, there is plenty to see as well.The whole region is a country of immense natural beauty and extraordinary history. Surrounded by natural springs such as the bubbly water pools of Miercurea Ciuc, Tusnad and Borsec, not far from the beautiful volcanic lake of Saint Anna and the amazing salt mines of Praid (an extraordinary Mines of Moria lookalike), the Odorheiu Secuiesc area is bordering the historic Saxon Transylvanian lands with its castles and fortified churches.
The birth place of Dracula, the medieval city of Sighisoara is only a short train ride away. Not far from there, we have the fortified churches of Viscri and Messendorf, renovated with the support of Prince Charles, and the Rupea and Racos castles. Of course, no visit to Transylvania is complete without a trip to the Rasnov Fortress, Peles Castle and, to top it off, Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Bran Castle.