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Letter from Castle Dracula

The newsbullettin of The Transylvanian Society of Dracula

October 2006

CALL for PAPERS and PARTICIPATION

The Transylvanian Society of Dracula welcomes lecturers and interested participants in its yearly Symposium - to be held in mediaeval Sighisoara (Transylvania), Romania.

A post-symposium tour will cover Dracula-related sites (historical and fictional).

THEME:

"DRACULA: BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN TRUTH AND FICTION"

Sub-themes:

* The use of history in Dracula and other fictional works

* The issue of artistic liberty

* Vlad Dracula: separating Fact from Propaganda

* The Romanian perception of Vlad Tepes-Dracula

* Representations of Transylvania

* The Marotinu versus the Hardman case

* When do the angels and the devils cooperate (comments of a scene on the fresco of Voronet)

* An anthropological overview of the Dracula phenomenon: an update

Adjacent sub-themes could also be taken into consideration.

Lecturers are invited to submit a 1-2 page synopsis of their intended paper - till March 30, 2007 - addressed to np@draculatreasures.com and company@mysteriousjourneys.com The TSD will advise on eligibility

ORGANIZER:

The Transylvanian Society of Dracula

31 Primaverii bd., Bucharest 1, Romania

LOGISTICS:

The "Company of Mysterious Journeys", touroperator,

- tel/fax 0040 21 2339910

- tel 0040 31 4057385; 0040 405 7386

- cell-phone: 0040 723 584430 or 0040 722 599 099

- e-mail: np@draculatreasures.com and company@mysteriousjourneys.com

* Date of the symposium: May 18-20, 2007

* Place: mediaeval Sighisoara, in Transylvania, Romania. Hotel "Sighisoara"

* Participation fee: Euro 20 (waved for TSD members)

* Accommodation and breakfast (unless you cater for your own):

4 nights at hotel "Sighisoara" (3 star)

Euros 145 (sharing a double room)

Euros 250 (single)

* Transfer from Bucharest airport to Bucharest railway station (for the train to Sighisoara): by taxi: cca Euro 25

* Train from Bucharest to Sighisoara, I-st class: Euro 20

* Transfer from Bucharest airport to Sighisoara, by van: Euro 30

* Please inform on your option.


POST-SYMPOSIUM TOUR:

"Dracula, the Prince and the Vampire" / May 21 - 27, 2007

Starting in Sighisoara, ending in Bucharest

This specially-designed tour (guided by the TSD president and by the TSD vice-president and chief of TSD/Canada - Prof. Elizabeth Miller, world-renowned expert on Dracula) welcomes both participants in the symposium and independent tourists.

The land-price covers in-land transport, accommodation as specified, breakfast, dinner in Aref, transport by de-luxe van or bus, guidance.

The price does not cover museum fees, the main meals, porterage.

Price per person:

- in a group of 10 and over: Euro 668 (sharing)

- in a group of 8: Euro 734 (sharing)

- in a group of 6: Euro 845 (sharing)

- in a group of 5 or 4: Euro 715 (sharing)

Single supplement: Euro 110.

Information and bookings: The Logistics

company@mysteriousjourneys.com

Post-symposium tour

DRACULA: the VAMPIRE and the PRINCE

May 21-27, 2007

The vampire-count Dracula (Hell)

May 21 /Mon

# departure from Sighisoara to mediaeval Bistrita (3 hours), mentioned on page 1 of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”

# “Jonathan Harker’s menu” (complete with the “Golden Mediasch” wine) at “The Golden Krone” - in the company of Baron Alexandru Misiuga

# looking at Bistrita through Harker’s eyes (sightseeing)

# departure along the Borgo Valley to the Borgo Pass and Castle Dracula (1 hour) (ethnographic features, private cemeteries)

# arrival (by sunset) at the castle-hotel. On route, the guide shares the survival rules, “After-life Insurances” and “Indulgences” for 5 sins each

# visit the public parts of the castle (who wants to see the others?)

# dinner by candle-light, readings from “Dracula”

# reception ceremony for TSD members, first-comers at the castle

# optional: midnight outing to a near-by private cemetery: share your views on life, death and in-between realms

# overnight at Castle Dracula

Bucovina (Heaven)

May 22 /Tue

# the survivors may stamp passports with that unique “Castle Dracula” stamp

# depart for Bucovina - the northern region of Moldova

# painted villages, ethnographic features

# visit Moldovita monastery, frescoed on the outside 500 years ago (UNESCO’s World Heritage)

# visit Voronet and the famous scene of the Last Judgment (1488)

# continue to Suceava, mediaeval capital of Moldova. Visit the mighty fortress - playground of two teenage princes, and cousins: Stefan the Great of Moldova and Vlad Dracula, the Impaler, of Valahia

# overnight in Suceava, hotel “Continental”


The Life and Deeds of the historical Vlad Dracula

May 23 /Wed

# Day-long drive to mediaeval Brasov in S-E Transylvania. On route: historical accounts on Vlad

# On route, behold the spectacular Bicaz Gorge and the Red Lake

# overnight in Brasov, hotel “Capitol”

The Transylvanian Saxons and Vlad

May 24 /Thur

# Through Vlad’s eyes - mediaeval Brasov (sightseeing)

# visit fortress Rasnov

# visit castle Bran

# optional: win a nobility title (knight, Lady-knight), join The Order of Transylvanian Knights (if you can pass the six chivalry tests)

# optional: dinner with mediaeval floor-show at “The Citadel”

# overnight in Brasov, hotel “Capitol”

The rise and fall of a Prince

May 25 /Fri

# cross the Carpathians into Valahia

# visit Peles, the royal summer palace (Sinaia)

# arrival in Targoviste - Vlad’s capital. Visit the ruins of his palace - site of most legends about him.

# continue to fortress Poienari (the historical fortress Dracula), enlarged by Vlad in 1457 - site of more legends about him

# dinner and overnight in Aref (private houses) - the only village recalling Vlad after 500 years

# initiation show: “The night of prince Vlad the Impaler-Dracula”

The heritage of Vlad

May 26 / Sat

# optional climb to the ruins of fortress Poienari

# departure to Curtea de Arges: visit the legendary church of Mason Manole

# departure to Bucharest: sightseeing, including Vlad’s palace

# farewell dinner

# overnight in Bucharest (3-star plus hotel)

May 27 /Sun

# departure from Romania

This society tour will be guided by Nicolae Paduraru, the President of TSD/ Romania, accompanied by Elizabeth Miller, President of the Canadian Chapter

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