Aug 3
We were an hour late getting in due to the timing of the last set of locks we had to transit. Constanța is a city on the shores of the Black Sea, in southeastern Romania. We had a short sail in the Black Sea before docking.
Our tour was a full day tour of the Danube Delta UNESCO Biosphere Reserve by speedboat. We had really looked forward to this tour. There was a possibility to see a couple of new species of birds.
Only 8 of us were on the tour so we were taken by van to Tulcea, the gateway to the Danube Delta. There were 2 guides as we would be split into 2 boats when we got there, plus a boat driver and a spotter. No photos from the van window as they were tinted and had tiny dots all over it.
It was a 2-hour drive through the Dobrogea region to get there and then we had 2 hours in the speedboat before lunch.
We stopped for a typical fisherman's lunch. The menu was fish soup and fish & potatoes. I don't always care for fish, and they served me chicken soup and chicken and fries. Dessert was very nice.
We had some free time, and we took off to find a cold soda and maybe a magnet since the guide mentioned there was a small gift shop a couple of doors down. Scored on both counts.
We boarded the boats and returned to the dock for the 2-hour ride back to the port of Constanța. We had a delay as the other boat was missing their driver. Finally, he came. Our guide said if we had to we could all fit into one boat. Our driver kept stopping to "repair" his boat.
The group for the most part was not happy with the tour. Most were birders and were annoyed that the guides didn’t really know birds. One called the Eurasian Coots baby ducks and other birds just heron, stork or egret. (mixed them up as well) We all agreed it was more about the speedboat than the nature. Not the reason we chose the tour. We figured the speedboat was needed to get there and then would go slow once we hit the Delta and we could search for birds. Not so, we stopped briefly before speeding back up again. So, not any great bird shots and many of the birds we see here every day. Once Greg is finished researching birds, we saw on the whole trip I'll update our total of new birds. I haven't labeled most of the birds as I have put together the blog.
The driver of the boat was pleased once we saw the Pelicans, Eagles and the Swans since he said, "now we can go to lunch".
For us it was the worst tour of the trip. It's a birding hotspot with no opportunity to look for them. If they had been into birding, we would have stopped often checking out the grasses etc. So, mostly a 2-hour van ride to get to the area then 2.5 hours on a bumpy speedboat that was spaying us with water and then a nice lunch and then another 2.5 hours on the speedboat and I got soaked on the way back. At some point you just had to laugh. The assistant guide called me "a piker" which I'm guessing is a "trouper and a good sport) It was a lovely setting, just not the way to experience it. Of course, if that was the worst tour it was still pretty nice once you accepted it for what it was.
A small section of the Danube Delta shares a border with Ukraine. We were maybe 50 miles from it.
We missed the captain’s party (not that we cared) and were late to dinner. Thank goodness Cathy saved us a place at their table. We returned the favor in the morning at breakfast as it was a madhouse as well since it was our last breakfast on board.
Last night on board and we were packed, and luggage was put out. We put out the carryon in the morning.
Tomorrow, we visit Bucharest, Romania.
For larger photos: Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania https://photos.app.goo.gl/je6cHNRt1oi8FL9M7
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