A Night in Dracula's Castle a Great Way to Spend Halloween & Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of "Dracula"
HALLOWEEN NEWS ITEM:
Transylvania: Spending Halloween night in Dracula's Castle sounds like something Abbot & Costello might have done by mistake in one of their movies. But it's something that Dracula and horror enthusiasts actually do every year on the "Dracula Tour," thanks to our tour group which brings fear-filled travelers to Transylvania twice a year.
"It's a bit more special this year because we're celebrating the 75th anniversary of one of the greatest classic monster movies of all time, the original 'Dracula' that starred Bela Lugosi," exclaims tour organizer and host Charles F. Rosenay of Connecticut, a self-professed lover of all things haunted and macabre. "We have been doing the 'Dracula Tour' for some years now, and as the tour has gotten to be where it's truly the ultimate haunted Halloween travel adventure, the groups have gotten bigger every year too."
THIS YEAR’S TOUR IS COMPLETELY SOLD OUT with 90 monster mavens filling two coaches that will journey alongside the horse & buggies which share the Romanian countryside roads, as the tour follows in the footsteps of Bram Stoker's novel, "Dracula" from October 27-November 3. It’s the largest tour group ever! During the week, there is an equal portion of history, involving Vlad Tepes, plus the myth and mystery surrounding Dracula, and the ways that Vlad inspired Dracula.
But reservations are already being accepted for NEXT YEAR!
2007 will be the 110th anniversary of the Dracula novel, and it will also mark the 10th anniversary of the "Dracula Tour" to Transylvania. It will be another sell-out, but there will be some new tour twists and surprises planned for the special occasion in 2007. Every single traveler will be given a gift “swag bag” filled with vampire & horror goodies worth over $100! One of the cities that the tour visits, Sibiu, will be the European Culture Capitol in 2007, so mixing the chills & thrills with the cultural aspect will bring the trip to a whole new level. In Sibiu, the group visits the Evangelical Church built in 1300, which contains burial vaults in its crypt connected to both Dracula and the legend of Frankenstein. That's just one of the numerous horror-related sites.
The tour visits Snagov Island, where a secluded monastery contains Vlad's coffin. There's a visit to Vlad's birthplace in the best-preserved medieval town in all of Europe, Sighisoara. This is the region of Transylvania where there were attempts to build a "DraculaLand" theme park, but all signs indicate that the area will remain uncommercialized. While there, the group also ventures into a haunted graveyard, takes part in a witch trial (a re-creation, that is) and also climbs the historic Clock Tower above the Torture Chamber and torture museum. The group explores the historic ruins of Vlad's Poenari Castle, which is as breathtaking as the more tourist-visited Bran Castle, also on the itinerary.
Ascending up Borgo Pass into the Carpethian Mountains, travelers follow the path of Jonathan Harker, the character described in the Dracula novel. "We partake in a gala dinner banquet at Jonathan Harker's Golden Crown Restaurant, the Romanian Coroana de Aur, for the ritual meal of robber steak and blood brandy, just like in the novel," proclaims Rosenay. The group has a late-night party there, but the highlight is unquestionably Halloween, when travelers from all over the U.S., Canada and overseas experience what is the definitive Monster bash masquerade ball, in the dungeon room at Dracula's Castle in Piatra Fantanele atop the Romanian alps. The costume party is preceded by an outdoor bonfire with music by local gypsy musicians, followed by a six-course meal, culminating with a gala monster mash costume extravaganza and dancing into the early morning hours.
Along the way, Rosenay screens classic horror films on the coaches and adds fun to the fear. It's a dream-come-true (or nightmare-come-true) for fans of Dracula or the horror genre, and is one of the more unique leisure vacations offered for the popular holiday. The "vampire vacation" still costs travelers only $1999 for all this, included airfare, accommodations, meals, admissions, parties, guests, attractions, the complimentary souvenir travel bag filled with goodies. . .
and a "bloody" good time is guaranteed for all.
Rosenay is waiting for a real vampire to go on the tour, though. "We've had dozens of people dress as Dracula or Nosferatu or other famous vampires at our Halloween masquerade ball, but there's only one way we'll really know if there's ever truly a vampire on the tour... they'll fly back as bats and won't need the return airplane flight home."
"Dracula Tour" is the only fully-escorted, professionally guided vacation organized by fans for fans. The annual pilgrimage to the "unholy" land is accepting reservations for Halloween, 2007 (also October 27-November 3), with a similar summer version of the tour slated for July 10-17. The trip is open to all ages, and welcomes couples, families and solo travelers. There is both educational and entertainment value for anyone looking for an unusual week-long ghoulish getaway. Vampire fans, vampire slayers and perhaps even vampires are obviously all welcome, and all get along harmoniously.
For further details on the "Dracula Tour," call toll-free (866) T-E-R-R-O-R-T-O-U-R (direct line 203-795-4737) or email DracTours@aol.com.
And tell them Madame X sent you.
Seventy five years later, Bela Lugosi would be proud.