Romania: A Well-Kept Vacation Secret for Celebrities
Wesley Snipes, the man who made the vampire Blade come to life, enjoyed his time filming Seven Seconds, and then returned to the country to enjoy it a more leisurely pace. He even arranged a private visit to Castle Dracula. There are tours of the surrounding countryside, and it is even possible to enjoy wine tastings at places like Tokay, where wine production dates back hundreds of years. The wine has its own flavor, and while sipping it, knowing where one is, the distinct feeling that maybe it could be blood is ever present.
The countryside surrounding Bucharest hosts numerous spas and resorts; Romania has long been renowned for its healing waters with dignitaries visiting since the time of the Roman Empire. Armand Assante, who recently shared the screen with Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey in Two for the Money, enjoys the Olimp resort at the coast of the Black Sea. It is a getaway on the shores of a sea long famous for its qualities to heal the body and the spirit. Not only is it relaxing with superior service, he says, but he also enjoys the “famous beautiful Eastern European women.”
Other spas include those that offer special anti-aging treatments. The most famous is GeroVital, which has been around for decades and even hosted the likes of John F. Kennedy and Marlene Dietrich. More recently, Nadia Comaneci, the well-known Olympic gold medalist (the first gymnast to score a perfect 10) frequents the spa to relax and receive special treatments. Dr. Ana Aslan (now deceased) founded the spa in the 1940s, and it continues along the lines of her original vision. Treatments include shots of the product GeroVital for which the spa is named. Sylvester Stallone reportedly has regular shots every few months to keep in tip-top shape, as the formula claims to reverse aging, improve vitality, enhance memory, and cure ailments ranging from arthritis to heart disease. The spa offers treatment to anyone, and at a low price – as low as $120 per day – compared to other European spas, which start in price at around $300 per day. Additionally, Dr. Aslan’s GeroVital treatments are in so much demand that the Beverly Hills Medical Center offers the treatments.
Not only that, but staying in posh Bucharest hotels is also a must for many of the rich and famous. Finding suitable accommodations for base camp as one explores the land of gypsies and mythology is no problem. Staying at the InterContinental allows you to keep company with high-profile opera singer Luciano Pavarotti and his friend and fellow opera star Jose Carreras. Both sing in the internationally acclaimed trio The Three Tenors. But the JW Marriott is the upcoming hotspot. It’s a place where Nicole Kidman, Andy Garcia, and Enrique Iglesias can all escape the limelight and enjoying pampering. And it’s primed for royalty as well: Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are among its patrons.
Why do the rich and famous love Romania? Simply because it is a unique getaway, a rare gem. They can avoid the crush of people that accompany them to other destinations, and see a few things that can’t be seen anyplace else (a real vampire castle, bands of gypsies). Additionally, they can get more for their dollar, and with less publicity than in other places. Sometimes, though, not being recognized can get in the way. Jude Law (Cold Mountain) was accused of stealing his rented SUV in Bucharest. Apparently a member of the Romanian senate saw Law getting into a Land Rover at the Otopeni Airport. The senator, Dinu Patriciu, recognized the vehicle as his brother’s, and immediately confronted Law and his bodyguard, accusing them of stealing the car. Turns out Patriciu’s brother had sold the car to the agency, and Patriciu was unaware that his brother had sold the car. Patriciu apologized for the incident, and Law characterized it as a “misunderstanding” via his publicist.
Andy Serkis (Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) also experienced a misunderstanding while traveling through Bucharest. A man approached Serkis on the street and asked for directions. As soon as Serkis replied, police swarmed him. They did not recognize him, and thought that he was changing money illegally. After a little embarrassment and some explanations, Serkis was released with the apologies of the department.
But all in all, it is nice to escape the limelight without having to leave behind the luxurious trappings of civilization. Advanced services, like quality plastic surgery are available in addition to relaxing tours of the countryside. Many Europeans and Israelis have plastic surgery done in a setting of comfort and richness. Some Americans are just now discovering the benefits of having professional surgeons perform their surgeries far from the often-embarrassing hounding present in the United States.
But the secret of this rising filming and vacationing location will not last long. With the release of movies like Bloodrayne to showcase the otherworldly beauty of Romania, and with its entrance into the European Union next year (including the construction of a major highway to connect it with the rest of Europe and also with Asia), “Little Paris” and the mystery-cloaked Transylvania will no longer be places where the elite can escape from their ordinary lives of fame with the comfort they enjoy now. But enjoy it while it lasts, because, in the words of Bloodrayne director Ewe Boll, Romania’s attractions are manifold: “Romania is cheap and has perfect landscapes, castles and old cities.” And that means the secret is out.
