The Romanian Experience

Today, searching for ancestors is big business in the tourism industry. A twenty-five-year search for her mysterious grandfather led writer-director Mouna Mounayer to the heart of Romania. Surrounded by the majestic circle of the Carpathian Mountains, Targu Mures held the first real clues to his origins. Raluca Spiac, CEO of Beyond Dracula, organised and accompanied Mouna and her family on their journey to find the elusive man whose blood ran through their veins.

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Today, searching for ancestors is big business in the tourism industry. A twenty-five-year search for her mysterious grandfather led writer-director Mouna Mounayer to the heart of Romania. Surrounded by the majestic circle of the Carpathian Mountains, Targu Mures held the first real clues to his origins. Raluca Spiac, CEO of Beyond Dracula, organised and accompanied Mouna and her family on their journey to find the elusive man whose blood ran through their veins.

Today, searching for your identity through ancestry tourism is big business. There are millions of digitised records on hundreds of platforms, but that wasn’t always the case. For twenty-five years, writer-director Mouna Mounayer searched for her mysterious grandfather. She was on the verge of giving up when a chance conversation led to a meeting with Beyond Dracula CEO, Raluca Spiac, whose enthusiasm and effort turned the tide on Mouna’s search. This is their story.

– by Mouna Mounayer

European tradition has similar ways to mark the beginning of summer and they are all usually centered around the solstice. From the fires of San Juan in Spain to Midsommar in Scandinavia (alternatively named Sankt Hans, a short version of Sankt Johannes, basically Saint John), it is that one day a year when people get […]

Every spring, a unique scenery unfolds all across Romania: from mid-April to early-June, nature is “curating” our travel itineraries with a series of splendid, unmissable botanical “events”. Travelling to Romania this time of year, brace yourselves for a blossoming bonanza! And no, we’re not talking the average village garden or urban square of flowers, no, […]