International Aikido Course
Confederation of European Aikido2th-09th August 2003  Dan Ionescu (6th Dan Aikido) as president of the Federatia Romana de Aikido and the CEAT hosted this course at: Piatra Neamt, Moldavia region in the north east of Romania  11 Aug 2003 Here is what happened in Romania last week-end.  Breakfast was for me a leisurely affair of ham, omelettes, tomatoes, cheeses, bread, cherries and lots of tea; other students rose later and ate less! Training was a gentle twenty minute walk away, meeting more practitioners as we walked along, and started at ten. We were exposed to many new ideas and some new variations on techniques every day, especially Katana Kata! After a water break midmorning we finished at one, and after a most “refreshing shower” we strolled back to the hotel. On the first day we had an informal lunch with most of the French and a few Romanians at the hotel, which took three hours, then retired for a siesta! On most other days we went for a gentle lunch at a secluded restaurant, where we did our best to eat our way through the menu, and still never managed to pay more than £2.40 each, or take less than two hours! We walked round the town window-shopping; eating Italian pastries, and occasionally sitting down to eat at a very modern Italian ice cream parlour. Such a strenuous life style, but we survived! http://www.aikido.ro/PN/index.htm We had a wine tasting evening with local “ethnic” entertainment, and to meet the local business supporters of the event, and a speech from the mayor, thanking us for coming! One afternoon we had a journey to some very impressive gorges and a boat rip around the local lake and had a meal. It was a stannous walk and a most impressive lake! On Friday we took a coach trip to three monasteries, and had lunch at the last one! A most fantastic journey back in time, and most impressive demonstration upon the idea of commitment.  See Pictures-1 or Pictures-2 Details posted at: http://www.aikido.ro/CEAT/indexCEATuk.htm http://www.berksaikido.co.uk http://www.berksaikido.info Nigel 23 Dec 2002. We (Central Berkshire Aikido) have now booked our flights to Romania through, http://www.flightasair.com/ which is a very easy web page to use, and the tickets come the next day! Frances, Mat, Ngai Man, and myself are flying out on BA886 on Friday 1 August from Heathrow (LHR) and back again on Saturday 9 August on BA887 from Bucharest (OTP) for under £190! Only Tarom and BA fly directly there, and for the extra few pounds I'll have the comfort! Last time we flew on KLM via Amsterdam, which was very interesting and comfortable but took a long, long time! 29 Dec 2002. I have received further details from Romanis about Piatra Neamt, and attached the application form. PLEASE NOTE, we are all expected to attend the "special Dinner", judging by last time in Brasov, it will be "a night to remember", if you can! Please do print off as many copies as you need, and fax them to Paul as and when they are completed. Flights can be booked via http://www.flightasair.com/ very easily, to arrive on Saturday and leave on Sunday, if possible! ANY questions just give me a call. Nigel Nigel Vaughan 10 Erleigh Court Drive Earley Reading Berkshire RG6 1EB UK Phone 0118 377 6724 Fax 0118 954 7057 Mobile 079 85 03 33 83 Email Nigel@Vaughan.net details part 1.doc 466Kb details part 2.doc 1.128Mb For further details of the course please go to CEAT Web site or contact Paul Fratila at  webmaster@aikido.ro. For details of the town go to http://www.piatraneamt.ro City, capital of Neamt judet (county), northeastern Romania. It lies in the valley of the Bistrita River and is surrounded by mountains. It is first documented in the 15th century as Piatra lui Craciun, or Camena, a market town where fairs were held. Stephen the Great of Moldavia built the Church of St. John there in 1497-98, a classic example of ornate Moldavian architecture. The Bistrita Monastery, founded at the beginning of the 15th century by Prince Alexander the Good and rebuilt in 1554 by Prince Alexander Lapusneanu, is 5 miles (8 km) west of Piatra-Neamt. The city has a state theatre, a regional natural-science museum, and an archaeological museum of Neolithic pottery. More Links: Moldavia Piatra Neamt Maps Map of Piatra Neamtr Romanian Weather Report Accommodation @ Romaniantourism.ro Accommodation @ Rotravel.com Accommodation @ Academictours.com Hotel Prices I look forward to seeing many of you there, Nigel Vaughan nigel@vaughan.net |
Aikido in Berkshire Home Page