3. Write a description of the house or flat you would like to live in.

My Dream House

      Ever since I was very young I have known what kind of house I wanted to live in. I can imagine
very well a house that is on the lake and, after I start a family it will be considered a loving home.
      One of the most important details about a house is the location. My house will be certainly
located in a quiet and peaceful place. Maybe my house will be located on a small private property,
probably near a lake. Therefore, my dream house should have some characteristics that represent my
personality with its location as well as its inner and outer design. From my point of view, the location of
my house is very important and the surroundings and the position of a house should be carefully
considered. The best location for this would be in Snagov, because it is at almost half distance between
Bucharest, the capital of our country and Ploiesti, my hometown.

My house will be not a tiny apartment nor a huge mansion but a two story, cozy house with white
painted doors, brick walls,red roof, windows overlooking the entrance to the house. There are white
shutters on each window. The outer design of my dream house should be attractively decorated as
much as the interior because I prefer to spend time outdoors. The front yard is decorated with beautiful
flowers, bushes and fruit trees.The back garden should be very large so that I can have a lawn with a
swimming pool. In addition, there would be another lawn which comes up to the patio. There would
also be a flower bed near the back door and a path leading to the garden shed and the greenhouse,
where I’d like to grow my own tomatoes, green peppers, parsleys, eggplants. I think also that the
position of my house would enable me to have as many pets as possible since a large garden with
enough space would provide shelter for them.

My dream house’s interior design should be carefully planned because I believe that beauty lies
within the details. Consequently, I’d like it to have a big, spacious hall since it is the first place that you
see as you come in through the front door. At the end of the hall, there would be a staircase leading
upstairs. I’d like to decorate the walls of the hall with beautiful paintings. The first room on the right
would be the living-room which is quite large and full of light. Day light is essential for me so I’d like to
have big windows in the living room. A door from the living room would lead to a small study where I
could write, read books and work on my assignments. This small room would make me feel calm and
attentive so I could focus my attention to my projects. Upstairs there would be 2 or 3 bedrooms and 2
bathrooms. On the left, close to the living room, there will be the kitchen, but there, at that point I have
little imagination. Maybe it will be very spatious, full of light, a welcoming place for someone who loves
cooking…not me, for sure!

In my opinion, each person has a dream house that continues to remain on his mind as long as he
lives. Places we spend our life is very significant because our moods are affected by the design and the
location. If we live in a place filled with noise, chaos and air pollution our feelings would tend to be
negative. On the contrary, if we live in a place close to the serenity of nature, our minds, bodies and
spirits will be filled with positive energies. That’s why I’d like my dream house be located out of a city,
encircled with flowers, trees and birds. Therefore, I prefer to plan my dream house to give me feelings
of relaxation and joy. In conclusion, everything about my dream house would reflect my feelings,
thoughts and my personality so when you step in my house, you would, in a way, get into my inner
world. ….
8. Describe a building you have encountered in your trips that really impressed you

The Peles Castle

Living in Prahova County I am very attracted by its famous buildings. I would like to
describe one of the most impressive, a castle that I have visted several times in my life and still I
find it worth to be seen once again.

The Peles Castle is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional tourist attractions in
Romania, boasting a fabulous architecture and a rich heritage. The castle can be found in
Prahova County, nestled within the majestic Carpathian Mountains, at the foot of the Bucegi
Mountains, in the picturesque town of Sinaia, Peles and it is a masterpiece of German new-
Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe. This
fantastic landmark was built by King Carol I of Romania between 1839 and 1914, and it was
meant to serve as the monarch’s summer retreat. The castle served as the summer residence of
the royal family until 1947. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art,
Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows and Cordoba leather-covered walls.
Peles Castle was the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current. The electricity was
produced by the castle's own plant. The cost for this incredible undertaking was quite enormous,
since the construction project required approximately $120 million in today’s currency.
Nowadays, the Peles Castle is a very important museum that houses a vast collection of arms,
armor and art pieces. Some of the most notable rooms in the castle are called The Honor Hall,
The Imperial Suite, The Arsenal, The Playhouse and the Florentine Room, each housing its own
unique treasures. The Arsenal, for example, displays 1,600 examples of armor and weapons,
including a 15th century German decapitation broadsword and a full Maximilian armor for rider
and horse. The Florentine room features a more artful approach, boasting Italian Renaissance
elements such as a Grand Marble Fireplace by Paunazio and massive solid bronze doors made in
Rome. One of the most interesting places when you visit Romania. When you visit Romania,
at Peles Castle you are greeted upon entry by a beautiful statue of King Carol I that was made by
Raffaello Romanelli. There are also numerous other statues scattered across the surrounding
terrace gardens, most of them being attributed to Romanelli as well.

The castle can be explored only via a guided tour. There are 3 tours available, the first
being limited to the ground floor only, while the last offers a complete exploration of the
landmark. There is an admission charge as well as an extra charge for those that wish to bring
their cameras along. The Peles Castle can be visited all year round except for November, when it
is closed for maintenance.

Maybe one visitor or another can observe different astonishing sides of this building full
of history, full of art masterpieces. I know that every time I get there I am aware I will be back
soon.
2. Write a description of the place where you spent your last holiday.

For those of us living in big cities summer holidays mean watching movies and
television series or hanging out with friends or just surfing internet. This consumes all of
our time. But, this summer spending time at my friends’ place in Dragus village was a
wonderful experience. It seemed like a different world to me.

Last month I was very happy to receive an invitation to spend a week in Dragus
and to have a lot of fun with my friends, too. They have already told me a lot of stories
about their previous holidays there, where they own a house and I was very excited to
go there, too.

Dragus or Drackendorf in the language of the Transylvanian Saxons, meaning the

The village is located 90 km away from Brasov, 24 km from Fagaras and only 9 km from
Sambata de Sus Monastery, with the access available on E68 out Fagaras to Sibiu.

It displays old picturesque houses typical to the Fagaras Land, a church dating back in
the 18th century, but also the oldest stone mill in the region. All the houses bear a cross
on their façade, as a sign protecting the family and bringing good luck.

I was surprised to discover so many possibilities of entertainment, I can say that there it
is impossible to be bored. You can go hiking in Fagaras Mountains from here, with a
marked routing available, which leads up to Remus’ Hut (named after a shepherd), at
1,650 meters altitude.

Dragus area also shelters an adventure park, Dragus Adventure Park, located 24 km
from the city of Fagaras and 1 km from Brancoveanu Monastery in Sambata de Sus.
Access is made from DN1 E68, from Fagaras to Sibiu. On Sambata de Jos village, you
turn left on DJ 105 B and follow the signs showing “Manastirea Brancoveanu” (approx.
10 km) and then follow the signs showing “Aventura Parc Dragus” (approx. 1 km).
Anyone who knows me can easily guess that I spent in that park an important time of
my vacation.

The park is located near the “Dragus Ski Track“, another touristic attraction in the area,
located southern Dragus village and opened in 2010.

In the neighborhood there is also “Casa Zmeilor/ The Dragons’ House” boarding house,
which got its name from the translation in Romanian of the German term of Dragus,
Drackendorf.  At the same time, hikers can find accomodation right in the villagers’
houses. Tourists can go to the Touristic Promotion Center in the locality and they are
given an address. While they are looking for that particular accomodation all by
themselves, the visitors are given the opportunity to discover the village and the
landscape. Within villagers’ households, tourists can enjoy traditional food and drinks
and can even attend the houseworks, they can have a hayride and can feed the
animals. As far as I was concerned, I was not too curious to taste local food because,
as most of the teenagers I am very found of pizza. And…I ate pizza every day! It was
absolutely delicious!

Dragus village also hosts another special place: the labyrinth from the cornfield, which
opens precisely on August 15.

The labyrinth is unique in Romania, actually being an eco park inside a cornfield lying
on three hectares and consisting of a network of three alleys and a circular square. At
the alleys’ crossroads there are finger posts displaying a question about the countryside
culture. Each question has two or several answer options. Under each answer is an
arrow, while the correct option is pointing to the right direction. Besides, during your
cultural trip you will meet fairytale characters on the labyrinth’s alleys, the Witch, the
Dragon, Prince Charming or Ileana Cosanzeana, a fairy in the Romanian mythology.

The labyrinth opens every August and can be visited until October. The entrance is free.
I can say that it was really astonishing experience. It was fantastic.

Hoping that I managed to describe maybe just a little part of the happiness from my last
holiday, I invite everybody to visit the fairy villages of Transylvania and especially
Dragus.
10. Describe an interior (a room, flat, house) which relaxes you and puts you in a good mood.

I have ever dreamt to live in a big detached house surrounded by a big garden full of flowers and trees. I
wouldn’t like to live in an apartment with blocks of flats and rude neighbors making noise in the middle
of the night. Therefore, I will describe a room in a house which exists only in my imagination.

Such a house is located outside the city, on the outskirts of town where I can find true peace and
happiness. Anyway, my dream house should have the characteristics that represent my spiritual world
and personality with its location as well as its inner and outer design. From my point of view, the
location of a house is very important and the surroundings and the position of a house should be
carefully considered. I’ve always been fascinated by rivers and the sound of the birds in the mornings.
I’d feel positive and lively if I was woken up by the sound of doves perched on the branches of the trees.
In this respect, I imagine my bedroom in a house near a flowing river, built in the countryside.

My bedroom would reflect my inner world and privacy so it would be painted with my favorite colour
which is blue. My view is that blue is the color that represents my feelings of harmony and peace. In
short I can say that, the interior of my bedroom is like my spiritual world so I’d decorate it in such a way
that everything, objects and colors would symbolize my true feelings. The doors are quite tall, painted in
white, and the same concerning the windows, maybe the most elegant doors and windows I have ever
seen. They are made of wood and perhaps it will be a stained glass window in the center. The handles
and the frame are made of brass. There are white shutters on each window. The external window sill
will be full of flowers because they are a pleasure and perfection of nature. They give many things to
people, and it does not matter if you are rich or poor, they give you a wonderful world which makes you
feel happy. There’s my bed in the middle of the room, a desk, a night table and a closet. The desk and
my books will be in the study, next to my bedroom. I imagine the bedroom as a place for mere relax and
sleep. I can add that it will be no TV sets , too. I usually like to lay in my bed until it’s time for dinner.
Lying down is when I have time to think about what I did during the day, my future, goals and
achievements in life. I always find myself dreaming about my favourite room, my bedroom but I also
think of its surrounding and location because the environment can influence the behavior, emotion and
health. Walking through the door of my bedroom after a long day always makes me feel so relaxed.
There is always a smell of fresh vanilla or brown sugar candles the moment I walk through my white
painted door.

During a stress filled day do you ever find yourself daydreaming of being back at home? Not just an
ordinary home, but the perfect house to relax and spend amazing moments with your loved ones. And
then… your clean, tidy and wonderful bedroom will be the last bit of wellness you would want to
experience before a good sleep.