I have just got back from a week in Romania, I had a great time and it is a beautiful country.
It is amazing how ones preconceived ideas are so governed by what we see on TV. Romania has moved on a long way from the images of orphanages that were on our screens 10-15 years ago. It feels like a thoroughly modern country looking to play its part in Europe.
The country is rammed full of history with Transylvania seeming to have a castle or church on every hill. Unfortunately Dracula was not at home when we visited Bran Castle, although it is an amazing place to have a look around.
Bran Castle, the alleged home of Dracula
Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, so called because he was partial to having his enemies impaled on stakes and then put on display. He sounds like a particularly pleasant chap, and is supposed to be the chap who inspired the character of Dracula for Bram Stoker’s stories.
Sighisoara
Brasov from the top of the cable car
One of the most surprising places we visited were the salt mines near Praid. The journey down was via a ‘Bendy Bus’ and a walk through a steeply inclined shaft. The door then opened out into a huge open cavern.
Salt Mines
The caverns were huge and interlinked, it is alleged that the air down there has medicinal qualities and the locals spend the whole day down there playing games and there is even a functioning chapel. All very strange but very interesting.
Targu Mures central station at rush hour!
Targu Mures station is not what one could call the busiest in the World. The single line through the town looks decidedly tired. The gauge here is 1520mm, for those that are interested.
Palace of Culture, Tagur Mures
Targu Mures was the base for our trip in Transylvania. This is a medium sized town with a pleasant town centre and all the stuff one would need in a modern city.
This post was written by Steve Johnson