Where I Traveled and Why
Sighisoara, for a festival.
Bran Castle for history
Transylvania for beautiful countryside
Bucharest to meet my girlfriend.
Highlights of My Trip
I have just spent 2 weeks travelling through Romania.
I went to the mediaeval festival in Sighisoara. For a country as poor as Romania, they certainly know how to organise a festival!
I had read about the festival on the Net and I was immediately enamoured.
The drive through Transylvania was magnificent. It reminded me of Alpine countryside... without the snow!
Bran Castle is wonderful. Queen Marie helped redesign the interior in the 1920's. She was a niece of the British Queen Victoria!
Bucharest is beautiful, despite resembling a constant building site. Unfortunately, so much work needs to be done to the roads, repairing the ancient buildings and replacing the Soviet influenced "Concrete boxes" called homes!
However, the depth and quality of history is enormous. Architecture, Museums, Galleries, Parks, Lakes, Bucharest has it all in abundance.
Romania is the most invaded country in Europe. The name comes from the first invaders, since then nearly everybody has invaded them, except the British.
Despite the wide range of differing peoples in Romania, the one thing I have noticed is that they are mostly polite, cheerful and helpful. Nearly everyone under 40 knows English. The people who do not speak English will at least attempt to communicate with you politely, somehow.
I found several excellent restaurants on my tour. The main one I enjoyed in Bucharest was "Caru cu bere". It was always very busy which was not surprising. The food was excellent. A large full plate of food plus a few beers all for under £10. Less than half the price I expect to pay in the UK.
My trip there last December was more pleasant for sightseeing. Mainly because in July and August the sun and temperature tends to sap the energy out of you fast. My Bucharest hotel provided an excellent laundry service for my sweaty shirts! Therefore, my "in town" trips were usually by car, not by foot.
I hate to say it, but I was pleased to return to cool, wet England.
However, no matter what the weather, I would love to live there.
Advice
- The only disappointment I had was that 2 weeks is not long enough.
- Had I been there for 2 months, I still would not have had enough time to see it all... in Bucharest alone!
- Do not believe all the rumours about disease and crooks. The children have more or less the same vaccinations as most western countries. As for crime, Romania is no more dangerous than the UK. Just be careful.
- The car drivers may be fast and furious, but they are more safety conscious than I have seen almost anywhere else. They have Zebra crossings on 4 lane 'A' roads, and drivers are careful!
