Brasoveana Courtyard

Brasov in Transsylvania at the foothills beyond is my overnight stop. The town was founded by German settlers who came here by invitation of the former Hungarian rulers. They helped to defend the area against the Turks, 800 years ago. Kronstadt or crown town is the German name of the place and in the center it still does look like a provincial town of the Austro-Hungarian crown. A big gothic church and a triangular historic main square are its nicest ...

Brasov - the name brings to mind vampires, castles, and everything Dracula. We took a rocking bus from Brasov to Bran Castle (the rap and dance mix music was great but a little funny as well) to see the famous Bran Castle. The whole Dracula aspect of the castle was cool, and all the secret passage ways and stairs give it a maze like feel. The castle is built on a hill in the middle of the forest, in a truly breathtaking ...

... by them but they were in their own world. Finally the bus left the station and about ten minutes into the 30 min ride, the girls started complaining that they had to go to the bathroom. Well, the driver wasn't impressed but a little amuzed so he pulled over and let them off the bus. It created quite a stir on the bus while passengers were mumbling in multiple languages ...

... was the first border where there had been any official activity. Passports were shown, questions were asked; all travellers have to purchase a vignette to cover their share of road tax, which is done at the local gas station. To get this you have to produce car registration and insurance documents. A bit of a pain in the neck, but would that not be a great idea for our own channel ports, to tax these thousands of ...

... but 20 minutes to tour inside and out and we were back on our way. The castle had no mention of feeding the myth on the inside, only those who once resided in the castle over the lands hundreds of years ago. Dracula, the myth, lived there - not the real Dracula. That's right, there is a real Dracula. A soldier who said as a torture mechanism knew how to drive a steak through ones spine without tapping the central nerve which keeps the victim alive and in agony ...

... dont think they'll be able to do it for a while. The police cadets are here for a week helping them build. They have put up 2 houses in only this week so it really doesnt take that long to get it up. The cadets are here as part of the police charity organization. The guy who runs that is a retired policeman and has been coming to Romania with his wife for 17 years. He had some interesting stories to tell about the things he's seen. He said when he first came there was absolutely no ...

... said if i like it there i can stay there for the full 4 weeks. I'll see how it goes. The other girls who have been to the House of Joy say that its really not that joyful and the kids are a real handful, particularly the boys who just wont generally acknowledge that you're there. The other volunteers go out most every night so they said to meet up in the city centre at 9pm and then we'd head out for a drink. I hung out there in town looking around and then went to the ...

... 30pm, and agree to take some free time to wander the city before meeting again for dinner at 7:30pm. The hotel is marvelous, and just blocks from the central square of this vibrant city. An annual beer festival is being held today, and there are crowds of young people and lots of loud music. After a delightful dinner at our newly renovated hotel, several of us walk through the square and plunge into the festival throngs. It is the fun ending to a long and scenic day. Hugs, Dan

... 5 mins to spare, raced around and found what I wanted, paid and literally ran back to the bus (I did't want to be late again). And waited. And waited. And waited. I was furious... we waited another 15-20 mins for several people to meander back to the bus. I could have gone to the haunted house in that time! Pretty much all of us back at the bus on time were angry... especially after Nev's rant a week or so ago. All through the tour, Katie wants us to give ...

... off the bus on our way back to Brasov. After a wander through the town and climbing up to the ridge about the town we arrived at the castle - it has a few indoor bits to look at but is generally like a little village inside although many of the buildings are falling to bits. On the road back to Brasov you can make out this massive cloud of smog over the city - lovely!