Castel Dracula Bistrita

... and amongst themselves.

We discuss the economics of the hostel. Roughly, she pulls in $1,000/mo in revenue. $600/mo pays her rental costs. She has another $100/mo in utilities. It is enough to pay her bills and in Romania, she is doing pretty well. The extra $ comes in from tours and she freelances as a limo driver for one of the big hotels. She had a 3 AM airport pickup later this evening. She works really hard.

... me with the info on the one bus and calls to confirm that it will be running. Until this point, I was not even sure that it was possible (without backtracking way South to get around the mountains). Valerie, the only other person at the hostel, is on the same bus. The bus is an experience. It is a 7 hour trip and apparently such luxuries as shock absorbers are skipped. The music is awful, a mix of 50% Romanian folk, 30% urban, 20% euro-pop. The ride itself is beautiful. The ...

... sounds a little gypsy, a little middle east but not at all appealing to the Western ear). He is bringing home a shopping bag full of peppers since they are much cheaper in Timisoara. He despairs that so many people drink heavily with over a hundred bars in his town of a few thousand. I try to empress on him the importance of education and that Romania has the potential to improve greatly.

I am staying at the Happy House Hostel owned by a Brit who married a ...

It is Sunday at everything except the churches are closed. CLuj has several large churches, one of which is broadcasting its sermon into the plaza. 20 people are standing outside, listening to the service while facing the church. Not sure why they don't go in.

I hike to the top of a hill for a great view. Two of the museums ...

... While this train is significantly less comfortable it is far more informative than the IC train I had taken before.

Much of the ride is through Vineyards then increasingly micro-rural with chickens running around the yard.

I have to hang out for an hour before my train connection. Small town with nothing of interest nearby. I go to the bar. I have my $1, half liter beer along with the locals. Although my PC and large backpack probably ...

Located out of town, but close to the economic area of the city, BLACK TULIP, a four stars hotel, represents the perfect destination for those wishing to rest. I have appreciated the room atmosphere, the quality of the services...and the high degree of refinement of the cuisine.

... and Orange and Lime Green and Pink. We were to find this over and over in the mountains. It was like Bermuda. On the way to Sighisoara is Biertan, another WH site. It wasn't as inspiring as Sighisoara, and there was little information about the site. It's a fortified church with double walls. We stuck our heads though the gated door of an outbuilding to find a very small chapel with frescoes on the ...

It's been cold, wet and foggy and rainy since getting to Romania...ugggh. We motivated at an outrageously early time this am to get on our private transport to the train station for our 7 hour ride to Sighisoara. Due to time issues, the spirit of Mario Andretti temporarily entered the body of our unsuspecting van driver...thank goodness for Bonine my chewable travel sickness medicine. Whipping around corners on the ...