Hotel Casa Wagner Brasov

... showing at such wonders of the modern world.

Brasov is probably the most popular town in Romania, which actually does have Gothic buildings, cobbled pedestrianised streets, medieval walls and Churches, making this city what it is. Brasov will be our base for the next couple of days as we explore Bran Castle and Sighisoara home to Dracula. Hopefully we will not be as lazy as we were in Budapest and actually get out and see some of the sights we have planned.

... fifty meters from the hotel when the concierge (who bore a very striking resemblance to Jam Hands Jay) came running after us demanding more money (just like Jam Hands Jay, always thinking about money). We walked back to the hotel with him and told him we had already paid for every night. He did a few calculations, then said in a small voice, “It’s ok. Thank you.” I guess I would probably react the same way if I were responsible for the twenty-six dollars he thought we owed.

... I get off work at 10:00. I have a drink, watch a movie and just relax. Sleep happens but I get up on time. I get dressed and walk the few blocks to Termini station...The bus comes. So, I'm waiting on the bus and along come some young girls obviously from California!!! they had been up all night at some club and were very talkative and loud. Everyone on the bus was ...

... to Hungary. The border here was almost abandoned, huge secure buildings and customs channels, all empty and becoming derelict. Crossing the plains of eastern Hungary the temperature rose and rose. By the time we got to our overnight stop at Debrecen it was 36. The site was an attractive but almost deserted woodland site, but best of all there was a small pool, so the Speedos could come out again. Then west to Romania ...

... fortress walls where the mote once was hundreds of years ago and then climbed up to the watch towers where scouts could once look at all the land from being tightly nestled in the hills of Transylvania. After meeting up with the crew yet again we reunited for a cup of hot chocolate in a local bar, and found some affordable pizzas at a café nearby. Everyone in the past few days have been dropping off like flies and we were once again saying goodbye to another ...

... of it. But no, these children are so hungry that they gulp down every bite. There was no such thing as playing with their food. Some days they dont even have enough food for all of them. We spent another few hours there playing with the older ones and holding the younger ones. Then it was time to go and as we walked out the door we left 2 of them asleep and 2 of them screaming for more attention. It was very sad. In the afternoon we went out to the home. Bianca grabbed hold of me. Not ...

... the neighbours before i get to the outside gate. There is this little kitten which is just the cutest thign. looks like mali but grey and... shes actually very affectionate. I sat there patting her for about half an hour. so now i pat her everytime i go out. she's always sitting in the same place. So then i went outside the locked gate and expected to have to walk half an hour or so. Turns out that right next door, the nieghbour has a little shop setup with a ...

... ol' US of A (Ben and Melissa - any more cats along the travels??). Tania even managed to find a kitten to rescue. Sighisoara The birthplace of Dracula. You know this because in the shops Vlad Tepes (aka Dracula) can be found on paintings, mugs, t-shirts and chip-dip (seriously). That being said, the town is nice, even in a bit of rain. We visited the citadel today, which is basically the old town, all walled in. Even saw the house that Vlad was born and lived in for the ...

... thanks, Mihai! Maybe the other tourists and I didn't see vampires at Bran Castle because it was sunny. So, it was safe then for THE TOP 5 BEST THINGS ABOUT ROMANIA! to come out. 1. NICE PEOPLE 2. HOUSES 3. PARKS IN CITIES - They're full of roller-blading and chatting people and beautiful landscaping. 4. GYPSY CULTURE 5. THE LAND IS USED good-bye, Transylvania I still got all my blood, whew! Modern Oddyseus Much thanks to Mihai, Dragos, & Leanna for the place to sleep!

... and did not lose anything from what I earned during my Uzbekistan time. Okay, so that means more to me than to you, but I don't want to explain right now b/c it's getting late and I have to be at the train station by 7am tomorrow. We have our HUB tomorrow, which is where all the group meets and has lessons together, which is in Brasov. The city of Brasov would literally make your jaws drop when you see it. I will be taking pictures, trust me...it is so beautiful ...