Hotel Sinaia

... the tree level, which runs already at about 1500 meters - less imposing than in the Alps and less rugged than the Pyrenees still with quite a bit of a mountain feeling. It could be a great place for long hikes on empty trails. This is a big country, two thirds of the size of Germany and it has only 20 million inhabitants and few tourists so it never will become too crowded on the trails.

... difference between the old and the young, the old are stuck back in the communist day wearing old clothes and looking generally miserable and the young crowd are wearing the latest clothes and going to university and school, it is a country of contrasts in many ways. Final thoughts on Romania (Dedicate to Mel, because I know you like this part) I must admit I got off on the wrong foot with Romania. Arriving in the capital half asleep and surrounded by ...

... very bored, enjoyed pointing out all the fire places and telling us they were ornamental. I, on the other hand, more enjoyed sliding around the marble floors in the special slippers they gave us to protect the rugs. I was quite the ballerina. Some people never grow up. Peles' exterior reminds one of a Bavarian fairytale, with dark wooden edges and painted walls. The inside, decorated in a myriad of styles, is even more fantastic. This is the kind of castle ...

... my student loans. And on Friday, again, I endeavored to stay up all night in a city. Two times in one week! Could my weary brain handle it? This time, it was in Brasov, Romania - a colorful Transylvanian city with a big black church and caramel pedestrian streets. "I'll never go to Romania." - self-pityingly said by Richard III, my Steak'n'Shake co-worker, who even didn't know why a person would want to go to Romania My host Mihai, who's hair-less ...

... was to visit Peles Castle today, then splurge and rent skis tomorrow and hit the slopes for a day of skiing in Romania. When I arrived in Sinaia, I was having trouble locating my hostel. Lo and behold, I was fortunate to see the tourist office a block away. They are usually very friendly and helpful, but today was not the day. The man there (let's call him Sparkles) was thoroughly annoyed that I had come to inquire, and rattled off directions. I got to my hostel, then went ...

... not to smile in his presence. I asked in Broken Romanian, "Autogara deux?" and pointed down to the bus. There was an awkward two second pause, then the man's necked creaked as it slowly pivoted toward me, and I got one slight nod down (good thing I didn't blink). I hopped on the bus and waited to depart, but there was no one else on the bus. We eventually left and it was pretty creepy to be on that bus with ole' Sunshine behind the wheel ...

... I was the illegitamate lovechild of the bride. It was a really good night with alot of funny, funny memories and good food. Proabably the most fun Ive had on the trip so far. Lots of stories to tell so I wont bore you with them now. Well, maybe one... I got "kicked out" for causing a scene when I "came out" with the priest... that sort of stuff was all night, just rediculous. Anyways tomorrow we move onto Cluj...

... us, at least, is wondering why we want to downhill ski with two adult sets, boots, one child set of skis, plus two kids in tow. Then we saw the toboggans for rent.... Oh well, that would be day 2 of mountain bumming. Skiing with toddlers is an incredible workout on the quads and the hamstrings (and not for the toddlers)! The Lonely Planet promised us some cross country skiing, but even the ...

From Bucharest we went to Brasov, the economic and cultural centre of Transylvania. Transylvania is uniquely beautiful with its thickly forested mountains and hills from which the clouds and fog cling. Brasov is a walled medieval town and is remaking itself into a tourist destination. Oddly, the powers that be decided to spell out the city's name in large white letters on the side of a mountain a la Hollywood. Besides this peculiar ...

Brasov is where all the tourists go in Romania, in the heart of Transylvania, Dracula country. So I spend a day doing that, walking through the old castle and all. But the real attraction for me was just seeing a country in the heart of Europe that is still village-based and peasant-based, with lots of arts and crafts ...