Palace Dumbrava Sibiu

... br>We had heard that the castle was closed a few days ago because of a rockslide but we still wanted to see the outside. The area that slid is part of the castle wall. A door leading to some room remains attached at the top, opening now onto a cliff below. Walls were OK. It would have been really nice to see the old town inside.<br><br>Bran is a castle near Brasov. Originally from the 14th c., it has been modernized. Gorgeous exterior up on a hill. The interior dates from the early ...

Sibiu is a delightful city, small - about 250 000 people, but ready to make your staying one of the best in Romania.<br>The city, on its German name Hermannstadt, was founded in the 12 century and in 2007 was Cultural European Capital.<br>The Bruckenthal Palace in the Big Plaza, today an art museum and the Evangelic Cathedral are worth a 2-3 hour visit. <br>Also, climbing all the way up in the Council Tower , the 12 century gate of SIbiu, let us see the city from above.<br>Great place!

... up to a glacial lake in what I think are the Carpathian mountains. The lake itself had beautiful clear water and a really good view all around. It was also FREEZING up there, so I'm wearing many layers and at one point had my scarf wrapped around my head to protect me from the wind. It's amazing that I was standing in a tropical dress in Maramures only a few days ago.<br><br>Next, we went to visit a ranch/stable for ...

Went to the ASTRA open air museum just outside of Sibiu this morning. It is the second largest one in the world. The bus ride there is always a treat as it's just me and a bunch of rural folk old timers on the bus. I have noticed that most men and women over the age of 50 wear hats. The museum grounds are situated around a lake and the whole area is very big. They disassembled buildings all around Romania and reassembled them here. They have wooden ...

... Sibiu I was immediately enthralled. They have lots of houses that have these eye lid like windows on the roofs. It is very cool. The town is very medieval looking and again it doesn't have the touristy vibe that any other country that I have been to had. I can't understand why there aren't more. It is great here. Sibiu was the European Cultural Capitol in 2007 and had gotten some boost in it's tourism from that. It also has a small airport ...

... you full of a huge family...ladies with colorful scarves, big gold earrings and layers of skirts and men with big felt cowboyish hats...stuff you think doesn't really exist anymore, but there it is...just people going about their normal day. romania is a cool place, with some beautiful old towns, and it is huge, so I feel like it is a place worth coming back to. But I am on my way to vienna, so jumped on the train to budapest.

... but large portions are considered a museum and are open to the public. I am absolutely astounded by the monstrosity of this building, and its enormous waste. It wasn't finished by the time of the revolution in 1989, and is still being worked on today. The place has great potential, but needs a purpose. Our guide tells us that a competition is in progress to come up with a plan that will successfully make at least 80% of the building income ...

... My traveling companion remarked through quick breaths as we scampered towards its trail of exhaust, "Surely that wasn't the last bus to Medias, was it?" I reassured her that it couldn't have been, then realized that it probably was. Upon reaching the road though, Biertan spilled out before us like a shimmering oasis. Eureka! The rain began to fall in huge drops but not in huge amounts. Having reached the shelter of town rather than being exposed to the potential lightning bolts in ...

... one of the many taxi drivers out front sidled up to us. "Hey, you want a taxi?" "No thanks." "Come on, I'll drive you." "No, we're just going to walk, but thanks." "WALK?!!! HA HA HA! Nobody walks in Romania!" I looked up and saw about a dozen people within 50 feet of us who were shuffling in either direction on the sidewalks. Rather than point it out and destroy his clever sales pitch, I just proved him wrong by action, and walked quickly away. It was 10 whole minutes ...

I can't belive it. After a fluke letter to some strange man asking about bumper stickers, I find myself on a plane flying overseas to meet him two months later. Fortunately for me he was waiting on the other side. This was the first time crossing the pond and getting out of the box. God is good. I needed it.