Brasov romania - another transylvanian town ...
Trip Start
Jun 01, 2002
1
12
20
Trip End
Aug 22, 2002
Brasov,
Romania
Thursday, July 4, 2002
It is claimed that in 1987 the first public oppostiion to Ceaucescu's regime occurred in Brasov. Thousands of disgruntled workers took to the streets throughout Romania, angered by the wage cuts and rationing - though this did not extend to Nicolai's wife Elena, who was reputed to have a fantastical collection of shoes. I noticed Elena to be a popular name in Romania..... but refrained from asking the girls if they were named after Ceaucescu's wife!
Corruption and rampant social discontent, such is the general theme of the downfall of Communism.
Brasov was a bit of a shock after the slow pace of Sighisoara. Elvis Villa have the market in Romania, running three hostels along the main tourist route - Sighi, Brasov and Bucharest.
Brasov is famous for its bears that come into the town to eat from the garbage bins (bear hunting is still socially acceptable here) and more Translyvanian mythology. The main attractions nearby are Bran Castle (Dracul;a's castle) and Rasnov Castle.
Brasov boasts a large square with a clocktower and a number of parks where everyone seems to congregate. We missed the last cable car to the ridge overlooking the town, so went to the main park to rollerblade. Or in my case, wobble, slide and fall over on my butt. Lots of old men gather in the park to play chess and carry on oblivious to the rollerbladers.
All the papers boasted pictures of Nicole Kidman as she was in Romania filming near to Brasov.
1. Brasov, Main Square
I guess she wasn't much of a rollerblader either as we didn't see her out and about.Rasnov Castle is currently being restored and will soon more a tourist spot to rival Bran Castle, the tourist mecca in Romania. Though I have to say, I preferred Rasnov to Bran.
Our taxi driver tricked us into hiking through the undergrowth to get to the castle while he drove the easy way around the back. Rasnov overlooks the thickly forested hills and I couldn't help but imagine all the bears and wolves wandering around in there. It's easy to see how all the mythology of forests being creepy and dagnerous came about when looking over the expanses of dark, Romanian forest.
The grounds of Bran Castle are immense and souvenier stalls plenty (though no really good, tacky Dracula souveneirs). The tough little ladies inside the castle made sure nobody without photopasses could take photos in true no-nonsense Romanian-lady style, but other than that, we could pretty much wander wherever.
The arrival of two very hungover lads from the Contiki tour passing through the castle induced some cultural cringe - they decided hang themselves inside the castle well. Complete lack of respect for the place and Romanian people. No shoes, singlets and loud voices - they have to be Antipodean. How embarrassing.
