Well, I now have another country to add to my list of places I have visited. I spent 2 weeks in Romania working. And I do mean working. During those 2 weeks, I had about 120 hours worth of billable time! Needless to say, I was exhausted when I got home! But, I did have some fun over the weekend. So, here are my impressions and thoughts of Cluj. The city is an interesting mixture of old-time building and what we would consider "communist" buildings. The latter are the concrete buildings that look pretty ugly. A lot seemed to be missing [View Full Entry]

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The trip from Sibiu to Brasov was impressive. We left to a cool morning with sun emerging across the mountains jutting into the sky like a knife. It became misty as we approached the mountains in the private mini bus, in search of the glacial lake known as 'Balea'. The ascent through pine forest gave way to barren tussock land, then rock, following a series of switchbacks that had an amazing view across the valley from whence we came. The military entertained us at the summit, firing mortars with accompanying sounds, that seemed as though they were blasting the mountain apart! [View Full Entry]

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Last night we left Budapest and took a night train to Brasov, Romania. I didn't expect things to be so different here, but they really are. The night train was alright, kind of cramped but the bunk beds were better than any of the hostels we've stayed at. Jessica and I were watching a movie on her mini-computer when the cabin door flung open and a train attendant sharply demanded something in another language. Everyone gave him their passports and tickets for inspection so we did too. About an hour later the door flung open again and another train attendant asked [View Full Entry]

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We found this cute little beach town on the border of Bulgaria and Romania called Vama Veche. After being inundated with offers of sub standard accommodation that were much more expensive than Bulgaria, we found the perfect place. Vama Veche is a tiny place, a few dirt roads and the main road through the town. Its full of hippies with dreadlocks and contrastingly flashy people in expensive cars who have come here from Bulgaria. Lots of people camp on the beach here for free and there are plenty of bars on the beach so we spent a lazy few days here [View Full Entry]

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Until a few weeks ago we had been riding through countries so massive that border crossings, when they so seldom happened, seemed interestingly quirky at worst. When we met with our dear friends in the Crimean, we knew that one way or the other we would be crossing several international boundaries in only a few days. We thought this quite irksome as Julie and JP had to be in Bucharest for a flight by the morning of the eleventh and delays were not needed. We planned to take a ferry from the Crimean to Odessa in order to skip the few [View Full Entry]

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Varna to Bucharest was an absolute mission!! I went to the train station in the day to get a seat reservation for the 10pm train. I was told by two people this wasn't necessary so went on my merry way to the beach. However, when I came back at 9 I tried to get on and was told I did in fact need a reservation... However, as it is during high season, all of these had gone as Romanians and Bulgarians headed home from their holidays. I was told by the conductor, who said he didnt know was interrail was, was [View Full Entry]

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Hi All, We have had a great time since I last updated. We left Lake Balaton we went to Budapest (Would have stayed longer but the English bloke we met had cabin fever and wouldnt piss off). Budapest was lovely and easy to get around......in bare feet!. Just got into town and in the old section i.e miles from the shops and my flipflops (thongs to any aussies) broke. Luckily Scott was wearing my shoes - (make of that what you will!)--(Well they are hiking sandals actually)) so he gave me those and he walked in bare feet across the hot [View Full Entry]

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Budapest - Brasov So, to finish up Budapest first: After a Sunday night of beers and Palinka at the hostel, we stumbled out into the bright daylight of Budapest for a final exploration before taking the train away. Lunch was definitely order of the day, oversized portions of Schnitzel and Chicken Kiev was deeeelicious. We then attempted to visit the Terror House (Museum) in order to take advantage of its potential air conditioning, but, closed on Mondays. So we walked for ever and ever up to Hero's Square. Thinking we were clever we decided to take an alternative route back to [View Full Entry]

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7/26/09 Austin: It has been awhile since we last blogged, and we have a lot to update on. We have been traveling through Romania for the last two weeks. We went to the Transylvania Alps, near Sinaia, and braved the weather to hike to the top in very windy conditions. We also spent a night in a freezing cold Cabana at the top of the mountain. The views are beyond words in the beauty of flat topped mountains at about one mile high. ----- We saw the most extravagant castle so far called Peles Castle. It use to be owned by [View Full Entry]

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Way back in the 80's, Steph (as a little girl in love with gymnastics) watched a movie called Nadia about the famous Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. So when we first moved to Europe and made our hit list of 'must-see' countries, Steph put Romania on (out of a Dracula curiosity I seconded it). I've been to Bucharest a bunch of times for work, and since this time I was going on a Thursday/Friday it was perfect for the girls to meet me for the weekend. Steph was extremely brave attempting her first flight alone with Dahlia but totally survived with the [View Full Entry]

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