The Hollywood of Romania

The Hollywood of Romania, Transylvania. Thats what this area should be called just because of the white nametag signs on both Brasov an Rasnov mountains, quite funny to look at :)

I arrived on Tuesday at midday after 16hrs on the night train, an experience in itself. 6 beds, 3 on each side in a small cabin, shared with two romanians that couldnt speak english. One was so large that she could nearly not fit in the bed space and was a rival for the snoorer in Newquey, not much sleep when she was! The other seemed quite nice, she put on her laptop and we wached the movie 300 with Romanian subtitles. The train stopped 4 times between 10 an 4am for border an passport checks, got a few stamps from that peice of travel. Got a bit of sleep so wasnt that bad. It was so hot in Brasov, by the time i found the bus and walked in the door with all my gear was really ready for a shower.

Brasov is an eclectic modern town, so not what i expected. The view from Romania from the train was rural, half made houses with walls missing. Lots of people on the farmland, digging the grounds and horses pulling machinery. Brasov, even though the buildings look like they need rendering and a good coat of paint, the people are well westernised and some of the clothes shops along the main street would rival those on Queens St Mall. The main square was a people magnet for the locals, lots of people out walking on the streets. You occasionally see the odd gypsy or child beggar but mostly the streets are full of cafes. Got a cable car up Mt Tampa to th hollywood sign and a great view over Brasov, quite a sprawled out urban industrial city. Walked back down, 25 hairpins in really nice forest. The backpackers you meet here seem to be the real deal, the ones that want to really experience the other side of the world. Sat on the balcony with around 10 of them sharing stories watching the sunset over the hill, great view from the hostel.

On Wednesday decided to go out to Rasnov and Bran. Got the bus out to Rasnov and got dropped off on some random street. Could see the fortress on the hill behind the sign so at least knew where i was going. Horses and carraiges are still in use on these roads an not any foreigners in sight, really felt like the middle of nowhere. Made it to the start of the path up the hill from the help of a few locals using a bit of sign language. Another bit of a hike up the hill but the fortress was pretty cool, still crumbling and you could basically explore it by yourself. After, another couple of locals help me find the bus stop to Bran an off we go. Bran Castle even though Count Vlad, or Dracula, didnt even live there seemed gothic an scary, they must have been short though, lots of little spiraling stairs an little windows with great views over Bran. By the time I left it had started raining an thundering, quite appropriate dont you think. Came back an bought some food to cook up a healthy pasta with Lissa, a girl from California.

Me an Lissa got on the train on Thursday to Sinia, a town at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Scenery on the way there was so lush with the mountains in the background, lots of little snipits of Romanian life. We got off an made our way to Peles Castle, where the royalty of Romania lived. Most opulant Palace i have seen on my travels, rooms based around countries, worth millions. Headed down to the town an had some traditional Romanian food, dont ask me what, an headed up to the cable car. It took us right to the top of the mountain, highest from all around, was such a dramatic view, would be great in winter. Headed back to the train, had to walk along the tracks but that was the only way to get there. We decided to go personal train, 4x cheaper than the way we arrived, 4 lei. Saw more roma's on this train, is great to emerse yourself in the country. Just a stroll through town today. Me, Lissa, Emma (UK) an Sally (NZ) are going to see what the night life is like in Brasov tonight. Off to Sighisoara tommorow for a night.

Havent met any ozzies here yet, which is starkly different to the rest of my travels, a lot of americans and canadians and other coutries here which is interesting, will have to spread the word back home.

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