Blogs from Brasov, Brasov, Transilvania, Romania, Europe

On Thursday, we took only a small bag as we were heading to Transylvania for a two day, one night, visit. We drive out of Bucharest during peak hour which was difficult and headed out on Highway 1. Our first loo stop was at a very modern shopping mall. They certainly are not short of goods and services here. We drove on, into the Carpathian mountains with the scenery turning from wide fields into mountain views along the way. Near the pretty town of Sinaia, we visited Peles Castle. This was built by King Ferdinand, royalty borrowed from the German aristocracy, and was very much in that style. It was set in beautiful gardens and we were shown through various rooms, sumptuously decorated with paintings and mirrors. Very grand. The castle was saved from the ravages ... read more

On a recent trip to Brasov (2019) to visit Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania, I learned more about Count Dracula. You decide if it is myth or legend. I vote for legend, after visiting his castle and hearing the stories firsthand. "Most historians agree that the vampire as we know it today got its start in Europe sometime during the 17th and 18th centuries. According to scholars, the legendary "Dracula" novel by Bram Stoker was crafted after the real Romanian Prince Vlad Tepes, who lived during the 15th century in Transylvania. While Romania generally looks fondly on his legacy, he was known to be very cruel to those he conquered, even earning himself the nickname “url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Ftopics%2Ffolklore%2Fvampire-history&data=04%7C01%7C%7C7c093038ead746... read more

The place I was staying didn't have a kitchen, which meant I needed to find somewhere to have breakfast. In a big tourist town like Brasov, I thought that would be easy. I was proven very wrong. I had found a place online that looked quite good, but I had forgotten the name by the time I got in the right vicinity of the restaurant/cafe. There were quite a few places that looked shut, another cafe that was completely dead, normally that wouldn't bother me, but for some reason it did here. So, I ended up at Starbucks on the main square. I had a coffee and some kind of cheese, pesto, and I think tomato focaccia/ciabatta thing. It was quite nice. I enjoyed relaxing in the cafe as it wasn't too busy. Now, I was ... read more

Dag 11 – Rondreis Roemenië – vrijdag 7 september 2018 – Busuitstap Sinaia, Brasov Daguitstap naar Sinaia, een mondain ski-oord aan de rand van de Karpaten, met bezoek aan het voormalig koninklijk zomerpaleis. Niet direct mijn ding, wel dat van honderden anderen die zoals wij moesten aanschuiven om binnen te geraken. Streng verboden binnen te fotograferen. Misschien om de decadente rijkdom van voormalige koningshuizen niet digitaal te verspreiden. Dan naar een wijnproeverij wat ik toch wat interessanter vond. Met als afsluiter een stadstoer in Brasov, niet lang geleden nog Kronstadt genoemd, nu mooie hoofdstad van deze regio.... read more

Brasov, orasul atestat documentar in 1252 sub numele latin Corona sau denumirea germana Kronstadt, care inseamna "Orasul Coroana" sub numele latin Corona sau denumirea germana Kronstadt, care inseamna "Orasul Coroana", ambele denumiri fiind oglindite in sigla orasului. Oras fondat de catre Cavalerii Teutonici in 1211, iar urmele colonistilor germani pot fi observate in arhitectura gotica, baroca si renascentista, impreuna cu o multitudine de atractii istorice pastrate sau refacute/renovate cat sa ne atraga si pe noi sa le revizitam. Zona pietonala din centrul vechi ne-a intampinat cu o bogata varietate de terase de unde puteam urmari funicularul de pe muntele Tampa. Cazare gasita intr-un apartament stil garsoniera cu bucatarie si baie moderna inclusa, cu priveliste de vis, cu parcare gratuita, asta poate ca am ajuns in extrasezon. Strada CD Gherea nr 38-5star residence la 1,5 km de ... read more