Romania: Drive Trip thru Dracula homeland

[TameDriver]

Romania.

 

A country I'd heard of since young: childhood stories of gypsies, horror tales of Dracula.

Then, about the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu & wife Elena & their execution.

More recent news was about the hit n run saga by its diplomat silviu ionescu.

Never thought of visiting this country.

 

Then, interest was kindled by these chaps who did a special in Romania:

 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2015 by TameDriver

[TameDriver]

 

It was the thought of having a go on the Transfagarasan that I signed on for a work related congress in Bucharest earlier this year.

 

Despite knowing that Dracula was just a sensationalised fictional character, nevertheless, I brought this along:

 

[TameDriver]

 

After collecting rental from airport, drove 1 1/2 hrs (abt 110km) via highway to Sinaia, where I shall be spending 3 nights at this family-run hotel.

 

 

 

 

Nestled a short distance uphill from main road, can walk to town for meals & groceries.

 

 

Back view of the hotel

[Count-Bracula]

Helloooooo

[TameDriver]

 

Breakfast at hotel Silvia

 

[TameDriver]

Apologies for the slow pace in adding more posts.....trip was 1/2 yr ago in addition to many subsequent trips elsewhere....trying to recollect places n activities. Photos also mixed up with others.

Edited November 24, 2015 by TameDriver

[TameDriver]

2nd day.

Visited Sinaia Monastery & Peles Castle, both within walking distance from hotel Silvia

 

Sinaia Monastery

 

 

 

Peles Castle

 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2015 by TameDriver

[Dleodleo]

Wow!  Shiok ya!

[TameDriver]

 

Sinaia

 

Bucegi Mountains

 

Took a very steep & fast cable car ride up the mountains.

 

[TameDriver]

Wow! Shiok ya!

Probably most locals here wouldn't think of doing this kind of road trip, right?

Nevermind, let this TameDriver lead u thru.....hope u enjoy reading .....more to come.

[TameDriver]

 

Wow.....the view up here took my breath away....

Felt like was on top of the world.

 

 

 

 

[TameDriver]

 

Beautiful. So quiet & natural (no safety barriers or billboards). The weather was clear & sunny but still cool (with just a thin summer windbreaker & shorts) with light breeze here on the mountain top. Luckily not main tourist season yet, not crowded, with only a few locals hiking with their dogs.

 

 

 

 

A dwindling river of ice

[TameDriver]

 

Still on Bucegi:

 

 

 

Pretty Alpine wild flowers:

 

 

[Sky61]

Brings back vivid memories of my trip there in may. Beautiful sceneries and the standard of living is not as costly as other european countries. I drove from Bucharest to Brasov, Bran, Sighisoara, Targu Mures, Sibiu, before returning back to Bucharest. Great road trip! Few places left in the world, where china men havent infiltrated, always get funny stares from the locals!!

[Toothiewabbit]

Nice!

 

See aleadie lau nua sia

[Sunny]

very nice

[TameDriver]

Brings back vivid memories of my trip there in may. Beautiful sceneries and the standard of living is not as costly as other european countries. I drove from Bucharest to Brasov, Bran, Sighisoara, Targu Mures, Sibiu, before returning back to Bucharest. Great road trip! Few places left in the world, where china men havent infiltrated, always get funny stares from the locals!!

Hey, I was there mid May this year.

Airport- Sinaia, Bucegi, Bran, Brasov, Sibiu, Cartisoara, Marginimea Sibiului, Cluj Napoca, Sighisoara, Platinis & lastly, Bucharest.

 

Underestimated the time needed, rather rushed. Hope to visit Romania again to explore Maramures & drive on the Transfagarasan.

Like your last statement. Agree with u that it's a place where PRC people hasn't ' infiltrated' yet ......but it's just a matter of time.

[TameDriver]

 

Last day in Sinaia. Drove to Bran, a small town known for it's castle, mistakenly thought to be Dracula's stronghold.

 

 

 

 

Castle grounds