Started the day
enduring the familiar rigmarole of changing cash in an
under-developed nation – the search for a bank, the search of the
correct teller, the race back to the car to get my passport and then
the disconcerting sight of the woman beside me pulling multiple
bricks of tightly packed notes from her handbag.
Then it was off to
Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle - although any connection
to the world's most popular vampire is dubious at best. In fact, the
attempt to link the fortress to Dracula is a bit sad, as it's a
wonderful attraction in its own right – compact and full of funny
passageways, cosy little rooms and amazing views. It almost feels
like a large house perched on a hilltop – somewhere you could
actually imagine living. (The Dracula 'connection' has also led to
the accumulation of a rather tawdry collection of horror-themed tat
stalls at the entrance to the castle.)
After touring the
castle, we drove to our 'hotel', which turned out to be a local
woman's house. She turned out to be a typical Romanian granny –
plump and head-scarfed – with no English at all. She hadn't made
our room up yet, and proceeded to do so as we stood around feeling
slightly uncomfortable.
We then headed out
to the small city of Braşov, which was about half an hour away. We
found a nice parking spot close to the city centre, but then had to
spend 15 minutes accosting pedestrians and asking them for change for
the pay and display.
The centre itself
was lovely - pedestrianised and pretty - and after wandering around
for a while, we had a pleasant meal in a 104-year-old Art
Nouveau-styled restaurant.
No comments:
Post a Comment