2012-03-22 A Lack of Transylvanian Vampires

Well… as you all know by now, I am backpacking a section of Eastern Europe. My plan started simple. Kyiv and Bucharest, 8 days in between. Figure it out. Not difficult. Well I made the most of my time and money. This vacation will likely cost $750 or so. Pricy, and possibly not a true backpacking experience, but I actually go into the museums, I usually go to the best restaurants as well. For example, my last two dinners were the best two restaurants in their respective cities. 5 star establishments and I splurged a bit. A delightfully wonderful Romanian exchange rate keeps things cheap. It certainly rivals Russia’s especially in the service business.

So… about $15 a train. Now I am in Brasov after the day in Sighisoara. I wish I could drag you all there. It’s wonderful. Pretty. Not south France pretty mother, no Pyrenees mountains, but a more rustic… well Romanian feel to it all.

I have improved my reputation as the Asian guy running about Romania. I have a habit of storming off up a hill/mountain and spending hours hiking. Definitely off the beaten trail nonsense but worth it for the views. The locals stare incessantly at me, double-taking, wondering if perhaps the tourist season has already started, or perhaps for the fact that there are open-container laws in this country and I did not know. Sorry policeman at Hunedoara. I did not know.

Today I bumped into Sighsoara’s foremost expert in Chinese culture and arts. His accent in Chinese was perhaps the strangest Chinese accent I have ever heard. I managed to dialogue the fact I did not speak Chinese or Romanian but Alexander felt inclined to show me his art collection and invite me home for dinner. On his 62nd birthday. Well, I know what you’re thinking. Don’t trust him… I did. Best goulash I have ever had. Lesson learned correct? He seemed nice, legitimately showed me his art and paperwork in his hand after we bumped into each other on the street and he literally yelled ni hao at me. He also told me Romanians are not good people and I should not trust them. After that how can you not follow him back to his house?

I promised him in return for the dinner and as a birthday gift I would send him a cd of instrumental meditative Chinese music… so mother? Father? Please look into it. I know you have plenty laying around.

Let’s see… what else? I run just about every other day to combat train/bus cramps. Getting in shape finally, I was hoping to run a race in Saint Petersburg next month. It is also a great way to see the cities quickly and thoroughly.

So tomorrow, bright and early, I plan on seeing Bran and its castle, the rest of Brasov (citadel, fortress and Mount Tampas) and possibly Raznov or Siniae.

You may be thinking how can I do so much? Well up at 6. Out running by 6:15. I see everything in Brasov including the mountaintop by 11ish. Shower and clean up and leave for Bran at noon. Spend the early afternoon there and move onto one of the neighboring cities. Back in Brasov by midnight. Nailed it.

Now that I have told y'all though it won’t work and I’ll be stranded in some remote Transylvanian forest.

Oh and the camera is dead… so there’s that.