Romania III, Part II (10/07/2016 - 10/15/2016)

The second half of the road trip explored the north and east of the country -- beginning with Oradea, famous for its thermal baths, then passing through some towns that have some familial significance, and ending in Castelul Peleș (Peleș's Castle), a private estate with some of the nicest internal decor I've ever seen in Eastern Europe (yes, that is actually leather wallpaper). Unfortunately endured two flat tires along the way (the roads have improved, but some have improved more than others).


Oradea

Bistriţa and Suceava

Botoşani

Piatra Neamţ

Bran (no it's not really Dracula's castle, but he lived there briefly)

Castelul Peleș

Romania III, Part I (10/01/2016 - 10/07/2016)

Living abroad I don't get to see my family much, and October presented the perfect opportunity to see them all in one spot, as well as to tour the country where I was born.  Since my last visits (and posts), much has changed, and for the better.

Romania has continued to benefit from EU membership, both in direct infrastructure investments and indirect policy nudges and influence, as well as the significant remittances from our diaspora, estimated to be ~8 million people (out of a country of 19 million), and it shows - the country is cleaner, safer, roads in much better shape, people in better spirits,  and even starting to see more domestic industry take off.

Accompanying this has been a boom in tourism - Romania is still significantly lower cost than its neighbours, has wonderful scenery, and retains an air of mystique due to its being closed off behind the iron curtain, its old byzantine culture, as well as some of the (obviously exaggerated) mythology around Vlad Țepeș, Dracula, etc.

As a result Romania has seen a massive rise in tourism - estimated to be growing at nearly 10% a year, and contributing 5% of GDP.  Along with it, a lot of colourfully themed boutique hotels and guesthouses, a renaissance of Romanian cuisine, and believe it or not, very good service (which was certainly NOT the case in the 90s and early 2000s)

I was pleasantly surprised this time around, and highly recommend it as a first stop in exploring Eastern Europe, or simply as a replacement to the more crowded, expensive and increasingly unsafe Western European destinations.

This time around, it was a 2 week road trip around the country, with the posts below reflecting crossing the Carpathians (or at least trying to before turning back due to a blizzard), visiting old churches and monasteries, and even one paddling a boat inside of a salt mine that was in operation for over 900 years.


București

Curtea de Argeș

Transfăgărășan

Sibiu

Turda