Unfortunately I left Bucharest after only 2 night there. I really didn’t expect I’d like it that much. But it grew on me despite the communist ugly that still exists the city really is just as great as any other city. Better still I didn’t attract a single pickpocket. Maybe it says something about the locals and how kind they are. Except for the taxi drivers that is.
So I farewelled Constantin who is a wonderful host, made me many cups of tea and cooked me omelettes for breakfast both days. I told him I’d recommend his hostel to anyone who wants a friendly place to stay in Bucharest (if any of you are going to go). I splashed out and bought a 1st class ticket to Brasov for about $18. The seat was comfortable and the 1st class carriage was only half full. Best of all as the Transylvanian alps came into view, the view became more spectacular as the train went on. It was slow at times and took 4 hours to do about 160kms.
It was lovely weather in the morning when I left but started to rain again when the train pulled into Brasov. Do I try to find bus no.4 or just get a taxi. I went the Taxi route and despite arguing that 10 euros was way too much, I still jumped in as I was getting soaked. But as I’d agreed on a price, karma got the driver, when every road he went down had road works blocking him.
Brasov
I went for a wander through Brasov’s old city center. I actually expected a vampire to jump out any time. Its wonderful and authentic. The architecture is everything you think of when vampires and Transylvania is mentioned. Much to my delight, there are no tacky souvenir shops yet either. Mush to my disgust, no one offers day trips to the castles in the surrounding region, so looks like slow public transport is my only option.
So the answer is so far, you can’t buy dracula snowdomes.
Old Town gate