| Mention Romania and people immediately think of | | | | the country. Elegant neighborhoods border slums |
| Dracula and a mid-evil country. Recovering from | | | | and there appears to be little or no middle class. |
| years of economic misery, Romania is quickly | | | | There appears to be only the poor or rich. When |
| becoming the hidden jewel of Eastern Europe. | | | | visiting Romania, you will have to fly into |
| Dracula v. Ceausescu | | | | Bucharest. Just don't stay too long. |
| In pop culture, Romania is always equated with | | | | Brasov |
| Count Dracula, Bran Castle and Transylvania. | | | | Brasov is located in the hilly terrain of |
| These assumptions are wrong. Vlad Tepes is | | | | Transylvania and is a good place to visit. Located |
| widely regarded as the person on whom the | | | | in the center of the country, Brasov is |
| Dracula character is based. Known as Vlad the | | | | surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. The city |
| Impaler, there is no disputing this was one nasty | | | | is a resounding example of old world Romania |
| individual, but he wasn't a vampire. On top of this, | | | | with an ancient center city square and little cafes |
| Vlad the man never resided in Bran Castle, a real | | | | throughout. |
| castle and the home of the fictional Dracula. Sorry | | | | The real appeal of Brasov is the surrounding land. |
| to burst your bubble, but there was a person | | | | Unspoiled, the mountains surrounding Brasov are |
| arguably worse than Dracula or Vlad in Romania's | | | | full of little villages and surrounding forests. In this |
| history. | | | | area, you'll find bears, wolves and other |
| Introducing Nicolae Ceausescu, the reigning worst | | | | threatened animals roaming freely. On top of this, |
| dictator in the history of Europe. A pig on all | | | | the land is ripe with outdoor activity opportunities |
| counts, this man treated Romania as his personal | | | | such as skiing, hiking, camping, hunting, rock |
| fiefdom through much of the twentieth century. | | | | climbing and parachuting. While all of this exists in |
| While leading the country into economic ruin, he | | | | other travel destinations, there is no tourist trap |
| built lavish estates for he and his wife. While | | | | feel in Brasov. |
| Romanians starved on the streets, he and his | | | | Carpathian Mountains |
| wife spent money like Joan Collins at a plastic | | | | The Carpathian Mountains are visually stunning. |
| surgeon. When he was finally expelled from office, | | | | While there are attractions throughout the |
| the people were so outraged by his excess that | | | | mountains, such as Bran Castle, don't try to |
| he and his wife were literally stoned to death. | | | | simply visit a particular place. Instead, rent a car in |
| Unfortunately, the country didn't recover quickly. | | | | Brasov or hire a driver and just go for a ride. The |
| The last five years, however, have seen major | | | | scenery is so overwhelming it is hard to describe. |
| advancements, and Romania is now a must visit | | | | You'll drive down and up into gorges that seem |
| location. | | | | endless, see rivers bombing down mountain sides |
| Bucharest | | | | and see animals only found in National Geographic |
| Once considered the Paris of the East, Bucharest | | | | documentaries. Go for this drive and I guarantee |
| suffered greatly during Ceausescu's reign. Ancient | | | | you will be blabbering about it for at least five |
| buildings with French and Turkish influences were | | | | days. |
| replaced with communist inspired concrete block | | | | Romania is the hidden gem of Eastern Europe and |
| buildings in redevelopment projects. Currently, the | | | | you should definitely visit. You don't even need to |
| city is a microcosm of the lurching recovery of | | | | wear garlic. |