Romania in Pictures

Let's be honest here. Romania wasn't really on our radar. At least it wasn't until our friend Talon of 1dad1kid started telling us how great it was. Still, we resisted. Then we learned about the Schengen Area and the troubles it causes for the world traveler (even with its many advantages).

Parliament House, Distant

Parliament House Drive-By

Non-Stop Slots!

Bucaresti

Downtown Bucharest

Carturesti Carousel

Romulus & Remus

Yes that's where the name Romania comes from, just like Rome, Italy.

Dam

Flowers!

Taxis!

Parliament House

The largest defense building int he world (after the Pentagon)

Parliament House

Cool Building

Chess & Backgammon in the Park

Cișmigiu Park

Playground in Cișmigiu Park

Old Archway

Cișmigiu Park

Cretsulescu Palace

Fountain in Cișmigiu Park

Military Hall

Hotel Capsa

Cool Building

This building looked like something, but it was just a bank.

Caru' Cu Bere

(Beer Wagon), one of the oldest restaurants in Romania.

Stavropoleous Monastery

Romanian Plea

Vlad Tepes, National Hero

House with a Face

Coltea Hospital

Small Church / Coltea Hospital

Bust of Mustafa Araturk

This was a bit surprising to see, until we learned it was placed by the Turkish Embassy.

Novotel Hotel

Featuring the reproduced facade of the former Romanian National Theater

Cretsulescu Church

Ceaușescu's Last Stand

Nicolae Ceaușescu gave is final speech here.

Memorial of Rebirth

a/k/a/ "Potato on a Stick"

Memorial of Rebirth, with paintball stain.

The Jar (or The Cyborg)

Former secret police HQ, not home to the Union of Romanian Architects

Romanian Athenaeum

Birds like the Romanian Athenaeum

Romanian Athenaeum

Crumbling Old Castle

Scary Face

On the former Chinese Embassy

Cantacuzino Palace

Now a museum dedicated to Romanian composer George Enescu

Cantacuzino Palace

Behind Cantacuzino Palace

Servants' Quarters

Omnivore's Dilemma

Surely Michael Pollan knows this exists ...

Old House at Village Museum

Empty Golden Palace

The owner is allegedly a guest of the state.

Bucharest Train Station

Train to Brasov

Restaurant Car

Our Carriage to Brasov

Gifts (for Sale) on the Train

We passed.

Sunset in Brasov

Twilight in Brasov

Vlad Tepes Street

Morning in Brasov

I love Banca Transilvania

Strada Sforii

One of the narrowest streets in Europe

Strada Sforii

It means "String Street"

Strada Sforii

It's really narrow

Strada Sforii

Schei Gate

Catherine Gate

The Black Church

Johannes Honter

Who brought Lutheranism to Transylvania

The Black Church

Council Square, Brasov

Romanian Orthodox Cathedral

Right next to a KFC.

Dupa Ziduri Alley

Black Tower

Brasov

Brasov from the Black Tower

White Tower

Brasov from the White Tower

Brasov Sign

Stairs down to Graft Bastion

Graft Bastion

Stairs up to the White Tower

Rasnov Citadel

Portcullis

Rasnov Citadel Front Door

Rasnov Citadel Open Gate

Rasnov Citadel Ruins

Inside Rasnov Citadel

Rasnov from atop the Citadel

Rasnov Citadel Well

Rasnov Citadel Well is Deep

Former Homes, Rasnov Citadel

Relaxing at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary

Wolf at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary

Max, the Blind Bear

Libearty Bear Sanctuary

Max, the Blind Bear

Libearty Bear Sanctuary

Tex, the bear from the Uranium Factory

He's much happier here.

Bran Castle

Dracula didn't live here.

Bran Castle

Early Print Advertising Display

Bran Castle

Queen Marie's Bedchambers

Secret Staircase!

What the walls looked like

Bran Castle Courtyard

Transylvania/Wallachia Border

Weapons on the Wall

More weapons on the wall

Scales of Justice

Bran Castle: From the Courtyard

The well in the Bran Castle courtyard

Queen Marie rode an elevator down this to get to her garden tea house.

Queen Marie's Tea House

Rupea Fortress

(If I remember correctly)

Stag House, Sighisoara

Entering Sighisoara

Birthplace of Vlad Tepes

Sighisoara Clock Tower

Sighisoara Street

Sighisoara Street II

Tinsmith's Tower

Sighisoara Covered Bridge

Sighisoara Monumnet

(Okay, I forgot the significance of this).

Sighisoara Cemetery

Sighisoara Wall

Sighisoara Graffiti

Cobbler's Tower

Sighisoara Street

(the famous one).

Sighisoara Street II

Sighisoara Clock Tower

Where Vlad Tepes was Born

Banca Transilvania

Fields afire

Romanian Gypsy Village

The town pf Viscri

White Church at Viscri

One of a series of UNSECO World Heritage Sites: "Cities with Fortified Churches"

Inside the White Church

Passage to the Bell Tower

Fortified wndows of the fortified church

Viscri Cemetery

Behind the fortified church.

Fixing the roof

Viscri Fortified Church

Fortifications of the Fortified Church

Fortified Church

White Flowers at the White Church

Iron-Banded Door

Viscri Street

Viscri House

Stork Nest in Viscri

Viscri Estate of Prince Charles

Modern Art in Brasov

Misty Morning in Brasov

A Bear in Brasov

Brasov Neolog Synagogue

Holocaust Memorial

Brasov Neolog Synagogue

Inside Brasov Neolog Synagogue

Kurtos Kalacs Vendor

Romanian Train Diagram

Rainy Day in Bucharest

Romanian Tram

Romanian Subway

Leftover Leu

So we were looking to delay our entry in Schengen and, well, there was Romania. So we went, just to check it out. As it turns out, Romania is pretty great. Take a look!