The night train was a little too comfortable, keeping us both sound asleep until the porter yelled "Brasov" through our door, a little after ten. There was more and more snow out the window and our chocolate and corn chips breakfast was not quite the winter warmer but that was all the Budapest vending machine had had on offer the night before. We had nothing booked in Transylvania but knew their would be all sorts of offers as we stepped off the locomotive. We were met by a well prepared Gabriel who also had an Australian guest getting on the train we had left. His recommendation was all we needed so we settled in to our Communist-era apartment for the next two nights, it was a little too bare, even for our tastes, so we explored the old city and made our way up to a cozy B&B, Viron, where we ended up spending the remainder of the week.
Lisa on the move, with the Brasov Town Hall and Tree behind, as we moved accommodation. It was yet to snow much this week, the slush was a bit depressing, but the buildings were beautiful.
Simone, our host, recommended we take the local bus to visit Bran Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The castle was quite a scene, sitting atop a cliff. It began to snow as we arrived. It was opened for us to walk around and a bit smaller than you'd imagine. Three storeys and a few secret staircases added to the magic. The snow might just be visible as Lisa is standing in the central courtyard above.
Looking down over the courtyard, and valley beyond. The roof has taken on a light snow dusting like the trees in the forest below.
From the outside, Lisa keeps her hands warm. We took the bus back north and got off at Rasnov to see the citadel. We began the climb with our hoods tightened to their limits. Looking at each other, we decided that it was a crazy idea for two little Australians to be climbing the mountain at dusk, we retired to a cafe where we shed a few layers each and enjoyed watching the citadel spotlights take effect from the warm safety of the double glazed windows.
The snow got heavier as we waited for the bus, Lisa has just stepped out of the phone booth where were taking shelter.
Walking back through the town, a little crowd had gathered in the town square, the snow was soft and powdery under foot and kids were making snow angels and throwing snowballs as we wandered by. It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
The final road up to the house had a magical air, the lighting was dim and yellowed and people were all inside, the walkways and stairs were yet to be cleared so we made all our own paths, hoping our boots would hold up.
The next morning we woke to a winter wonderland outside our window. Simone told us the sun was shining up the mountain - it was time to head up to the slopes.
Lisa on the move, with the Brasov Town Hall and Tree behind, as we moved accommodation. It was yet to snow much this week, the slush was a bit depressing, but the buildings were beautiful.
Simone, our host, recommended we take the local bus to visit Bran Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The castle was quite a scene, sitting atop a cliff. It began to snow as we arrived. It was opened for us to walk around and a bit smaller than you'd imagine. Three storeys and a few secret staircases added to the magic. The snow might just be visible as Lisa is standing in the central courtyard above.
Looking down over the courtyard, and valley beyond. The roof has taken on a light snow dusting like the trees in the forest below.
From the outside, Lisa keeps her hands warm. We took the bus back north and got off at Rasnov to see the citadel. We began the climb with our hoods tightened to their limits. Looking at each other, we decided that it was a crazy idea for two little Australians to be climbing the mountain at dusk, we retired to a cafe where we shed a few layers each and enjoyed watching the citadel spotlights take effect from the warm safety of the double glazed windows.
The snow got heavier as we waited for the bus, Lisa has just stepped out of the phone booth where were taking shelter.
Walking back through the town, a little crowd had gathered in the town square, the snow was soft and powdery under foot and kids were making snow angels and throwing snowballs as we wandered by. It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
The final road up to the house had a magical air, the lighting was dim and yellowed and people were all inside, the walkways and stairs were yet to be cleared so we made all our own paths, hoping our boots would hold up.
The next morning we woke to a winter wonderland outside our window. Simone told us the sun was shining up the mountain - it was time to head up to the slopes.
A local bus left a few metres from our house, dumping us at the lifts fifteen minutes later. We hired skis for about $12, got a lift pass for about the same and tried our best to keep our corduroy pants dry - ski wear was not available for rent.
The following day was a little more gloomy so we got on a train to Sinaia, to visit some more castles. This shot was taken during the hour we sat here, waiting for something going on up ahead - we'll never know what. We had a good look around the town where there was a Christmas concert and fair going on. We ate at a 'family restaurant/steakhouse' and Lisa ordered the bear steaks. The waiter didn't blink, and there were stuffed bears around the place so we'll never know whether it was an actual bear steak... We like to think so.
Lisa finally succumbed to the temptation of the snow angel. I declined.
The sun was shining again so we headed back up to the slopes, it was the weekend so Romania's beautiful people were all out. We took the telecabana (a sixty body box that did a lot of swinging and creaking) to the top where we met this view, and the challenge of getting two beginners back down.
The view from the same spot but the opposite way. Lisa is surveying any possible easy way down. She wasn't smiling when she turned around.
We stopped about an hour later at the halfway pub. Still above the clouds, we shared some tea and reassured each other that we could make it all the way. We did and enjoyed a few beginner runs afterwards.
A late train to Bucharest, a night in a city hostel and a challenging series of public transport complications got us to the airport, to make the journey to NYC for a different state of mind.
The following day was a little more gloomy so we got on a train to Sinaia, to visit some more castles. This shot was taken during the hour we sat here, waiting for something going on up ahead - we'll never know what. We had a good look around the town where there was a Christmas concert and fair going on. We ate at a 'family restaurant/steakhouse' and Lisa ordered the bear steaks. The waiter didn't blink, and there were stuffed bears around the place so we'll never know whether it was an actual bear steak... We like to think so.
Lisa finally succumbed to the temptation of the snow angel. I declined.
The sun was shining again so we headed back up to the slopes, it was the weekend so Romania's beautiful people were all out. We took the telecabana (a sixty body box that did a lot of swinging and creaking) to the top where we met this view, and the challenge of getting two beginners back down.
The view from the same spot but the opposite way. Lisa is surveying any possible easy way down. She wasn't smiling when she turned around.
We stopped about an hour later at the halfway pub. Still above the clouds, we shared some tea and reassured each other that we could make it all the way. We did and enjoyed a few beginner runs afterwards.A late train to Bucharest, a night in a city hostel and a challenging series of public transport complications got us to the airport, to make the journey to NYC for a different state of mind.
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