Sibiu is my Romanian love. It was totally unexpected. After arriving on a train from Brasov to Sibiu, a taxi dropped my backpack and me in Sibiu's Upper Town. As I wandered around trying to orient myself and find my hotel, I gazed up at the imposing Gothic Cathedral and the colorful houses in beautiful decay lining the tiny streets. I didn't know at the time all the things … [Read more...]

The walled historic center of Sighisoara Romania with its 14th-century clock tower was finally visible in the distance as the train neared the station. A few hours earlier, I'd departed from Sibiu on a local Soviet-era train covered in an array of spray paint. The train had chugged through unspoiled green Romanian countryside. It squealed to a stop in people's gardens and at … [Read more...]

Brasov, Romania is the gateway into Transylvania. After coming from Bucharest, the pace of life noticeably slows. The air cools. There's a relaxed, romantic feel as you wander through Brasov's narrow cobblestone streets. The 13th-century city transports you back in time with an unassuming tangible authenticity. Brasov is not pretending to be a medieval city. It actually is. … [Read more...]