Easter in Romania

 08 May 2011

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Romania for the first time.  It was amazing!

I have been to the land through the trees and discovered a place where it is so easy to breathe.  Transylvania welcomed me calmly with a friendly offer to “just sit where ever you like” from the driver hired to pick me up in Sibiu and drive me to Brasov.  I am happy I chose Brasov as the place where I would spend my first night in Romania.  The people were so friendly, the views so diverse and everything was so affordable.  Casa Wagner was my home in Brasov.  Raluca, at the front desk, was very helpful and made sure I was secure in the directions she gave me as I explored the town.  She also arranged a driver to take me to Bran Castle (aka Dracula’s Castle) on my second day as well as drive me back to Sibiu. 

To explain more thoroughly why I felt the region of Transylvania is a place where it is so easy to breathe… Perhaps it was all the trees (either the extra oxygen...or the serene forests created by uncluttered ground and further than average spaced trees)?  Perhaps it was the comforting tone of voice offered by the locals?  In the end, I am convinced there is something special and blessed about the land.    Transylvania is not flashy, fun-filled or exotic, but it was soothing.  Maybe it has more to do with my state of mind than the place itself, but it is a special place that gave me time to relax and refocus. 

The Romanian language sounds very similar to Italian and is very pleasant to hear.  When I was not listening to locals talk or taking in the views, I was in the car.  On my rides between Sibiu and Brasov, I was intrigued to see so many hitchhikers ranging from business men to women with small children.  The driver was the same all weekend and on the way from Bran Castle back to Sibiu on Saturday afternoon, I explained to him how similar the landscape was to N. Michigan (minus the mountains).  He thought it was great that there was somewhere in America that looked like Romania and decided to drive me back on country roads so I could see more of it.  The drive back was amazing and I got to see shepards moving flocks of sheep along the road which also curved by a gypsy camp.  It was a great trip for the long Easter weekend.







The square in Brasov





One of the views from the top of Bran Castle



Bran Castle



Sheep!