2005 Danube River Cruise

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Day 24, November 14, 2005: Bucharest – Bran
Uniworld Version: Depart this morning on a full day excursion through the Transylvanian countryside, by far the most romantic in Romania. At Sinaia, a visit is made to the Sinaia Monastery. After an included lunch, it is on to Bran Castle, legendary home of Prince Vlad Tepes, the Impaler, who inspired Dracula’s legend. Visit the 14th century castle which guards the narrow pass connecting Transylvania with Wallachia. Standing on a 200-foot high rock, the castle affords great views of the surrounding countryside.
My version: 8:00 on the bus and drive to Sinaia to see a monastery. Then more driving through Transylvania and the Southern Carpathian mountains to Count Dracula’s Castle. As we drove to this castle a heavy mist fell over the land. This sets the atmosphere for the creepy photos in this area. There is a 300 meter climb up a cobblestoned path to get to the castle. I am tuckered out and cannot go up the stairs. People who go do enjoy it and come back with remarks like ‘now that is a real castle’. Pat says I would not have liked the narrow, steep stairways, so I am just as glad to have stayed behind. The light is like dusk, very odd. After the castle tour we go for our included lunch and back on the bus to our hotel in Bucharest. We are on our own for dinner and go back to the small place in the restaurant for a light dinner.
As I type this on October 30, 2022, I must say that the Count Dracula is fiction as the real Prince Vlad Tepes, did not live in this Bran Castle.

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