Month: September 2025

Thought I’d take a look in. It would be rude not to seeing as it’s only 20km down the road.

Bran Castle was set up as a tax haven between East and West what used to be Wallachia by tuotonic knights after the crusades.

It’s vantage point, geographical location and local features made it one of the key castles and the seat of Wallachian nobility.

Most of the walk thru is dedicated to the nobility and the history of the castle across the years. During the Soviet period, the castle fell into disrepair. Only in 2009 was it bought out and restored becoming what it is today, a tourist attraction.

Continue reading “Bran Castle, Transylvania, home of ‘Dracula’”

And over some hills. Not quite cycling though mountains at this stage but the morning consisted of a long steady incline into the Transalvani range of Romania.

Pretty picturesque stuff but not before I visited Targoviste main tourist attraction.

Wallachia

Pre foundation of the Romanian state, this geographical area used to exist under the name Wallachia which basically spread upwards of the Transalvania mountains.

It was destroyed by the Byzantines and Romania as a self governing entity was born in 1881 when the Ottomans were expelled in the Russia Ottoman war.

Targoviste is home to the palace that used to house the ruling family of Wallachia. So, historically, a fairly important place. Before I got going in the morning, I took a look around…

A lot of the displays were in English. No doubt I could have spent longer if I wanted to.

Continue reading “Cycling – Targoviste to Brasov”

Most of it through arable, flat farmland. At least to start with.

The weather here is hot. 30deg plus. Sunshine all day.

Did just over 70 miles.

By the end of the day, things had got more hilly and the open fields had transformed into dense woodlands.

I guess this is where the bears live. I’d been warned about the dogs, not so much the bears. When I went in the bike shop on the first day. Guy said dogs are much more dangerous but if you stick to the roads, you should be ok.

Continue reading “Cycling – Bucharest → Targoviste”

Think I got off the train here for a cigarette en-route to Amsterdam. Many years ago. Obviously, that doesn’t count as having visited a country.

Having met so many Romanians through work, it’s long summer and the fact that I originally planned to come here before I got made redundant have meant that I ‘stuck to my original plan’ and came here anyway.

Cycling

I brought my bike, with Wizz air this time.

It arrived with only a minor injury, the front brake disk has warped. This can happen very easily just a hefty weight for a couple of hours will warp the disk. It’s happened before whilst moving the boat around. Luckily, disks are easy to pick up. Got one today for £5.50 from the bike shop. Took 5 minutes to put on.

The bike is ready to roll!

Cost £161 with the bike from Luton if anyone is interested.

Looking around Bucharest

I haven’t yet. :)

Went out last night and got picked up by a working girl who took me around all the Gogo bars in town. Or at least it seemed that way. Prices are high. Having been to Thailand, a fact I didn’t mention to the girls, it really seemed like they were wasting their time. It was fun though. I did buy my companion a few drinks and by the time we finished off, I was pretty wasted.

Continue reading “First day in Bucharest”