It’s October, so there’s no better time to talk about my visit to Bran Castle, the castle that “inspired” Dracula! While it never served as the home of Vlad the Impaler— the source of the stories of vampires and possible inspiration behind Dracula— it is still a very old castle with an important history. Bran…
Nestled amongst the forests in the Bucegi Mountains of Romania is Sinaia, a town named for the large monastery it was built around. This was one of my favorite destinations in Romania, probably in part because it reminds me of my hometown. It’s deep within a forest, and the town itself is also full of…
During my time in Romania, I got to pay a visit to Bușteni! It’s not a particularly large town, but there are a few great things you can do there! One of the town’s biggest claims to fame is Cantacuzino Castle, the filming location for the Netflix show Wednesday! Since they only used the exterior…
After my recent trip to Chișinău, Moldova, my travel buddy, Billy, and I returned to Bucharest. But unlike our way in, we didn’t do it by plane. We decided to take the Prietenia (Romanian for Friendship) Train instead. It was a great experience, and one I would highly recommend. But I would also recommend you…
After 6 weeks away from home, I’m overcome with a complete change in my perception of reality. It’s a strange feeling, returning from a trip like that. If you ever moved away for college, you’ve probably experienced something similar. It feels nearly impossible to describe to someone who hasn’t done it. But that won’t stop…
As I’m starting this post, I’m working to pack for my flight to Romania tomorrow. (Today is June 18th.) And in the last few days, I find myself overcome with anxiety and fear about the trip. I’m plunging into the unknown, to a country I’ve never visited before, surrounded by strangers who might not speak…
I haven’t done any international travel in over six months. My last trip was to Ireland and Scotland. But now I’m going to Romania, and I thought I’d talk about how I’m preparing for it! When I traveled to Belize last summer, it was for an archaeology field school. When I visited Ireland, it was…
Looking to travel to Romania? It’s full of beautiful cities, amazing castles, scenic views, and kind people! But what about the language? How easily can you get around as an English speaker, and what other languages might you encounter? Well, it’s actually pretty cut and dry. It’s not as diverse as a country like Indonesia,…