Transylvania – Land of Dracula

Good: Free use of washing machine and detergent at Puzzle Hostel in Bucharest, with a semi-covered outdoor area to hang-dry laundry.

Not-so-good: Zero vampiric atmosphere at “Dracula Castle” in Bran, Transylvania. The castle does have written descriptions in decent English on the self-guided tour through its decorated rooms, making it a credible tourist attraction, but where’s the pale, deathly staff standing in the shadows; the spooky, dark corridors that send shivers down your spine; the butler that opens the heavy, creaky main door to greet you almost too eagerly; the sound of bats flapping behind closed doors? Disappointing.

Noteworthy food/drink: 0.40€ covrig cu seminte, a lightly-salted large pretzel coated with sunflower seeds. Delicious snack when fresh out of the oven.

Extra interesting fact: Instead of copying Hollywood to tap the tourist potential of a themed “Dracula Castle”, the town of Brasov has a rather eye-rolling “BRASOV” sign placed high on a hill overlooking the town, in the style of the famous “HOLLYWOOD” sign in Los Angeles. Focus on what really brings in the money, please.