Brasov & Bran Castle in Romania

I never really had any plans to visit Romania when I did, but then around that time I was single, young and spent too many evenings online surfing various websites trying to find a partner.


Around October I found a website that I now know is a complete scam, but at the time I thought it was genuine and on there I was contacted by a couple of really stunningly attractive women who coincidentally both in Romania, one in Bucuresti and the other in the town of Brasov, northern Romania.

When they asked me what was I up to over Christmas, I said that I was just going to spend it at home alone, and I was bowled over when they both suggested that I go over and see them.

So, feeling that I had hit the jackpot, I got caught up in the moment and booked a return flight and some hostels that they suggested for the Christmas break almost the next day.

So, a couple of months later, I find myself flying out to arrive at the airport in Bucuresti and as planned the first girl was there.

Strangely so was a young guy, but she said that he was her friend a taxi driver, as there were no decent train services in Romania and that we would be better off with him.

120 Euro’s later for an hours drive I felt that something was beginning to smell.

Also despite being VERY forward on webcam and in our earlier emails, now she was being incredibly shy and reserved, wearing very conservative clothes, and rather bizarrely also kept translating every single thing that I said to her in Romanian to her ‘friend’ the taxi driver.

During the journey she kept staying that she had a friend who had an apartment nearby and that I should cancel the hostel and go stay there, but I was already getting a bad vibe so I said no.

However the complete and final nail in the coffin was when we stopped off to have a restaurant, as her ‘friend’ the driver joined us – at which point I gave up o her and realised it was all a huge con – only I didn’t want to let them realise I knew my error as I was still miles away from anywhere and they could still together easily have either mugged me or worse.

She was very put out when I only offered to pay a third of the bill, but then why on earth would I pay for her or her ‘friend’ when it was clear that he was actually her real boyfriend and the whole thing was one a put up job.

Finally arriving at the hostel I got out, checked in and went to my room.

A few hours later I got a text from her to say that a sudden family emergency had happened and she would be unable to meet me later today or tomorrow as planned but possibly she could spare me an hour the following day before I went off to Brasov.

Already knowing the con, and the fact that I was now there all on my own, it was not that much of a shock and I just tried to make the best of it.

The second girl was even more of a disappointment, as she disappeared the day before I actually left the UK and I never heard from her again – so not sure what she was all about, but she certainly wasn’t after a serious long term partner either.

There was also a few bits like getting savaged by the wild dogs that I have already told you about, but without proper notes to go from, its all a bit fuzzy now.

Just thought you might want to see a few photos of Romania, and if you want any stories about each photo then feel free to ask and I just don't want to bore you with loads that you might not be interested in.

All of the photos are of either a) Brasov - which is the closest "big" city near where the fake Dracula's castle ( Bran Castle ) is suppose to be.

b) Bran Castle itself or c) Sighisoura - which is where the other big city and which is where Vlad Tepes's father lived for much of his life and thus leading to the commonly held belief that Vlad was born there.

I took lots more but sadly due to only having a few hours of sunlight many did not come out on the film and even less can be send via email no matter how hard I try to touch up or correct using my pc.

The girls with me are the daughters of the hostel owner where I stayed and the girl sitting down is my nice Romanian friend called Mirela who I met in the capital Bucharest ( and not the nasty one that tried to play games with
me !!! ).

The more I see of the rest of the world the more that I think that England is very well developed and maintained as most of the buildings are pretty much fixed up and recently painted.

However I also feel that somehow in all the development and renovations and housing all of the worlds poor and unfortunates I feel that we have somehow lost our own identity ( at least here in the South East of England anyway ).

The places I visit all seem to be very much their own place and like no where else I ever visit, but the UK just seems to be a bit of everything all rolled into one, and thus no own sense of purpose, place or reason.

But having said that, again just like China most people I saw in Romania all seemed to be smiling and happy, despite their obvious poverty and the cold.

In fact the only time I saw anyone get mad was my fellow hostel dwellers after returning from the slopes and complaining that they have hired ski equipment for 7 days but will only end  up using them on 2 occasions, lol