Romania Day 3: Brașov and Sibiu

From the last post, we woke up to meet our driver of the day (who I can't remember the name) ( I am sorry...)! He even agreed to drop us at the train station after our tour so it was convenient anddd most of all, it was sunny!!!! We thought it was really a good decision to opt for this instead of our original plan hahaha

Bran Castle under the glorious sun

actually had to think for a while which is which lol

It's a much smaller and simpler castle than Peles (but with higher entrance fee, 20 lei for student), but very famous as Dracula's castle. Our walking tour guide said that the inspiration for Dracula, Vlad III had only been in this castle for 2 months when he's captured, as a prisoner not as the owner. Read more about how he was named Vlad the Impaler here. He's fair but far too cruel?

Next, the driver brought us to Rasnov Citadel, an old fort and refuge for the people nearby.

6 lei and

you get this view of the town

like the tiny houses in monopoly

Be sure to climb up to the top of the fortress for the best view!

And then we got to the train station thanks to our driver, reserved our ticket and boarded our train to Sibiu. So many train rides and it's not the last yet!

in our cabin!

and outside!

Second and the last unhappy incident: Ong Xie again was leading us to the hotel using her gps. Pulling the suitcase and holding the phone, she couldn't use umbrella to protect herself lol. We were walking in line, so we couldn't help much too lol. A man walked towards us from the opposite direction and when he walked pass Ong Xie, he touched her arm!!! We cannot understand how he can do this so obviously without shame but there are much worse things which can never be explained...

We checked in to the prettiest accommodation in this trip in Sibiu. Romania's accommodations had been all good value for money!

I want to be backkkk

Had our lunch in Crama Sibiul Vechi, which was like 3 minutes from the hostel if we were not walking the tourist speed. The old town is small so everything is near actually hahaha.

we almost did not enter the restaurant because we thought it's booked by a family, like a really big family lollllll

and that's just because we saw a family occupying a long table near the door when we only opened the door slightly lolllll

aren't we the cutest... lol

the food was good and Sarmale (bottom left) was the best like I wouldn't mind having it every meal in Romania!!! 

 After lunch, we were off to discover the town. Slow and serene, Sibiu was. Didn't get to visit the cathedrals though, as we excitedly changed into short pants after our walk from the train station to our hotel under the sun, smart haha.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Sibiu Lutheran Cathedral

view from the Liars Bridge

just a pretty corner :) 

And we went to Billa, a local supermarket to buy half a watermelon and grapes back to the apartment as our dinner as we had a late lunch. Before sunset, we went to the square to get a beer and that's one of best time in the trip.

To be continued...

Romania Day 2: Sinaia and Brașov

I'm back... to continue the story!!!

The plan was to visit Peles Castle in the morning and Bran Castle then. So we woke up early to catch our train to Sinaia. We were so smart, we left the hostel before we requested an Uber. It was so early the lobby/bar was not opened so we were like trying all our best to connect to the WIFI outside the door of the lobby. Thankfully after a good 5 minutes we managed to click that request button.

We got ourselves the train pass but we still had to go to the counter to reserve tickets if we wanted to take the faster train. So we went and gosh the first lady we met was like oh you don't speak Romanian, I don't speak English so go away. Luckily there was another lady at the other counter who was helpful and we got on our train like 2 minutes before it left the station phew!

Slept through the journey and woke up to this:

when was your last ride?

Sinaia was much colder than Bucharest that morning, even more so as it's surrounded by mountains I guess.

The Internet told us that there will be baggage storage in Sinaia train station but there's nothing like that. We 3 independent girls, didn't rent a car nor join a tour so we walked, with our cabin bags. It's nothing, just that the train station was at like the one side of the hill and we had to climb up the hill then down to the other side to reach the castle. And it was raining. lol but aren't all these the reasons why I can remember that day so well ;)

the only way is up!

oh hiiii

You can choose to pay for taking photo in the castle (the link goes to its website in Romanian but you can guess or google translate :目), I can't remember the price but I didn't pay so no photos :/ The entrance fee of 12.5 lei (student price) includes a guided tour so it's quite worth it. A modern dainty castle it is.

It's time for another castle!

Went back down and took another train to Brasov. We lived just at the centre of the old town. When we asked our host for the way to get to Bran Castle, she gave us a suggestion: why not take a tour? Tomorrow? After the journey just now, we said yes, obviously. It was not really a tour, it's just that a driver will drive us to Bran castle from the hostel and to Rasnov Citadel which was not in our plan but we didn't mind, of course. So plan changed and we spent that afternoon exploring the old town of Brasov! Best decision made. (also 'cause that day was gloomy, why not bet for a sunny day tomorrow hehehe)

Went for a lunch at La Ceaun, recommended by the host.

It was comforting :)))

and me... :目

Just waited for the start of the walking tour with our ice cream on the square.

with the Brasov sign!

The walking tour was very informative and interesting, one thing I remember best is that back then
Brasov was renamed Stalin.

Biserica Neagră, the Black Church which survived a fire

the tour guide: this sculpture is to commemorate a boy who was loved by everyone but his boss. He was one of the worker who built the church but was pushed from that edge by his boss :/ but his boss turned himself in afterwards out of guilt so :') 

view from the Black tower (or white... no it's black!!!)

Asked for tour guide recommendation for traditional dessert after the tour and she suggested papanasi (hate me after clicking on this hahahahaha) at Sergiana. We didn't have our dinner there as it's full, so really try it if you have the chance!

red light

waiting for our papanasi takeaway aww

It was a little too sweet for us but there's no harm to try! I quite like it myself hehehe

And then we rested early that night after the hike that morning...

To be continued...