Fangs and Coughing up Smoke - Fall is coming!

The winds have shifted and it is finally getting cold in Bucharest. The warmth of summer is fading quickly even though people walk the streets in clothing meant for the beach – men in short sleeves and women in dresses without stockings. Everyone wants to cling to the last days of summer fun. As we all know, life tends to change in wintertime so I’ll say “Power to those wearing shorts!” but I’ll stick with my puffy down vest ‘cause I get cold easily.

I have been warned that, with the cooler evenings, one must be careful of the smoky restaurants. Everyone moves inside to beat the cold and brings their cigarette smoking habits with them. My mother, who usually likes to dine at restaurants in Bucharest, hasn’t adjusted to the fact that people are allowed to smoke inside. Though there is a European Union law that requires separation of smoking and non-smoking in restaurants, the smell of smoke will still find you on the non-smoking side. I, on the other hand, am used to the smell because I used to work at an Irish pub where it was common to socialize outside with the smokers. However, that doesn’t mean I am okay with smelling like cigarettes. Cigarettes damage your skin, your hair, your clothes, and… Oh! Your lungs! Honestly, I shouldn’t scold anyone for smoking because I have Romanian friends who do smoke, but I wonder how fashionable it would be to show up at a restaurant with a gas mask. Too Cold War?    

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To jump right into the cold weather, my family has set up a trip this weekend to Brasov and Sinaia, a city and town known for their skiing on the mountains of Southern Carpathians. We’ll also be visiting Vlad Tepes’ castle (Bran Castle), which is about 30 km (about 19 miles) from Brasov. Vlad Tepes is also know as Vlad the Impaler, Prince of Wallachina, and, of course, Dracula! {Vlah vlah vlah!} Though I wanted to see Dracula’s castle during Halloween, I was told there are cemetery activities in Bucharest that are more exciting. *Silent scream*

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To my knowledge, Brasov is similar to Aspen, Colorado (USA) but with a historic flare. There are old historic churches, which display the most iconic gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, as well as towers, forts, and gates. (You would want towers, forts and gates too if you were next to to Vlad the Impaler’s castle! However that didn’t stop Vlad from impaling 40 merchants…) Although architecture is cool, I’m looking forward to the cable car. It goes to the top of Tampa Mountain where there’s another fortress… Yay… And the site where Vlad impaled the 40 merchants… This is starting to turn into a very dark, depressing trip. Next thing you know I’ll be eating a black cheeseburger.

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Pictures to come. Promise!

From Vlad Tepes' house in Bucharest