We spent about a week in Transylvania before heading out last night on the night train between Sighisoara and Budapest. At the moment, we are sitting on the stopped train (the train has been stopped for about an hour and a half) and are wondering what’s going on (seeing as the train is supposed to arrive in Budapest in one hour and we are still at the Hungarian border).
Brasov
Brasov was our base. We found this awesome hotel. Originally, we were going to stay 2 nights in Brasov and 2 nights in Sighisoara, but we changed our minds when we realized how great our Brasov accommodation was.
Famous for its ties with Dracula (more fiction than reality), Bran Castle is definitely the stuff of stories. Dramatically perched on a hill, the red-roofed castle is updated with electricity and seems homey even. In fact, Queen Maria is supposed to have lived their in the early 1900s.
While at Bran Castle, we attempted to find Dracula. We searched high and low in this castle, but couldn't find him. Sad day.
Inside the courtyard at the castle.
Rasnov
Built as a fortress, Rasnov is definitely less storybook than Bran. We climbed all over the fortress, exploring everything from the piles of old wagon wheels to the 360 panorama view.
Probably the most interesting bit about this fortress is the legend. Legend goes that two Turkish men were told that they could have their freedom in return for digging a well. Seventeen years later, the one hundred something meter well was dug and the two men were free.
Greg looks a little more nervous, as is usual in these situations of imprisonment.Sinaia
We went to Sinaia searching for an amazing castle, and we got it. We even took the guided tour (you are only allowed in with guided tour, and even then there are always about 3 museum workers watching your every move). I have no photos of the inside Peles castle because this is one of those sites that charges 10 dollars (seriously) to take photos.
Pelisor Castle. Definitely the least impressive of the two.
Peles Castle. Doesn't it look very Disneyesque?
The monastery.
Our last stop in Transylvania, Sighisoara (unfortunately) wasn’t such a great experience. We had problems: I wasn’t feeling well, which set off a chain reaction. I wasn’t ready to go when we had planned on going, therefore, we missed our train by seconds (we watched the end of it roll by us from the platform) and had to take a train 2 hours later. By the time we arrived, all the tourist sites were closed. Totally unrelated, but adding to our misery (mine at least), it was cold (it’s been hot) and rainy (it’s been sunny). Funny, the morning weather was great and it didn’t start raining until about 2 pm (the time we finally made it onto a train heading towards Sighisoara).
The clock tower.
View of the city.
Anyone want a commemorative wig? It just screams Dracula doesn't it?
Scary Street in Sighisoara, Transylvania.
The cemetery at the top of the hill.
Next stop: Budapest. 
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