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Best Photos of Romania Travels (May 2006)

Romania is one of the most misunderstood of European destinations. People think of Romania as the poor man of Europe, as a place of wandering gypsies, as the home to Vlad Tepes (Count Dracula) and for the grotesque, monolithic monuments to communism in Bucharest. The country is greatly misunderstood and underestimated. Romania has amazing castles, medieval cities, beautiful mountains and landscapes and has a rich culture. Between the two World Wars, Bucharest was known by the nickname of "Little Paris" due to the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication. Timisoara is frequently referred to as "Little Vienna," due to year-round musical and theatrical performances, art galleries, museums and nightlife. Sighisoara is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. I could go on, but the bottom line is that Romania is an Eastern European gem. Since its entry into NATO in 2004 and entry into the European Union in 2007, Romania is rapidly changing. Go visit Romania now, before it changes too much!
Best Photos of Romania Travels cover page.
Best Photos of Romania Travels cover page.		 Map of Romania with the star indicating Bucharest.
Map of Romania with the star indicating Bucharest.		 View of the Royal Palace (now used as the Parliament) built by Nicolae Ceausescu.
View of the Royal Palace (now used as the Parliament) built by Nicolae Ceausescu.		 Nicolae Ceausescu's extravagance in building the Royal Palace probably helped bankrupt Romania!
Nicolae Ceausescu's extravagance in building the Royal Palace probably helped bankrupt Romania!
Interior entryway of the Royal Palace.
Interior entryway of the Royal Palace.		 Ballroom of the Parliament with a glass ceiling.
Ballroom of the Parliament with a glass ceiling.		 Chandelier in the ballroom.
Chandelier in the ballroom.		 View from the balcony of the Royal Palace looking down on the fountains of Unirii Boulevard.
View from the balcony of the Royal Palace looking down on the fountains of Unirii Boulevard.
Nice architecture on Unirii Boulevard.
Nice architecture on Unirii Boulevard.		 This former palace that stands next to the Patriarchy Church was constructed in 1907.
This former palace that stands next to the Patriarchy Church was constructed in 1907.		 Another view of the palace standing next to Patriarchy Church.
Another view of the palace standing next to Patriarchy Church.		 Alexandru Cuza's attempts at land reform led the local landowners to force him to abdicate.
Alexandru Cuza's attempts at land reform led the local landowners to force him to abdicate.
A (post WW II) Stalinist-style bldg. in Bucharest. Today, it is used for media (TV & radio).
A (post WW II) Stalinist-style bldg. in Bucharest. Today, it is used for media (TV & radio).		 The fountains of Unirii Square (the largest square in Bucharest).
The fountains of Unirii Square (the largest square in Bucharest).		 Another view of the Unirii Square fountains with a Pepsi ad (note the can suspended in mid-air)!
Another view of the Unirii Square fountains with a Pepsi ad (note the can suspended in mid-air)!		 The Annunciation Church is the oldest church in Bucharest (erected between 1545-1554).
The Annunciation Church is the oldest church in Bucharest (erected between 1545-1554).
The Palace of Justice faces the Dambovita River.
The Palace of Justice faces the Dambovita River.		 Another great building (on that same walk when I was lost)!
Another great building (on that same walk when I was lost)!		 The Timisoara Opera House.
The Timisoara Opera House.		 Pigeons and people at Victory Square with Metropolitan Cathedral in the background.
Pigeons and people at Victory Square with Metropolitan Cathedral in the background.
Victory Square with cathedral in the background. Check out that pigeon in the photo!
Victory Square with cathedral in the background. Check out that pigeon in the photo!		 Fish Fountain in Victory Square.
Fish Fountain in Victory Square.		 Sculpture of Romulus and Remus, which is indicative of Romania's Roman roots.
Sculpture of Romulus and Remus, which is indicative of Romania's Roman roots.		 The Metropolitan Cathedral (1936-1940) was designed by the renowned architect, Traianescu.
The Metropolitan Cathedral (1936-1940) was designed by the renowned architect, Traianescu.
Bega River with Metropolitan Cathedral in the background.
Bega River with Metropolitan Cathedral in the background.		 Timisoara War Memorial.
Timisoara War Memorial.		 Liberty Square and sculpture which dates back to 1756.
Liberty Square and sculpture which dates back to 1756.		 View of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.
View of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.
View of the 18th Century Roman Catholic Cathedral.
View of the 18th Century Roman Catholic Cathedral.		 Monument Saint Treime seen in the center of Unirii Square.
Monument Saint Treime seen in the center of Unirii Square.		 A medieval looking tower in Timisoara.
A medieval looking tower in Timisoara.		 Town Council Tower in Sibiu's Piata Mare (Big Square) was the entry gate to a 13th c. fortress.
Town Council Tower in Sibiu's Piata Mare (Big Square) was the entry gate to a 13th c. fortress.
More buildings seen from Piata Mare.
More buildings seen from Piata Mare.		 Buildings and a clock tower as seen from Piata Mare.
Buildings and a clock tower as seen from Piata Mare.		 Entrance to Sibiu's Evangelical Cathedral.
Entrance to Sibiu's Evangelical Cathedral.		 Doorway of a house with cariatides (1786) in Sibiu.
Doorway of a house with cariatides (1786) in Sibiu.
Close-up of one of the cariatides.
Close-up of one of the cariatides.		 View of the towers of the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral (built between 1902-1906).
View of the towers of the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral (built between 1902-1906).		 Front view of the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral.
Front view of the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral.		 Main pedestrian street in Old Town section of Sibiu.
Main pedestrian street in Old Town section of Sibiu.
More beautiful Sibiu architecture!
More beautiful Sibiu architecture!		 The 14th Century Clock Tower is the symbol of Sighisoara.
The 14th Century Clock Tower is the symbol of Sighisoara.		 The Clock Tower hosted the Community Council for more than 2 centuries.
The Clock Tower hosted the Community Council for more than 2 centuries.		 The house where Vlad Tepes was born in Sighisoara.
The house where Vlad Tepes was born in Sighisoara.
Looking up at the Clock Tower from stairs leading down to the Lower Town.
Looking up at the Clock Tower from stairs leading down to the Lower Town.		 View of buildings in the Lower Town section of Sighisoara.
View of buildings in the Lower Town section of Sighisoara.		 Typical Sighisoara Lower Town architecture.
Typical Sighisoara Lower Town architecture.		 The Shoemaker's Tower with a tiled roof.
The Shoemaker's Tower with a tiled roof.
Schoolhouse at the top of the School Children Stairs. Those kids could afford to skip gym!
Schoolhouse at the top of the "School Children Stairs." Those kids could afford to skip gym!		 A corner of the landmark Stag House.
A corner of the landmark "Stag House."		 Frontal southern view of Bran Castle which is on the top of a rock.
Frontal southern view of Bran Castle which is on the top of a rock.		 The castle belonged to Mircea the Wise, grandfather of Vlad Tepes (Dracula) between 1395-1427.
The castle belonged to Mircea the Wise, grandfather of Vlad Tepes (Dracula) between 1395-1427.
Picture of Vlad Tepes (also known as Vlad the Impaler) who the Dracula myth is based on.
Picture of Vlad Tepes (also known as Vlad the Impaler) who the Dracula myth is based on.		 The steep stairs leading up to the entrance of Bran Castle.
The steep stairs leading up to the entrance of Bran Castle.		 Door knocker on the front door of Bran Castle.
Door knocker on the front door of Bran Castle.		 Nice makeup table and furnishings for Queen Marie!
Nice makeup table and furnishings for Queen Marie!
View of the courtyard, tower and rooftops of Bran Castle.
View of the courtyard, tower and rooftops of Bran Castle.		 The fountain in the courtyard conceals a labyrinth of secret underground passages.
The fountain in the courtyard conceals a labyrinth of secret underground passages.		 The clock tower of the Council House (1420) in the center of Council Square in Brasov.
The clock tower of the Council House (1420) in the center of Council Square in Brasov.		 Council Square is the heart of a Baroque Brasov that is quintessentially Germanic.
Council Square is the heart of a Baroque Brasov that is quintessentially Germanic.
A little boy (& grandmother) feeding pigeons (the pigeons and the boy were having a good day)!
A little boy (& grandmother) feeding pigeons (the pigeons and the boy were having a good day)!		 Another vantage point of Council Square (note all the pigeons by the little boy)!
Another vantage point of Council Square (note all the pigeons by the little boy)!		 Close-up of Baroque-style building and people hanging out in the square.
Close-up of Baroque-style building and people hanging out in the square.		 Pedestrian shopping street leading towards Council Square.
Pedestrian shopping street leading towards Council Square.
The Merchants Hall where guilds met. Apollonia Hirscher, the widow of a Brasov mayor, built it.
The Merchants Hall where guilds met. Apollonia Hirscher, the widow of a Brasov mayor, built it.		 The steeple of Brasov's Lutheran Black Church. The Church took a century to complete.
The steeple of Brasov's Lutheran "Black Church." The Church took a century to complete.		 Typical tiled roofs in Brasov.
Typical tiled roofs in Brasov.		 Peles Castle was built in the 19th century by Carol of Hohenzollern, the first king of Romania.
Peles Castle was built in the 19th century by Carol of Hohenzollern, the first king of Romania.
Peles has 160 rooms and a 66 meter central tower. It was royal summer residence until 1974.
Peles has 160 rooms and a 66 meter central tower. It was royal summer residence until 1974.		 The clock tower from another vantage point.
The clock tower from another vantage point.		 The wonderful neo-German Renaissance courtyard inside the entrance to the castle.
The wonderful neo-German Renaissance courtyard inside the entrance to the castle.		 An ornate lantern inside the courtyard.
An ornate lantern inside the courtyard.
Medieval weapons on display inside the castle.
Medieval weapons on display inside the castle.		 Near Peles Castle is Pelisor Castle (Little Peles) built by King Ferdinand. He succeeded Carol.
Near Peles Castle is Pelisor Castle (Little Peles) built by King Ferdinand. He succeeded Carol.		 Peles was too big for Ferdinand, so he built the 70 room, art-nouveau, Pelisor Castle.
Peles was too big for Ferdinand, so he built the 70 room, art-nouveau, Pelisor Castle.		 Another side of Pelisor castle.
Another side of Pelisor castle.
Lion cub gnawing on a stick piece of wood outside of Peles castle.
Lion cub gnawing on a stick piece of wood outside of Peles castle.		 I wouldn't have been petting him if the cub were an adolescent! He'd be gnawing on my arm, instead!
I wouldn't have been petting him if the cub were an adolescent! He'd be gnawing on my arm, instead!

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