Romania and Hungary

After Bucharest and Brasov we were planning a quick exit out of Romania. Bucharest was full of great looking buildings that we have seen already and Brasov is Romania's tourist area with Bran castle (portrade as Dracular's castle) and Rasnov fortress recreated as a tourist attraction.

Slow trains made us stop off at Sibiu, (3.5 hr trip that took 4.5) a lovely city in Transilvania with houses that have eyes that wink at you. Our accommodation was a old house with two rooms available to rent. This place changed our concept of Romania and therefore we decided to see more.

Next step was Sighi-soara (2.5 hrs turned into 3.5) the birthplace of Vlad the impaler, a small town of 27,000. Quaint old town full of towers, churches and, of course, Vlad's family home. Thunder storms in the evening felt appropriate for Transilvania but all that happened was a clearing of the air making our walk into town bearable.

One night in Cluj-napoca and onto Baia-mare in the north. This is the capital of the Maramures and a great spot to hire a car and check out the villages in the area. The main attractions were the wooden churches and wooden gates only seen in this area of Romania. Plenty of horse and carts on the roads as well as people with sickels and rakes (hay making season). Once again we had thunder and lightning but this time hail was included, we pulled the car over at Sighetu Marmatier and waited for the storm to clear.

The car hire firm took us across the border to Hungary for 66 Euro (cheaper than a bus and door to door) a really good service. Took a bit for the  driver to find our hotel in Nyiregyhaza (these Hungarians have got some weird and wonderful place names, hard to  get your tongue around). Went for a walk into the main  square and found an mall where Barb bought some tops, nice to see her in something else for a change.

Next stop was Miskolc to catch a train across the border to Slovakia and then on to Krakow, Poland.

We have been experiencing 30 plus degree days over the last two weeks, very uncomfortable to travel in. Good food and beer, wine not so hot.