10th August 2019

Slightly spooked by the letter under my door about heightened security today I headed for breakfast – toast, coffee, juice, more coffee, and a sit outside with the sparrows.

I took advice from the concierge and he printed some train times out for me. 1215 to Brasov looked best. I’m booked in to a hostel for £13/night – or was that £13 for the two nights? – in the old town. I’m hotel’d out and you don’t get to talk to anyone. Having said that, they’ve done their job and I have clean clothes.

The IR1645 is moving and I’m on carriage 20 seat 88. There’s enough room, but the face to face seats give little leg room. The good thing is that it’s nice and airy. This train will not become unbearable.

The taxi driver stiffed me. He wanted to drive me to Brasov for $200. Instead, I went the long way to Gara de Nord and saw the sights. 55 lei, the bastard! And he took 5 lei as a tip. Oh well!

I’m hoping Bran Castle will be a highlight. The long bus (26hrs) to Zurich will be worth it. From there, there are fast trains and less travel anxiety. When I get home, it will have been over four weeks and it will take me a week to type this up. The photos – some good ones I hope – will take a while too.

First stop: people are getting off – two people. And people are getting on. My 4G isn’t working so well. I need it to find my way to the hostel.

I’ll take a deep breath in Brasov. Timisaora could be an option, but what I need is a Eurostar booking.

The IR trains are faster than the R trains from Gara de Nord. This is good info, the R option must travel at a snails pace.

I’ve just seen a woman with four budgies and a cockateel walking through the carriage. They are on a perch and sitting on peoples fingers. Money will be involved somewhere, I can feel it. They sound happy enough.

Budgies on a Train – This looks totally normal.

I hope the birds (back home) are okay. Their food will have run out ages ago – even the peanuts. But it’s a good chance to use the other feeders they’ve left alone.

Busteni 1355 and one hour to go. With larger windows than my last train, I’m getting a much better view of the mountains and the trees.

1401 Azuga. A smart little station with flower pots, hanging baskets, and people! The lady on the platform was wearing the red and blue peaked hat, but not seriously like the men. It’s more on the back of her head than on the top. Her hair was too big for her uniform. Azuga is on the tourist route. I’ll have to find out what’s here.

I have leg room!

Thinking about my taxi ride. The driver had one golf club in his boot. It wasn’t for playing golf. I wasn’t happy about no seat belt and face time during my drive either.

My stays

Paris hotel 3 nights (£300), Lyon camping 5 nights (£130), Bern hostel 2 nights (£120), Grindelwald hostel 2 nights (£120), Grindelwald camping 1 night (£20), Sleeper (£100) Vienna hotel, Bratislava hotel 1 night, Vienna hotel 1 night (£320), Budapest hotel 2 nights (£200), sleeper (£100), Bucharest hotel 2 nights (£145).

I’m in Brasov! For 2hrs 50mins the train ride was relaxing. Perhaps I should have spoken to the people next to me. The lady in the seat across from me smiled and made eye contact, but I shied away. There’s a chance she was younger than me, but looked well lived in.

Data problems continued, but at least there was a sign telling me to catch the 51 in to town. I knew I should have got off at the Black Church, but there were two backpackers who seemed to know what they were doing. Free wifi in a bar sent me 1/4 mile down the hill and to the hostel. The sign looked nice, but the door looked small. Turns out that the place is nice. Nice enough anyway. The bunk below me is home to a large woman with mobility problems and a walking stick. That could be me one day. Not the woman bit bit, but the bit with the stick if I don’t make my bags lighter.

I found some more wifi and then found a very nice bar. They were busy serving burgers and didn’t ask if I wanted a drink. The thing about walking in to pubs and bars with seating is that when you’re alone, you’re invisible UNLESS you’re sitting somewhere they don’t want you to sit. Then they ignore you. Then they may take your order and ignore you, or serve you and then not bring the bill. There’s not enough money in one person.

I moved to a cafe called TIPOGRAFIA and downed an iced coffee. Time to find a wifi signal again.

I’ve broken one of my rules – not that I have many. I’m in an Irish pub having a Guiness – 20 lei! It’ll do and it justifies using the wifi. I could easily stay in Brasov for a day or two more. The hostel only cost 140 lei for two nights.

Ristorante Vino Sapori wine bar – I’ve just had delicious hand made tagliatelle with mushrooms with a glass of Cab Sav. This is one of my few sit down meals. I’ll be having desert and coffee. Main 27 lei and desert 15 lei.

I’m thinking one extra night – Sibu – ? I have 15 days to get home.

I think that that the girl serving me has perked up. I’ve ordered cheese cake and a double espresso. “Cheese cake is like a rainbow in your mouth”

That was a nice meal. It’s 2036 and I have to work out what to do. There’s a common area in the hostel, but no balcony looking out on the Eiger this time, or the huge common are a in Bern. For 14 lei I’ll make do! It’s warm and dry, but I don’t mind that the bill will take it’s time.

After Paris and Lyon I don’t think I’ve seen a black face. This is even out of range for the South Koreans.

Brasov has AQI of 31 – GOOD!

Tomorrow is Bran Castle day!

PALINKA! I’ve just had a shot of Palinka. It turns out that it was 70% served from a plastic bottle. I’m certainly going to meet more people in the smaller hostels. This is instant Freshers week.

I had a good tip on not going to Bran tomorrow. And don’t bother going inside. Go to Peles Castle instead, 1hr on the train. Or Rasnov Citadel half way between Brasov and Bran.

Breakfast is 0800 – 1000. Should I join the group hike up the moutain tomorrow? I don’t want to be the old guy.

A mobile has just gone off in the common area. I hung up. Don’t know who’s it is.