No, not that kind of high… Just 2150 meters above sea level.
Romania as a country is not exactly well known for its quality infrastructure, although, to be sure, that is relative. It is mostly serviceable, overall, if you don’t like your car too much. Which cannot be said for many a country on our fair planet. We have roads and stuff, although not great on the freeway front. We have yet to have a two lane road crossing the mountains, which generally creates bottlenecks when you try to drive to Transylvania and, further, to Western Europe.
In fact the bottle neck on the main Road coming to Bucharest from the west is called the Black Hill and it is dark and full of hairpin curves, which sucks when you are stuck behind a truck. It sucks even more at night when the visibility is awful. Accidents are exacerbated by the fact that frustrated drivers often pass recklessly when in a hurry. If you are not in a hurry, a rare case in these times of ours, you can cross the mountain on the scenic route. It may take two hours more, but the roads are almost empty and you can’t beat the view. Sometimes, as the saying goes, one should take the high road.
The high road in this case can be one of two. The older and better known is Transfăgărășan, made famous by Top Gear, back when Top Gear was good. The lesser known one, although it’s well… higher – the highest in Romania – is Transalpina. Both Roads were expensive and unnecessary wastes of resources by the government, one by the communist times the other by the ehm… let’s call them capitalist times. But since they are there now, it can be nice to drive. So I thought I would show the Glibs some pictures of my trip over the Transalpina. And yes, there are many such photos on the internet, many better ones, but these are mine and that’s the point.
Depending on the route taken, at first the road starts as a standard road between villages, although empty and off the beaten track.
Historically, the road is assumed to be ancient, first started who knows when as a path for taking sheep over the mountains. It was allegedly used by some Roman troops when fighting the Dacians. The Austrians though of making it a road in the 18th century. For most of its history it was just a mountain path, although wider than most such paths. The German army partially paved it with stone and gravel in the First World War, although it was not used much. Romania widened and improved the road in the 1930, when, although not fully paved, it could be crossed using an off-road vehicle.
Finally the road was fully paved between 2009 and 2015.
The maximum speed limit is 30, but you would not drive faster anyway given the windy nature. A man could have a lot of fun here on a motorbike. Not me off course, but a man could.
If you fancy a bite on the road, you can stop at a sheep station (stâna in Romanian) where you can eat polenta, sheep’s cheese, sour cream, and well… mutton. The mutton is a stew and a sort of never ending pot, which sits on a fire and meat is constantly added to cook in what is mostly its own fat and juices and some onion.
Where there are sheep there are sheep dogs.
Towards the end you go to lower altitudes when the forest starts again.
You can see lakes in the forest if that is your thing.
Or take a detour through the countryside,
The roads may not always be paved
And you can encounter some traffic.
You can visit a church build in 1100 over the ruins of a Roman mausoleum which was built over the ruins of a Dacian temple.
After a long day on the road you can stay at a nice hotel and golf course in Transylvania, in a quiet area far from the main road. This was the view from the room
Anyway this about covers it. A short trip through Romania. Can’t really think of an ending paragraph right now so I am going to leave it like this.
Comments
218 responses to “Traveling Transalpina: the highest road in Romania”
What did you do to those sheep?
There are other uses for sheep than meat and wool
Do you tie cargo directly to the sheep or harness them up to a wagon?
You just put the back legs into the top of your boots…
Or so I’ve heard.
Beautiful
The sheep? I know
SO what is everyone drinking? I am having a Moldavian wine, a strange blend of local Rara Neagra with Syrah and Malbec.
I will be hitting some bourbon tonight when i finally get home, but drinking at work – for some reason – is frowned upon…
Work? AT 7 PM on a Friday? Not for me…
Bit early, even for me. My brother dispatched his wife and kid to their new digs in Arkansas and is furiously trying to empty the house and ready it for renters, so I’ll be over there this afternoon knocking back cheap Mexican piss while I help.
You let MS piss in your mouth? I knew you had kinks, but I’ve never understood the piss kink.
After work, I’ll probably just have a nightcap. I’ve got to get up at midnight to go on a fishing trip.
Ocean, river or lake?
Rest stop.
He could be trolling for cock suckers…
Room for one more?
Ocean. Going out of Montauk.
Might be a bit choppy out there right now.
Leaving in a few hours to the mountain myself. Gotta back off the booze since we’re going by car.
It’s just past noon! So, scotch.
(truthfully: decaf iced americano)
It would not be getting dark outside if it were noon.
It’s that whole thing with time zones. I know it is five o’clock somewhere, but I am still stuck in the office and I need to hit the gym later since I missed it this AM (because of all the drinking last night) before I get to the point where I can be drinking tonight.
a guy named slumbrew drinking decaf.
*shakes head, walks out of room*
This is Americano #3; first was hi-test (3 shots), 2nd was 2 decaf, one real, 3rd one is all decaf. So, that’s 4 shots of “real” espresso and 5 decaf – which still have some caffeine.
Besides, Slumbrew is not that kind of brew.
Water, while I wait for my ribeye to finish in the oven.
Between doggie training and High School football tomorrow, I won’t be making it to the gym. so tonight is leg-day. I’ll be drinking creatine punch.
We had two pretty excellent Rhone syrahs last night. Does that count?
The last northern Rhone I had about a week ago was E. Guigal Croze Hermitage which I assume as a big commercial producer is nothing specials but it was not bad at all
They’re negociants, but they have good sources and, I think, do a pretty good job of making a consistent product. It won’t be up to, say, a Graillot or Faurie for Crozes, but it isn’t surprising that it’s well-made and decent quality.
Cold brew coffee.
Due to medication I’m taking, I can’t drink for another week. And I feel great. Sleeping better. I think I used to drink too much.
Other than water? Diet A&W cream soda.
Water. Thanks Glibfit.
How’s the cycling?
Exhausting I would think going up. Fun going down.
Replace fun with terrifying. Getting up to 35 MPH on a downhill, while it can be fun, really makes you aware that you’ve got a helmet and spandex between you and the road. It’s worse if there’s gravel on the road, and a lot of turns.
Cracked asphalt FTW!
They may not be as fast but I like my 38 wide tires on sketchy roads.
Great photos and a nice article.
Wow, it really does look quite beautiful Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I never really thought of Romania as being such a pretty country.
Very pretty. What does the graffiti say? Albuquerque’s covered in indecipherable graffiti scrawls.
This may not be a serious question but it says “I love you Mdy”. Mdy I can only assume is short for Mady which is in itself short for a Romanian girls name Mădălina. Or maybe MDY means something I don’t know… Who knows with kids these days.
He was praising a data standard. MDY = month/day/year.
He is obviously wrong because the only proper answer is YYYYMMDD.
Most countries are pretty in their way. Except Hungary, and this is not Romanian nationalism. It’s just Hungary is featureless flatland, like Nebraska or something. Romania has mountains hills the sea, the Danube delta…
That’s interesting about Hungary’s topography. I didn’t think there were any really flat areas like that in Europe.
They have a big lake to kinda break the monotony
Balaton? Site of Germany’s offensive in 1945.
You’re thinking of Kansas. Nebraska is beautiful.
Having made the road trip from Northern Wisconsin to Denver multiple times, I hate Nebraska. Smelled like shit and took forever to get through. Further south it’s probably nicer, but not near hwy 80.
Kansas has rolling hills that Nebraska along I-80 does not have (driven both I-70 and I-80 many times each).
I did notice that Missouri was flatter than the southeast corner of Kansas (the part I passed through)
You are right, along I-70 and highways northward a bit. Also, My people are from SE Kansas (northeast of Pittsburg) and yes, you are right. It’s on the edge of the Ozarks (especially around Joplin MO).
Yep, it was always tempting to add the 3 or 4 hours to the trip by taking 70 instead of 80.
70 and 80 are both boring there. I took 36 as far as I could when I moved back to VT. At least you pass through some cool towns.
From Co? That’s one heckuva road trip.
Yeah. Took it from Boulder to Indianapolis or so. Had to take the highway for a bit after that.
But let me add that I-70 and I-80 have become so congested as to be parking lots. Heaven forbid you get behind a couple of semis with governors.
I like I-80. I find it a soothing run, and I’m always interested in getting where I’m going as fast as possible. No way would I take I-70 when I can take I-80.
I had to once when I-29 (my access to I-80) was flooded out between St. Joseph MO and Omaha.
It just goes on in a straight line forever, so I suppose that could be soothing. One of my trips, a cop followed me for almost an hour on 80. Couldn’t speed, had expired plates, a broken head light and no working wipers. Of course it started raining and no rest areas for miles. No idea why he didn’t pull me over.
I’ve driven on 80 more times then I can count. It’s almost frequent enough for me to get the EZ Pass. Unfortunately, my cut through to avoid 480 when traffic is bad is currently shut down and under construction.
That is heart-attack-inducing.
Hungary used to have mountains. But they were taken away from it. You can still see them on the coat of arms.
Taken? Are you sure they didn’t eat them? Because they were Hungary?
Taken because they were in Slovakia.
One does not go to Hungary for the beauty of nature. One goes to Hungary for the hot, easy women.
Looks like New Hampshire or the Poconos until you got above the tree line. (Minus the ancient church) Which are some of my favorite places to visit.
Looks like a great drive for the scenery – and not another person in sight.
Beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful. It makes me want to come visit my great-grandfather’s home country even more than I did previously.
Thank you so much! (And your photos are fine.)
The roads don’t look so bad for mountain roads. Now, I can’t say the same for that golf course. Hope that isn’t the fairway.
No that was the view from the room, the course is not visible. I have no pictures of it as I don’t golf so I did not go to see it.
How about skiing? Or do Romanians go down to somewhere like Bansko?
The skiing is not great in Romania. Most Romanian who really like skiing and can afford it go to Austria. You can drive in one day if you don’t mind a 12 -14 hour drive. Bansko is probably slightly better than anything we have in Romania. Our decent ski areas are very crowded and you can end up waiting in line for the chair lift as much as actually skiing.
Loved firing one up on the lift. The gondola was even better. We called it the gangala.
I hate to break it to you – _everyone_ calls it that.
And for good reason. People would pile out of it like Spiccoli’s van at the top.
Beautiful – I especially like the look of the villages up in the mountains.
Nice Car! and some great pictures, I wanna go!
Not my car… my car is less nice
I like the idea of endless stew. How does it taste?
fatty and muttony and overall quite good. you put some of the polenta in the fatty liquid and eat some garlic on the side …
Garlic on the side? Are you trying to bait me into making a vampire joke? Sounds tasty.
Just because you’re not in the mood for vampire jokes…
I take it they stake those who forgo the garlic.
Like Soylent Green.
That looks like terrific fun on a motorcycle. I’d definitely ride it. The road I mean, not the sheep. sheep aren’t my kink. Not that I’m kink shaming you. YKINMK and what not.
I’d definitely ride it. The road I mean, not the sheep.
Well, duh. Who rides just one sheep?
What if you are in love with one sheep? I hear that happens…
Two Scotsman were standing at the top of a hill looking at the sheep in the pen below; a young one and an older man. The young Scotsman says to the elder, “Why don’t we run down there and fookk one of tha sheep?”
The elder says, “Ach, why don’t we /stroll/ down there and fook /all/ of ’em?”
Oddly enough, reading just now…
“I say that we are not touching, and not having sex, if it makes you feel better,” Tess said. “Though, when all is finished, you shall have to explain to your Maker why you are at this moment buggering a dead sheep.”
I think I need to get those books as e-books and re-read them. I had forgotten how terrific they are, but they are some door stoppers in the original hardback 3 volume set.
Reading REAMDE now. Quite good. Its been a while since I have read any of his stuff and forgot how much I enjoy his books.
I have that set. I’ve had the same thought, to get them as ebooks to read.
Hmmmm…..
Seems like you are protesting your innocence a bit too much.
*Checks Creosote’s oppo research file*
Ah yes. Would you like to explain this photo of you and your ‘date’?
I would never ride a dirt bike. clearly FAKE NEWS!
She looks HAWT!
You are killing me. I was just texting my wife about how I wished we were back in the mountains. Absolutely gorgeous pics, Pie.
The dog looks just mine! Polski Owczarek Nizinny. Wonderful pups!
Love the pics, love the car, love the dog, love Romania!
You win the coveted Tundra’s Favorite Post of the Week!
Thanks… First award I won this week
Looks beautiful. Is Serbia similar? We may be visiting family friends in Serbia. I assume it looks similar to Romania except with more land mines.
Ehm I am not sure what to say but they have nice mountains as well
That’s awesome.
My town has the steepest paved road in the us, afaik the Lincoln gap still holds the title. It’s “paved”
Doom!
Where have you been? How’s the truck coming along?
It’s good! Ive been busy, things and life.
Truck is coming along. I’m about to park it for winter. I bought a winter car, which turned into a fast car. 2002 WRX! Which my girlfriend makes fun of.
I’m now a vaping, drug dealing, gay man, according to her.
I’ve been reading stuff here when I can, I’m trying to get some comments in more.
I’m just glad you are finally admitting it 😉
Enjoy that car. I would love one, but alas I’m too fucking old.
And straight.
Never too old for a teenage hoodlum car!
You’ll get weird looks when you let people merge, and actually yield at intersections.
Don’t knock it till you try it.
With good intentions?
Shitty asphalt from when I was born, I think. It might go to hell. Warren isn’t that bad, but I wouldn’t call it paradise.
Google Maps helpfully sent us over Roxbury Mountain “Road”, in the snow. In our Honda Fit. In the dark.
(wife’s cousin has a house near the airport)
The Lincoln gap was a tremendous ride. It felt like you found one of those secret cities in the mountains you read about in Fantasy books.
It’s very beautiful and poorly paved here.
I went over this pass on a BMW F650 motorcycle. 30% grade.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardknott_Pass
If you stopped in the curves the brakes would hold, but the tyres (UK) would skid downslope… So don’t stop, and take the far outside of the hairpins, and keep your momentum up.
OT: SLUTS.
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2018-09-14/health-workers-in-oregon-attempt-to-stop-a-surge-in-stds
Should I comment on this?
It still shocks and frightens me how many women here are willing and eager to get down without using a jimmy hat. I mean, believe me, I don’t much care for them, but I stay clean and get tested every 6 months/when getting sexual with a new partner. But there is definitely a cavalier attitude towards avoiding social diseases here in O-ray-gun.
“It can definitely be scary at times,” Baca said, “especially those rural areas where you’re really relying on the GPS to get you there, and sometimes there are roads that lead you to nowhere.” So far, they haven’t gotten lost.
Plenty of residents in the county’s outskirts own firearms, Baca said, and are comfortable displaying them if they feel they need to protect their property”
Yes it’s them yokels that are the scary ones. Not the government officials going around and tracking people down.
Some of those visits are going to be awkward if the wife answers the door.
Lol
My boss’ son is about to attempt a road trip hitting up every National Park in the US (continental). He’s doing this as a recent college grad before he becomes part of “the real world.”
Chances he actually completes this?
who’s financing it? My road trips were shorter, and still had to budget hundreds of dollars for just gas.
I think he is, from working over the summer as a waiter (lol).
I’ll be impressed if he makes it to all of the parks on the East coast.
I think he is, from working over the summer as a waiter (lol).
If he’s an especially good waiter he could have made a decent chunk of change. My brother once waited as a college summer job and made more per hour than the local teachers – and that was while waiting at a Pizza Hut, so I’d imagine if you had an upscale gig you could make bank.
Almost zero, as Dry Tortuga is a boat or plane ride from Key West. He could probably do it, though it would mean some pretty short jaunts in the Parks.
I’m sure why you would do such a thing, anyway. You could spend two weeks in Glacier alone.
Get him an eParks passport.
Shirtless man stares down Hurricane Florence with American flag in hand: ‘Just being free and American’
Damn it Florida man stay in your own state.
With Slayer Raining Blood playing. There is hope for this country!
hawt
I’m from ND. A 40 mph wind does not impress me. “His ginger locks flowed behind him in the fierce winds that, at times, reached 40 mph.”
(The roof in my apartment would creak when the wind got over 30 mph. I could tell, by the creaking, when it got over 40. NOT IMPRESSED.)
I can’t control the weather, just defy it.
Super rare here in Michigan: Some two years ago we had gusting 100mph winds – static of 40-50 – and I ended up losing all of the front gutter, and part of the roof cap. Lots of fun running around 3AM in my boxers, trying to stop a long piece of flailing metal from damaging the house.
Things can get a bit sporty at that wind speed.
When SP and I come, you WILL take us on a wine tour, right?
Off course. Good clean honest country wine, none of that sulfur stabilized shit they make at the quality vineyards.
What were you doing in Transylvania at a golf resort? (Insert vampire joke here)
But, really, what were you doing? Wooing a lady friend?
Shorter Q:
Pics?
Romania probably ranks too low for Q.
“Romania: B”
For shame.
I love how the US has BMI conspicuously absent. Also, why did they separate the US in “Caucasian” and “Non-Caucasian”.
After reading the whole thing, all I can say is USA! USA! USA!
Biggest titties even controlling for BMI and they’re perky, not saggy. American exceptionalism indeed.
Our surplus of fat chicks has artificially skewed the volumetrics.
1668 ml? Also known as 1668 cc, screw super bike class those are in Harley territory
Wedding of a high school buddy. He married an American girl. Very left wing democrat sort. I avoided conversations about politics with great determination.
She moving there or are they returning here?
With Trump in the white house?
Come on.
Neither. They live in England.
Do the golf clubs double as wooden stakes?
Only if they have hickory shafts.
With all this talk of road trips, I was reminded that I wanted to ask a Glib opinion.
Would it be worthwhile to circumnavigate the great lakes? The route would be north into French Canukistan, west to the far end of Superior, down into Minnesoda, then back east, so that I can have my customary visit to my mother’s house during the return trip.
(PS, I would also be open to meeting glibs who happen to be along that general pathway if they cared to).
Why circumnavigate? Have they not any boats?
It’s a road trip. The purpose is to drive it.
There are ferries. https://www.lake-express.com/
and http://www.carferries.com/
Yes, there are ferries. But it’s not about the destination.
My favorite thing about Florida was neither the beach nor the cave, it was those almost comedic little shops on the side of the highway with a mile of signs advertising their existance.
A ferry cuts out a lot of the chances for those random encounters.
If you’re going into French Canada watch out for this https://youtu.be/WULsZJxPfws.
Awww, I just saw that Le Club Super Sexe is closed. Fond memories of a bachelor party in Montreal.
*Insert STD joke here*
“I’m sorry, I don’t speak English.”
This sounds like a great idea to me. I’d love to do a road trip such as that.
I’ve only done Superior from Duluth to Sault Ste Marie, but it is spectacular. There are a ton of things to see along the way, as well. MikeS just got back from the UP, he could likely give you some thoughts, too.
How much of a pain is it to cross the border with a lot of luggage and a potentially messy car?
(I try to keep my car clean but during road trips it doesn’t stay that way)
Do you have Global Entry? Apparently the card gets you special treatment.
When I was last through there it was pre-911 so it was easy peasy.
I only have a regular passport. I’m not much of an international traveller, and this would be my first time in Canada if I do it.
I wouldn’t worry about it. You are hardly a high risk traveler.
I finally just went ahead and got the Global extortion because we come back from beach trips through Charlotte, which is waaaaaay too small of an airport to handle international arrivals. After nearly missing my connecting flight I said fuck it. It also assures pre check.
It may be worth the $100 for you to get in the fast lane.
Global Entry does not help in the slightest for crossing the US-Canadian border by car. What would help is Nexus. But it’s hard to get and completely impractical for a single trip to Canada.
I have both.
Thanks for the correction. It looks like you can only use the Nexus lanes (with GE) on the way back into the US.
You’re right. Though I managed to find the Nexus lane (actually, bridge) where one must have a NEXUS card to return to the US. At the time I had only GE and was turned away from entering the bridge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirlpool_Rapids_Bridge
Nexus is cheaper than GE. Depending on how close to the border (or how cheap of a flight you can get), it’s not that much more of a hassle. Although if you have a credit card that will reimburse GE or PreCheck, they usually won’t for Nexus.
Best thing I did to make international travel easier, although CBP likes to have different quirks at every port of entry.
If you have kids, Nexus is the better deal.. 0$ for children.
I was waived through with lots of luggage at times but also a Canadian border guard checked carefully my backpack when it was the only item in the trunk. It depends. But they will let you in sooner or later as long as you don’t bring any guns.
I don’t bring guns on road trips, I don’t trust the cops along the route.
Absolutely. I recommend January.
My road trips start memorial day and run 2-3 weeks.
You’ll be cutting through the boundary waters are in Minnesota. Unbelievable nature and mosquitoes the size of your gall bladder. Worth seeing.
I did that about 15 years ago. Started in Duluth, went north to C-land and turned east, about this time of year. Crossing back to the US in time for the fall colors in Vermont and NH. A fun trip, staying in little towns, visiting pioneer museums which my wife quickly got tired of. Hit the Air Museum in Ottawa? Pretty much of the reverse of your proposed trip. Do it, flat landes like us don’t often get to see the beautiful eastern hills.
Good. We don’t want you here. NON-YANKEE GO HOME!
Uffda. I’m just planning on going to Fargo this weekend. I doubt that I will see any views as topographical as that.
On the way back we are going to FourScore’s Honey Fest. Maybe that will have prettier scenery.
Spawn visit?
And younger spawn campus visit.
I have had a lot of fun threatening the older altar boy with the idea that next year he will have to live with his younger brother again.
Hahaha! Just tell him he will have someone right there to buy him beer!
Have a wonderful weekend!
We’re doing the casino tonight with some visiting Honey Harvesters. If you’re a tree guy you’ll be right at home chez moi.
I thought quotas were already illegal?
https://www.thecollegefix.com/asian-advocacy-group-blasts-uc-berkeleys-plan-to-become-hispanic-serving-institution/
Some quotas are better than others…
Honey, don’t hate the Title V player, hate the Title V game.
Nice pics, looks like a fun road. I was in Tomania about 12 years ago. We were driving back to Amsterdam from Istanbul. In Bucharest I wanted to change over a couple hundred Euro to Lev and I went very early in the morn (with no caffeine in my bloodstream) to one of the little closet like exchanges on a main square. I saw their advertised exchange rates and gave the surly woman behind the thick glass a couple hundred euro and she gave me back Lev in an amount about 40 Euro short. I questioned this and she pointed to a sign that said (in Romanian) “this rate only for travelers cheques.” Cash exchange was a large commission. This was obviously a scam and I demanded my euro back. Not going to happen. I got very angry and I had a Sharpie in my pocket and so I revised their sign to the correct amount for them. She called in reinforcements and next thing I know some guy is trying to lock me in the closet. We got in a pushing match and I threw him off me before he could lock me in. We squared off and then he backed off and called someone on his phone. I’m sure if I stuck around I would have gotten some true Romanian hospitality, but I came to my senses and got the fuck out. So Pie, how close did I get to having my organs sold on the black market that day?
Was it gypsies?
If not gypsies they learned it from watching them. We had a couple gypsy encounters, but I headed them off by asking them for money before they could ask me. Romania is beautiful and Transylvania is particularly nice.
Not that close really. Romania is much better now than 2006 but even 2006 was not like the wild 90s. I mean it depends where you were in Bucharest… And fights do happen…
But Romania aint Albania. Albania is scary
I’m kidding about the organ thing, I’m sure I would’ve just gotten a beat down. Yes, we traveled through Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria and were told repeatedly not to go to Albania by the locals. That place really has a bad rep.
Also, don’t go to Albany.
Probably not as bad as Albania, but you don’t want to be here.
We obviously let in a lot of undesirable Albanian immigrants who settled there.
Worse – state workers.
They’re all Marko from Tropoje
Ha! At least the language is somewhat similar and sometimes intelligible.
Top Gear goes to Albania:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyH-351Z_-0
Everyone in Albania drives a Mercedes? Interesting.
Father of a high school classmate was assassinated in Albania. Probably a vendetta thing.
Hey, Yusef! I’m watching a show about WWII and they showed some clips of D-Day. I thought of you and your lovely diorama.
TY Mo, I still get chills watching it, I know how the Movie ends, no one Really won that Day, it was just the beginning…..
Great article Pie. I really enjoyed the images, especially the one at the top looking down over the village.
I saw your mountain villages, really nice pictures. I’m a country boy and looked inviting. Thanks Pie.
Transvania? What? Vampire Trannies?
Seriously, nice pics. Beautiful country.
Beautiful pics Pie.
Going to be in Central/Eastern Europe in December. Have to confess, I’m going to be in Budapest, not Romania, but is there anything there that you (or anyone else) would recommend visiting there?
Budapest is one of the most beautiful Euro capitals. Definitely hit one of the baths for a few hours soak. There are a number of them that are awesome, I think we went to the Gellért. Also there is a huge iron market that has a bunch of really good food stands where you can get a great lunch for cheap. Also if you are driving or have transportation there is an outdoor museum of Soviet statues and propaganda that is pretty close to the city and worth a visit.
Thanks for the recommendations. We (going with the girlfriend) were going to hit up the old AVO headquarters that’s a museum about the Holsty regime and the communists, but we hadn’t come up with much else. We’ve only got a few days there, we’re trying to divide it up between Budapest, Prague and surrounding areas, and Bavaria.
No prob.
This is the museum I was talking about:
http://m.mementopark.hu/
This is the market I was talking about:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Market_Hall_(Budapest)
Have you been through Prague by chance? If so, anything worth seeing there? (Or any area in that part of the Czech Republic?)
Yes, also on the top of most beautiful Euro cities, but I was down to my last Euros there before heading back home to Amsterdam and work so I didn’t do much besides walk around and gawk at the gorgeous architecture and women. I couldn’t even afford a hostel so we camped in a Skoda down by the river. The beer is obviously superb (and cheap). I’m sure you’ll have a blast.
Thanks K. We’re both pumped, looking forward to it.
Not a van down by the river?
It’s been many years since I went to Prague, but I remember the old city, the walled part, as being beautiful.
RIP Chris Farley.
Now now Q, he’ll have plenty of time to do that when he’s living….in a van…down…by the river…
Don’t confuse the two countries. The people the Hungarians dislike the most? Romanians.
I knew that, but I figured that there was still traveling between the two.
If you watch the original 1931 Dracula with Bela Lugosi, the townspeople are all speaking Hungarian, not Romanian, because in the time period depicted in the movie Transylvania was part of Hungary.
Great pictures, Pie
Thanks for posting
No, not that kind of high
With THAT attitude…
I have always thought Romania is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Fantastic photos Pie.
Now, get your ass over here so we can teach you to shoot.
I thought it was “brought youself over here”?
Nice post Pie.
If you fancy a bite on the road, you can stop at a sheep station (stâna in Romanian) where you can eat polenta, sheep’s cheese, sour cream, and well… mutton.
Thus why you are the most cultured contributor. Awesome pics, thanks for the tour. I enjoyed that very much. Very cool!