A final trip in Romania

Black Church and Mt. Tampa, Brasov

I took what will almost certainly be my final trip in Romania last week (I am planning my departure on 30 May). I did the stereotypical "tourist in Romania" journey to Brasov and nearby Bran Castle (a.k.a. Dracula's Castle). In actuality, however, Bran Castle is more a monument to the Romanian Royal Family than it is to Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. Dracula, thanks to Bram Stoker). This is fitting, since this was not Tepes' castle at all -- it's merely been labelled as such for tourism. The Castle is stocked full of portraits and photos of Queen Marie (but none, curiously, of her Canadian boyfriend, Joe Boyle), while below in the village of Bran locals (even Nuns) sell Dracula souvenirs.