Solo Adventure to Bucharest — a beautiful life

bucharest

I revived my soul for a week in Bucharest, where I spent time exploring yet another beautiful corner of the world by myself. It was a bit of a rough start since I needed to rest up a bit and catch up on sleep, but the trip was one that I will remember forever. The overall vibe of the city was one of nostalgia, romance, and old world. The architecture was stunning, and I felt like I was walking amongst history (I could strangely FEEL the history and the spirits when I was walking around). My favorite places were the famous carousel bookstore and the beautiful Van Gogh cafe, where I drank many cups of tea while reading. I loved wandering the streets and neighborhoods (I walked over 22 miles of the city by foot). I also enjoyed the 3 hour walking tour I did on the history of communism in Romania. It was absolutely fascinating (no words to describe it) and I was hanging on every word from the tour guide’s mouth. Although the history is harrowing and heavy, it reminded me of the strength and resilience that people have — and their ability to endure and carry forward. I was truly mesmerized by the city of Bucharest and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only did I learn so much about it, I also read a book cover to cover during the trip. It was the perfect amount of rest, relaxation and education that my soul needed!

Transylvania (peles castle, brasov, bran castle)

I did an amazing day trip from Bucharest to Transylvania, where I explored 2 castles and Brasov, an old Transylvanian town. Peles Castle was so ornate - a mix of Roman, Greek, Medieval, Gothic architecture — and so much history! I had a really great tour guide who made the history of each place come to life. I loved walking through the rooms of the castle and gardens, envisioning the royalty living there. Brasov was a small, cute town, but suddenly turned very gray and rainy when we arrived (spooky vibes!) We ended the day visiting “Dracula’s Castle” (Bran Castle) which was inspired by him (but not actually his castle). Vlad the Impaler, whom Dracula was inspired by) has a separate castle farther away (ha!) But I still loved learning all about the ancient history of Romanian royalty and the various rulers, including Vlad!