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I had the myth of going to Transylvania and Dracula’s castle, even though I was well aware that the real historical character very distantly inspired the invented character.
Going to Transylvania like Filini and Fracchia.
To many Italians of my generation, the journey to Transylvania brings to mind the movie Fracchia v. Dracula with Paolo Villaggio.
From Bucharest go to Transylvania to look for Dracula
Considering other, more substantial films and especially Bram Stoker ‘s beautiful novel, the journey to the castle I had always imagined in the wilderness, fog, and some remote village with frightened inhabitants.
In what is now being passed off as Dracula’s castle it appears that the historical figure to whom the story is loosely inspired never set foot there. According to the tour guide, Vlad’s castle (recently restored and made a tourist destination), would be the one that inspired the author’s description of the castle in the novel, but he would have seen it only in an illustration, having never gone to Romania.
There are many day tours from Bucharest that take you to Transylvania, to see Dracula’s hypothetical castle, but especially Peles Castle and Brasov, the main city of Transylvania. The problem with going to Transylvania is the traffic congestion of cars. We even risked not getting in, having been very late on the way.
Taking away some more of the already little remaining epic charm is the fact that Romanians in winter go there to ski. Also in the center of cute Brasov, there is a nice Starbucks.
On this page is the link to the video I made live from Vlad’s Castle.
In conclusion to Vlad’s castle you have to go there, but the best part of going to Transylvania is undoubtedly Peles Castle.
The indelible memory of the weekend in Bucharest: robbed from the BnB
As those who have read some of my stories may have realized; to go on so many trips I save mostly on lodging. That time then I had neither time nor much choice, since the departure would be after very few days. I chose a bnb with just enough reviews, in a good location and especially because it had a sink in the shower. I thought it would be a good title for my story.
Obstacle reservation system
If for the flight I had no problem paying by ATM; for lodging I needed a credit card. Mine had not yet arrived. I borrowed it from my mom, whom I thus also accommodated to give me a birthday present.
Usually with booking it is enough to indicate the card, the necessary data and without much fuss. By the way, I am a top-level genius client who sleeps 30 nights a year away from home, without ever a problem, in short, a super-trusted client.
Well the reservation system of this bnb involved several verifications and confirmations that made my life difficult.
I obviously did not have my mom’s card with me, and the bnb owner pressed me by sending me several emails for me to complete the reservation. He also threatened cancellation, which I hoped for at that point, but he insisted. When I returned to my mom after a couple of days, I finally finalized the whole thing.
Even before I was robbed by the BnB, it really irritates me.
On the day of arrival, again more confirmations that I would need the card in my hand that I had left with my mom instead. These requests also asked for some speed in entering the codes that were sent, obviously to my mom’s cell phone, which on the third attempt was good to do with the required speed.
Arrived at the building and then in front of the indicated door following the directions to check in remotely; the door would not open. Called the guy; sent him an email, message in the boking app….finally after a few minutes contact:
I’m in front of the door and it doesn’t open
Which door?
The one indicated by your reservation system
Ah, but that’s not it; you have to do refresh
I changed doors, and he had the courage to tell me that if I had problems and still couldn’t do it, I would have to wait a few moments before making another attempt.
I replied that the problems were in his system, without going to explain that I had traveled halfway around the world and I’m not really a clumsy rookie. He had mistaken me for just that, or he was offended, who knows.
The dump and the theft
The fact that there was a sink in the shower was actually the best thing about the room. The items present were not worth the 30 Euro deposit I was asked for. I had no further contact nor did I ever see the owner. On my return home, I verified that my deposit had been returned, which it was not.
Also mindful of the intense dialogue when I booked, I asked for clarification, but the guy never responded. I questioned Booking‘s always excellent customer service department. He never answered them again either.
They asked me to wait 2 weeks, after which without any response, they refunded me and told me they would take legal action.
He didn’t even go to the trouble of making up a lie that I had broken something for him (which didn’t happen anyway). You have to be very smart to think you can make money by stealing 30 Euro from one, with the possibility there is now for guests to post reviews.
Usually if I am not satisfied, I don’t write. But this time my grade 1, titled rather go sleep under a bridge I think lost him more than 30 Euro.
Home travel Travel in Eastern Europe, behind the wall
Previous stop Weekend in Bucharest; kicked out of restaurant
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
Countries visited in my travel stories
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