Fri., 6/8/12 - Bucharest and Bran Castle in Transylvania
This morning we took an all-day tour to Bran Castle in Transylvania. We drove north through the Ploesti oil and gas fields that were destroyed during WWII because they were supplying the Nazi war machine.
Area of the Ploesti oil fields
Pipeline
Peasants selling goods at a road construction stop
Carpathian Mountains - through the bus window
Bran Castle
Bran Castle
Bran Castle - entrance
Secret passage inside the castle
Bran Castle courtyard
Armoured figure standing guard
Castle window
More creative Romanian wiring
Haystacks in the field next to the restaurant where we had lunch
Scenes from the bus - Rasnov Citadel on the hill
Scenes from the bus - Church restoration
Scenes from the bus - Sheep and horse-drawn wagon
Scenes from the bus - Working the fields by hand
Sat., 6/9/12 - Bucharest to Estes Park, CO
We got up at 2 AM, caught the bus to the airport at 3:30. We flew from Bucharest to Frankfort (2 1/2 hours). In Frankfort I got wheelchair assistance to our new gate because we only had one hour and the airport is huge and strangely laid out. They brought an elevator truck to the plane to take me down to the tarmac because we were not parked at a gate, then loaded us on a special bus and drove us around to the handicapped lounge, put me in a wheel chair and walked for miles to get to Z18 gate. We used four more elevators, a tram, fast lane through passport control and security, and finally got to the gate. It took more than an hour. We won't make that request again!
The flight to Newark was almost 9 hours with two meals and time to sleep. Newark to Denver was anther 3 1/2 hours but we drove up the mountain and were happy to be home.
This trip started out very somber with all of the WWII damage and atrocities as a big part of the tours. The interesting point is how the various countries have pulled themselves out of terror and control and devastation and have landed on their feet. Many of the countries know they still have improvements to make but are taking steps to achieve a good life for the citizens.All-in-all, a really great trip!
