I wasn’t even sure that the hotel provided breakfast. Looking over my booking from booking.com it didn’t mention anything about breakfast. So I went down to McDonald’s.

It’s hard to believe this McDonald’s was open so late last night with the carousing and again open this morning, hopefully with a different crew.

I had cheese, egg, and sausage wrapped in a soft burrito bread. I use the free McDonald’s Wi-Fi to try to determine the best way of getting to the second bus station in the town. I had two options at two different bus stops. I knew one bus stop had to ticket machine and I wasn’t sure about the other bus stop. So I bought my ticket at the first bus stop however I realized that the bus came Center at the bus stop further down the road. So I headed out to the second bus stop. I didn’t make it in time to catch the bus so I had to wait. It was Sunday and buses only ran once an hour instead of every 30 minutes on weekdays.

I made it to the second bus station in town known as Autogara 2. Immediately after getting off the bus and wandering into the parking lot, I had people asking me if I was going to Bran. The guide book had warned about accepting offers from individuals at the bus station. It wasn’t that they were trying to rip you off rather it was about you paying extra for something that you could do on your own. I acted like I did not speak English. It’s a good thing to do when your overseas and someone is harassing you. Just act like you don’t understand English and eventually they will leave you alone.

Our driver showed up and I bought tickets to Bran which was 8 lei – about $2. I dosed on the ride there, but I’m always afraid of falling asleep and someone stealing my stuff.

I almost got off at the wrong stop but the driver and passenger is on the bus stopped me in time. The area around Bran Castle is a big tours trap selling worthless trinkets. Tickets to bran Castle 40 lei – around $10. There was no queue going into the castle. Instead it was a continuous line. At most other famous castles, there is a entry line with entry time. With no entry time it was a continuous line through the entire castle. Very crowded. Teenaged girls doing ridiculous selfies.

I’ve found the doorways of Bran castle were shorter. Was this because people in early ages were shorter than modern man?

The castle appears to be in good condition. I’m not sure if the furniture was original. I’m also not sure about the connection between the castle and Vlad the impaller. The castle was to collect taxes against merchants who were traveling to Brasov.

Quite honestly I became claustrophobic there in the tour and was glad that I reached the exit.

I wandered through the maze of vendors Hawking souvenirs. I decided it would be best to try and go to Ransov, as rain was in the forecast but he was still sunny. I wanted to try and beat the rain which was expected by mid afternoon.

At the bus stop I met up with a British couple named James in Sharon who are also going Ransov. They were very friendly and we shared stories of Britain and the USA. Eventually the bus came and I had mapped it out on my phone using Google Maps.

We did eventually get off at the right stop and found her way to the funicular which would take us to the Citadel. Ransov’s clock tower and Hollywood style lettering on the mountain makes for a postcard view to the town. We found the funicular and rode to the top.

I had trouble finding the entrance to the citadel. The way the citadel is positioned you actually have to walk through a corner of it to get to the ticket booth. There is also a dinosaur park for children. I believe one got to the dinosaur Park by riding wagons with seeds hauled by tractors to the park. I didn’t go to the park because I figured I could see dinosaurs back home at a science Museum.

The Citadel provided for some great views of the city. The only problem is that the rocks around some of the high places are slippery from being worn down so much. So you really ever watch yourself. Throughout the Citadel there were vendors Hawking their Goods. I didn’t buy any because I figured I could live without this type of junk.

I wandered back to the bus stop. The bus must have just come because it seems to take awhile for another bus to come. While I was waiting quite a few private drivers came to offer a ride to us. When I say private drivers I mean non taxis. Being the prudent traveler that I am I refused their offers. However others at the bus stop did take their offers. Apparently hitch hiking and drivers offering thier services is common in Romania.

While I was waiting I heard an accident and experienced the aftermath. One driver with changing lanes to turn right and did not see the other driver one driver was changing lanes to turn right and did not see the other driver. They traded paint. Both cars where roadworthy after the accident. One of the driver’s was very upset at the other one. Throughout my time there the police never did come in I’m not sure if they were called.

The bus finally did come. While I was getting on, a traveller was asking the driver about where the train station was. The driver did not understand and I was a confident enough in my answer to provide him with Direction.

I Made it back to Brasov to the bus station. Next I had to catch a city bus to my hotel period however I had failed to buy a bus ticket beforehand. Unfortunately there were no ticket machines at the station that I was walking near. Using the Brasov Hollywood sign I walked back to the old town. It might have been three or four miles. As I walked I was beginning to get hungry and thought about having Domino’s pizza for dinner. I managed to find my way using Google Maps. At the Domino Pizza the workers must not have been too busy as all three of them were sitting in the lobby and one of the girls was sitting in the lap of one of the guys. When I entered they quickly became busy knowing that they have to cook my pizza. The pizza was decent.

I walked back to my hotel with a storm looming in the background. What was unusual to me was how many people were out even though a thunderstorm was imminent. I did make it back to my hotel room before it started raining which made for a perfect day.

Tomorrow I catch a train to Bucharest period there are about 18 trains daily so I didn’t buy a ticket in advance. Bucharest seems foreboding to me as it is a very large City with a lot of stray dogs.