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What to do next. There are some areas in Northern Romania I want to see, and Bulgaria is looking interesting. I am nearing the end of September. I have insurance for the bike through October. I have to either plan to get more insurance and continue on, or to store my bike somewhere (plenty of options) and head either back to the states to visit family and friends, or somewhere else. The Divers Den Dive shop is going to Honduras again. Might be a good trip to do with old friends. It would be nice to see family and friends around Christmas and Thanksgiving. Maybe get out the Honda and ride around the country. Well, if I start in November. Much of the country is cold and bleak in December. I am planning on being in New Zealand sometime in our spring, but what do I do between Christmas and New Zealand? Tahiti? Scuba or Motorcycle? I am open to suggestions. I want to do it all, so hard to decide. I am feeling great, really enjoying my time, but I will need a change soon enough.
One of the things about Romania, is there is no lack of interesting historical things to see. Every town has something old and historical. There are just too many to choose from. Leaving the Transf... whatever it is, I found a route with some spaghetti roads. The only problem was there was a lot of truck traffic. By a lot, I mean, one truck. That is all it takes on some of these roads. Even an American Motorcyclist hyped up on coffee and trying to act like the locals cannot get very far. That gives time for the occasional pause.
Around one bend I saw this. It took me a while to find it in google maps, but it is a Mausoleum and museum dedicated to Romanian Soldiers, mostly around WW I. http://www.muzeulcampulung.ro/
It was simple, nice, and worth the short stop. THIS is where I got my first ever discount for being a retired person. The entry fee was $1.25. But for us retired people it was only $0.75
There was a tasteful display of the bones of some of the soldiers. 
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A nice, respectful monument, with a nice respectful museum inside. I liked this quick stop. But a smiling selfie seemed just wrong. 
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For the most part, the road to Bran Castle from the south was fun. It was in horrible shape in spots, had great views, smokey trucks, and in other spots was a dream. It went through an assortment of small towns, mostly living a fairly traditional lifestyle. Not a road I would recommend you going out of your way for, but not bad.
My last post talked about a castle that was reported to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Well, that is not likely, as Mr. Stoker never visited this area. It is possible that he knew people that knew these castles, but that is not really confirmed. Vlad the Impaler did live in this area, and in various castles around here. His father, Vlad Dracul, also lived in this area. Vlad the Impaler, aka Vlad Dracula. As evil people of his time go, he was far from the worst. it was not a happy time in human history.
Anyway, this is what Dracul Disney (aka Bran Castle) looks like on a slow day. This is the castle typically referred to as Dracula's Castle. It is actually very nice inside, with decent displays of how it would have been decorated through the years. Outside the castle grounds are all kinds of tourist shops selling "Home Made" junk made in China. It has a bit of a Disney feel to it. The castle grounds themselves are beautiful and great to walk around. There is a cafe where you can get coffee and great pastries. Or beer and food. http://www.bran-castle.com/
A nice assortment of decorated rooms. 
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Some death of course. And a secret passage. And narrow winding stairs. 
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It is a nice looking castle from the outside. 
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Imposing from some angles 
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The back side was not as imposing. 
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They had a "Torture Room" which was just a display in a few rooms of various torture devices with descriptions sure to give you nightmares. This was worth the visit, except the ticket counter could not sell me tickets, and did not tell me that I should buy them at the castle store first, so I wouldn't have to walk back through crowds of people to go there. WHY can't I get the tickets to the extra things at the ticket counter?
There was also a "time tunnel" which was stupid and led to the exit. No sign saying that, so if they forget to tell you, you could do it first and leave the castle before really seeing it. Really, this must have cost a lot of money to build, but was an absurd waste of time. The castle was $10. The Torture room and the Time tunnel were $2.50 each. Cheap, but the time was the real loss.
Anyway, this was well worth the visit. I liked it. I have a caveat though, I was off season, at a slow tourist time of day. This place would have been my definition of hell with a lot of people. And that is the description I have gotten from others that went during peak times.
You can walk around the castle grounds for free, including right up to the castle. I read that there is a great walk up a hill that gives an incredible view of the castle. If this had been a busy time, I would not have gone inside. Heck, at peak times I might not even have done a drive by.
Brasov,, Romania is a tourist town as well as a business town. Not too big, and easy in and out. Someone recommended that I go to the Black Church. I won't get into the history, that is for Google, but there had been a fire and the church did not burn down, but was blackened. Decent displays, none of which one was allowed to photograph.
The Black Church: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biserica_Neagr%C4%83
The town has a huge tourist area, but it strikes me as more for Romanians. At least this time of year. I like tourist towns that are more for citizens rather than international tourists. My apartment was a reasonable walk from the historic area. I found a place to get a good dinner. I sat around watching people for a while, but this place was not what I needed. I wandered around trying to find a place to hang. Then I heard the Doors at a place called the Bibliotec or something like that. Inside I found a great looking bar, and the music video on the TV was the doors showing Jim Morrison getting arrested in New Haven, or something like that. Looked like my kind of place. I stuck around until the video was done. Then the typical crap music came on. I had only just replaced a Boy George song in my head, put there by the last hotel I was in (crappy music montages seems to be the norm here). Unfortunately that song was replaced by a song by George Michael. My head was ready to explode and I was fearful of what the next stuck song would be. A Doors song is now bouncing around in there.
Brasov: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bra%C8%99ov
I figured it was time to make it an early night. The Apartment I was in was in a working peoples neighborhood more or less. I decided to walk around to see what the place looked like at night. There was a small bar right around the corner. Self Serve, but the owner realized I was not a regular and led me to a good Romanian Pale Ale (is that an AAAAAARPA or an RRRRRPah).
The bar was owned by a biker, and you were expected to serve yourself, and clean up after yourself. THIS was my kinda' place. The beers were Good, Big, Strong and Cheap. You know, like me......... The music did not suck.
Saturday was a slow start day. Note the last paragraph. I really was not sure where I wanted to go. Everyone recommended Sibiu. Lots of history or whatever. There were a few other towns recommended, lots of history or whatever. I am getting a bit burned out by history, old churches and buildings. I really need something different. After looking at the options, time, and roads, I chose Sibiu. Mainly because I could find an Air BnB well outside the city, near some interesting things, but easy in and out to the city sites. I don't like cities. Have I mentioned that.
On the way, my phone buzzed. I stopped, thinking it was probably my Air BnB host sending me check in information. While stopped, two guys from Bucharest on bikes stopped at the same location to clean their helmet visors. They were headed to Sibiu to get soup, then to ride the Transfăgărășan, then back to Bucharest. OK, that makes sense. (Hint: I think there was a girl involved)
I calculate that to be a 10.5 hour round trip, NOT including the pause for soup. This on sportbikes. That is Ironbutt thinking.
Transfăgărășan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfăgărășan
Sibiu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibiu
I rode with them into the city. A nice relaxing ride for me. The city was easy in and out, and the soup, Romanian Goulash, was good. We had a great conversation about Romania. I love talking to educated people about their country. No drama, just educated opinions and information. Romanians are great. Very friendly people. Educated younger (younger than me anyway) people provide a great insight into how a country is really doing. Romania has it's problems, as all countries do, but I think the people make it what it is, and the folks I met can improve it, in time.
These guys were great. Mihai and Darian. Their lovely friend could not be there for the photo. Even though I have lost a lot of weight, that damned suit of mine, pockets loaded with crap, makes me look huge. Time to look for another brand or at least another size.
I am finally smartening up and finding places outside the town or tourist centers. I found an Air BnB for $40. A full, large apartment with a washer a short walk from one of the better stops in town, an open air museum.
More importantly, it is a 5 minute walk from a steak house that serves aged Angus steaks. Nice aged steak, veggies, bottle of good Feteasca Neagra Wine, a big bottle of bubbly water (water is never free here) all for $40.
Aged to perfection. 
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Feteasca Neagra grapes, growing on the wall of my last Apartment. 
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