Saturday, Sep 9th, Brasov, Romania

Greetings!

This morning, our guide (Joe) led us on a city tour.  Brasov is hosting a very large open-air concert in the city center (Holygram is headlining), and you could hear them doing sound checks from anywhere we walked.  The band evidently broke up a few years ago, and this must be a special performance in support of the Green Energy movement here in Eastern Europe.  Their sound is reported to have a Snake Corps/Sad Lovers and Giants feel to it.  From what I heard in the warmup, it's Stevie Nicks meets Metallica.

We found the third narrowest street in the world.  Designated an official street with proscribed width so that horse-drawn firewagons could get through it to the other side of the town centuries ago, it's now a great collection of graffiti.  Unsurprisingly, the Jewish Quarter was at the end of it, and we visited the City's largest synagogue.  Though a Saturday, we were let in in silence to sit in segregated sides.

Passing through the southern fortress gate (Schei Gate and Catherine's Gate), we walked to the Black Church.  Though the name (and darkened facade) is thought to have come from a fire, the real culprit is environmental pollution in the 19th century.  An enormous structure, built by the Transylvanian Saxon (German) community in medievel times in Gothic style, it supports the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession of Romania.  

Two unique features we found were: the children's table with an invitation to them to use the provided crayons and paper to draw Bible scenes which were displayed near the back; and the donations of rare rugs draped over the balconies and displayed on the walls.  An absolutely beautiful church.

Walking on, we found the Museum of Memories of Communism.  Carmen, Center Manager, gave us a great overview of how the Museum began, and what it contains.  We then wandered, read, listened, and learned from the first-hand stories captured throughout.

Driving for an hour, we arrived at the last and most anticipated venue of the day - Bran Castle.  Commonly known outside Transylvania as Dracula's Castle, it is marketed as the home of the title character of Bram Stoker's Dracula.  While outfitted with plenty to help visitors imagine Dracula, it really is one of 13 castle fortresses built to defend the area against the Ottoman Empire.   Now owned by the son (Archduke Dominic of Austria) of the last princess of the realm (Ileana), who used it as a hospital during WWII, the family contracts with the town to present the site for those pursuing information on Dracula, Bram Stoker, and the family history.


To see all of the photos taken today, click on Saturday, Sep 9th, Brasov, Romania.








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