Transylvania & Banat Romania: mid-June with 3 Tweens

I spent 8-10 days in Transylvania twice, in 1995 and 1996, traveling with Transylvanians, and staying in homes in towns and villages.. I"ve stayed in close touch with friends/colleagues from Transylvania since then, including when they were in the States. Your kiddos may find life quite different than it is in wherever-you-live US or Canada (or Western Europe?). I hope that you spend some real time talking about what folks have experienced in Romania in the last 20-30 years. Timosoara (as you likely know) was where the beginning of the revolt against Ceaușescu began in 1989 and many people showed tremendous courage, and many people died in the uprising to overcome the regime. I hope that you have a chance to share the stories about what their family lived through during the Ceaușescu years, and then since then. This may be a tremendous opportunity for them to discover amazing things about themselves, their families, and the world. Please forgive me if you already know that... it's just that so few people go to Romania and are staying with family and real friends.... If you get a chance, the town of Sighisoara is quite lovely, very "old German" and historic. Your kiddos might enjoy climbing the clocktower and seeing what happens inside the clock, each top-of-the-hour. Brasov is wonderful to wander around in. Many Transylvanian residents are continuing to experience shortages of things that we tend to take for granted (some foods, paper products, more). Experiences like daily hot showers continue to be a luxury and are costly for many residents. Your kiddos are really fortunate to have an opportunity to connect with family there, and to learn first-hand what life is like in a country that doesn't have the energy, food, and other resources that many of us (in the US, Canada and Western Europe) have. It will hopefully be an amazing trip for them - and for all of your extended family. (I do recommend bringing small gifts for your family there; they will likely be armed with gifts for you!)

We're going to be in Timisoara for eight nights and Brasov two nights. We like food, sightseeing, hands-on and active excursions. We also saw the dinosaur park and thought about checking that out one day. My husband was born in Deta and raised in Timisoara...he actually participated in the uprising against the government in 1989 and is lucky to be alive today. So yes, we've had many discussions about life in Romania vs. America. I just found a juvenile fiction book called Voices of Silence that I'm reading with them now as well. Thank you for the advice and I look forward to hearing more responses. :-)