Romania - What a wonderful surprise!

Daryl, I'm glad you enjoyed Romania. We did too although we saw different places and did some family history around Constanza. Let's hope too many people don't ruin the place before we get back again.

I had a great time in Romania, but have to wonder where you went in Bucharest that you were able to not see "lots of leftover communist housing and bad raods and crumbling cities and sour people" - because with the exception of the touristy old city, that was our Bucharest experience. But we were staying with a local couple, taking public transit, etc. I wouldn't call a guide and a driver inexpensive in Romania either. It's cheaper than in Western European countries, but having a guide/driver turns Romania from a budget destination into costs comparable with going anywhere in the West. Which is fine if you can afford it. In my experience most travelers go to Romania specifically because it IS a budget destination, however, and a private guide/driver isn't in the budget. Glad you enjoyed your trip! I'd like to return someday and see the Maramures region.

I was wondering the same thing as Sarah. There are some beautiful sites to see in Romania, but there is definitely some of all of the above in Bucharest. This write-up seems less than spontaneous to me, although if Daniel is a good guide (and Jim says he is), then no harm done. But the description of Bucharest does stretch credulity a bit.

Actually, my review was spontaneous. I do try to write well and I did go over it before posting. I really liked Bucharest. Perhaps, the nice weather, the lively old town, the beautiful historic buildings, the green boulevards and the helpful people on the street made a difference. Certainly, I was in tourist areas but as I mentioned, I expected an ugly city. It was not. I would like to say that my friend and I did travel on a budget and the car and driver costs did not come anywhere close to what I would even have to pay in Mexico. .....or what we would have ended up paying in Romania. We are not back packers but we do stay in B&Bs and take trains. We normally travel on our own but we researched lodging, rental cars, trains, etc and found it was far easier to have a guide. His costs included not only all the lodging and the transportation for 6 days through the villages and towns of Transylvania and Maramures but also his insights and his knowledge of the Romanian history. Also, We did not want to go back to Bucharest to take a train or flight so with the guide we were able to travel all the way into Hungary.
The airfare from Bucharest to Budapest was going to cost 2 of us $500. Our guide drove us all the way to Budapest for less than 1/3 that amount. I agree we all that Romania is a great place to visit. I would like to go back to take in the Black Sea and the Painted Monastaries.

Hi there Daryl have to congratulate you guys for being able to put up with Daniel Gheorghita "the tour guide".

Hi Daryl, Wow, that sounds very very similar to a trip I took back in 2007! But I headed back to Bucharest after Cluj. I went there to visit a good friend who had returned for medical school and ended up spending a week and a half hopping trains through Transylvania! It's a beautiful country. I have to express some surprise as well that you didn't see any of the communist buildings and such. Thanks for sharing! -Dave

I think there's a difference between not seeing something and not noticing it. If I am going through a stretch of drab 20th century buildings and come across a beautiful historic building or two, those are what I remember most about a place.