Driving a Tacoma around the world

Tons of cool castles. This is in Cesis, Latvia. I don't think there's a European castle that didn't get destroyed by either fire or cannons. This one was amazing

 

I have to say this is amazing!, like i might have mentioned I'm from Romania and I don't know it that is on your itinerary but this castle reminds me of the old country quite a bit. A lot of this fortresses were built to save town from the invaders (mostly from the east...) even churches are fortresses. You guys are lucky to be able to do this, enjoy the adventure and be safe!

 

Thank you Das! Tomorrow we're heading to Lithuania for 3 days and then streaking down to Romania for a couple of weeks. Happy to relax there outside of the Schengen area as our 90 day time limit is almost up.

Any suggestions??

 

North East Romania has most historical churches like Voronets and quite a few fortresses...Romania was a gateway to Europe so you can imagine...a few others, if you were to be in North West Romania you can visit the Happy Cemetery...I know it's weird but trust me it's like nothing else. You owe it to yourself to drive on the Transfagarasan (Top Gear certainly agrees), then down towards the capital Bucuresti or Bucharest as it's also known. There you can visit one of the largest building in the world....the People's Palace. Top gear was there too, now you are close to Targoviste...Vlad Dracul area. Ofcourse you must visit Bran castle where Bram Stoker got inspired to write his book. Also don't miss out in visiting Sighisoara, specifically the old Town...Vlad area. Also castle of Hunedoara...
Now you could go east towards the Bkack Sea and visit Histria...there are cobblestone roads built by the Romans 2000 years ago...Danube meets Bkack Sea.
Got to run, I'll write more in a bit, enjoy!

 

Very awesome!! Thanks so much.

 

Just got to work (I work in a hospital ). If you were to head south west in the Banat region (my home area) and you get near where the Iron Gates are (a project done back in the 70's between Romania and former Yugoslavia) you will come across some remnants of bridges across the Danube (Dunarea) that the Romans built to help with their invasion of Dacia (former name of actual territory of current Romania...Romania derived from the you guess if...Romans, even the romanian language is closest to what the Romans used to speak...here is another fact. The Romans ruled over much of North Africa, Europe, all the way to today UK, and eastern Europe...they never glorified their battles of conquest. They new it was nasty what they were doing...so they left Dacia ...you will see cars branded Dacia...after the former land. But the Romans did one thing very unique to record their war against Dacians...they were so surprised about the Dacians bravery. They erected a column that to this day is in Rome...Trajan's column depicting the Dacian war).
If you keep following the Danube towards the point of entry into Romania now you are truly on my home turf. There again there is a tablet that the Roman's attached to the mountain side, but it had to be raised due to the Danube water level rising after the Iron Gates were built...the biggest Hydroelectric dam in Europe. Not far from there there is the largest mountain sculpture in Europe (again) of King Decebal. King Decebal (Regele Decebal, the king of Dacian people). A site to see, and across the Danube is Serbia with a beautiful fortresses of Maria Teresa. I could go on and on...please take a ton of pictures!...I'm here if you need help with translation or anything .

 

On the Voronets monastery in North East Romania, it's built in 1600 and has the whole Bible images painted on it's exterior walls, the blue paint it's original like all the frescoes and actually it's named Voronets blue.
While in Romania try the wines, the plum brandy...mititei (small sausage type...with some Romanian beer...you might not want to leave...)

 

Here is an older promotional video on Romania.
https://youtu.be/-dZGDy45ZeI

 

Wow! Thank you so much. I feel like I just had my own private tour guide. There's so much history here compared to North America. I will definitely post lots of pictures. We should be there around Oct 10th or so.

 

Jealousy intensifies

Seriously tho, love following this trip.

 

Awesome!, I left Romania during the dictatorship times...that huge river (Danube) I swam it...while being shot at...1986, been in Alberta Canada (Edmonton) since 1987...I hope that my former country won't disappoint you.

 

That's one hell of a story.

I've heard similar stories here in Estonia and Latvia about grandfathers being hauled off to the gulags, having their father born there and hating the Soviets, while the current generation are ambivalent about them, think it's ancient history. I'm old enough to remember... frustrating

 

Yes, I did my stint when I was 18 years old

 

Romania is proving to be an amazing place.


Castle in Hunedora, Romania. Our favorite of our trip so far!


This particular castle has been destroyed by fire five times, crazy!

 

I'm so happy you're enjoying your travel through Romania. Try to make it to Bran castle too, Sighisoara (the old town)!

 

For a snack food you got to try "mititei" !, would love to see your rig with a Romanian background please, thanks.

 

Bran castle in Brasov is on our list!

 

So far only have this of our first night in Oradea

 

Last night's camping site overlooking the Turda gorge, Romania. It was a nice 4 mile loop. A local mostly friendly dog.

 

Do the Romanians find your rig interesting?