Romania Bucharest

Five days in Romania with my brother flew by before we even realized it. As soon as we landed in Bucharest—still carrying our backpacks and the tiredness of the trip—we immediately became friends with the host of our apartment. What a character. One of those people you instantly feel could talk for hours, mixing stories, odd anecdotes and random jokes. In his own peculiar way, he basically welcomed us into the country.

We dropped our bags, took a quick refresh, and went straight out to explore Bucharest. The city greeted us with its mix of historic buildings, wide boulevards and that lively-yet-slightly-decayed atmosphere that makes it unique. For dinner we dove straight into Romanian cuisine: steaming soups, smoked dishes, meat everywhere… and of course the famous pork knuckle from Caru’ cu Bere — massive, delicious, worth the trip on its own.

The next day was already set for one of the highlights of the vacation: the tour of Peleș Castle and Bran Castle, in the heart of Transylvania. But before reaching the castles, we stopped in Brașov, a town that looks like it came straight out of a postcard. Colorful houses, tidy squares, quiet streets… the kind of place where you just want to sit with a coffee and watch the world go by.

Peleș impressed us with its royal elegance, the incredible interior details and its location tucked between the mountains. Bran, on the other hand, had a completely different vibe: darker, more essential, tied to the legend of Dracula. The contrast was perfect. Walking through those rooms and imagining the stories behind them was one of the most fascinating moments of the whole trip.

Five intense days — good food, new places, roads to explore, laughter, and that special kind of bond you get only when traveling with a sibling.

Romania truly surprised us… and somehow, it stayed with us.