Brassó/Brasov

 This is about 25 miles outside of Brassó, on the train route from Bucharest.  Bucharest is in lowlands, much like the Texas Gulf coast.  The Carpathians reminded me of the Tetons-perhaps not as high, but very rugged.

 View from my hotel window. Away from downtown, industrial area, thus cheaper.  Mountains are part of ski area you can reach by local bus.

 Another couple of fotos from the train

I cant understand why  central european budget hotels are so user- unfriendly.  No city maps (avail at no cost from local tourist office) and no info about public transportation (ditto).

Back in Europe again. Bucharest

 Bucharest.  Historic section of town is just a pastiche of trendy pubs and foreign food restaurants.  Went exploring, ran into a arts/antiques bazzar and wound uo buying this silver bracelet for 150 lei, about $40.

 Hotel room.  Got to hotel by combination of bus from airport (sro) which got caught in rush hour traffic, plus streetcar, helped out by a young man who explained the tickets and directions.  Later it dawned on me that he was really cute...but at the time i was exhausted from about 21 hours of continuous travel