I had no idea what to expect when I flew into Romania. Lucky for me, it turned out to be a fascinating country. 

We started by exploring the famed painted monasteries, in the Bukovina region, near the Ukranian border. As stunning as the monasteries were on the outside, I was blown away by the vivid detail of the paintings inside the monasteries. Unfortunately, photos aren't allowed inside. Please trust me when I say the interiors are breathtakingly beautiful...definitely worth a visit. My favorite painted monastery was Voronet, near the city of Suceava. The region is also known for its wooden churches, in the town of Maramures. The exteriors of these structures are unassuming. Inside, there are gorgeous paintings, done directly on the centuries-old wood. 

One of the most interesting things about driving through northern Romania was the scenery we encountered. Haystacks and livestock, people dressed in traditional clothing literally pushing wooden carts along the road...all totally normal and beautiful. Our driver was from the region and knew everyone, which was such a plus. He even brought us to a tiny whiskey distillery. When brewing, the owner has to turn a wheel every few minutes to keep the liquor from sticking to the barrel. Another of my regional favorites was the Merry Cemetery. It's definitely the most interesting cemetery I've ever been to. The tombstones are brightly colored, and painted with witty (sometimes hilarious) stories about the deceased. 

We had to go to Sighisoara, the medieval birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (AKA Dracula). The architecture there is incredible. 

We also spent a few days in Sibiu, which is by far the most beautiful city in Romania, in my opinion. It is truly romantic. I definitely could have stayed for a week. 

Of course, Romania is not Romania without visiting castles. We visited Bran Castle (known as Dracula's Castle, since it's the one portrayed in Stoker's book). It was a little spooky, lol. I also enjoyed the opulent Peles Castle, where the Romanian royal family once resided.

We also spent some time in the capital city of Bucharest. It is in a lot of ways a typical European city, but I really enjoyed the food there. Galli is a tiny French bistro with the BEST roasted chicken, and other yummy delicacies. Our friends in Bucharest, who my husband Brandon has met on a previous visit, graciously invited us into their home for an amazing dinner. The food was delicious, and we were treated like family. It was the perfect way to end our Romanian journey.