I think this is going to be one of my favorites posts. The best part of my trip and the most amazing scenery. I couldn't wait to show you my way to Transylvania through The Carpathian mountains: The Transfăgărășan, the road that connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia, through the highest peak in the country, Moldoveanu, and the second highest, Negoiu.
The road climbs to 2,034 metres altitude and also provides access to Bâlea Lake and Bâlea Waterfall. Transfăgărășan is usually closed from late October until late June because of snow. We went through it a few days before closing...
When you are at the top, you remain without words.
We started our journey in Bucharest, arrive to Pitești and then we drove through a beautiful landscape and small villages until our first stop: Poenari Castle. The country side until our first destination was amazing, with colourful little houses, people selling fruits and vegetable along the road, families in traditional clothes on old wood carts... as taken from a movie from Emir Kusturica. Dreamlike!
The historical castle was erected on a cliff (1480 steps until the top) around the beginning of the 13th century by the rulers of Wallachia. Vlad the Impaler noticed the defence potential of the Poenari Fortress and decided to rehabilitate it, becoming one of his main places of residence.
The legend says that the first wife of Vlad the Impaler, Jusztina Szilagyi of Moldova, commited suicide from this fortress walls. Being afraid that she will be taken hostage by the turks, Vlad’s wife threw herself from one of the citadel’s walls. She died smashed on the rocks. Legend says that when she died a river that passed nearby got all red from the lady’s blood. Since then, the river is called The Lady’s River.
Transfăgărășan road fights with the mountain slopes like a huge snake through the most beautiful landscape. At the highest point of the road there is a 890m tunnel that links the two valleys. The weather was hot and sunshiny but, once through the tunnel, there was an amazingly dramatic change of weather. On the northern side the landscape was barren and alpine and there was snow!
We couldn't see the valley because of the snow and heavy fog. The heavy change of weather in a few meters was stunning! From here the road steeply drops in sweeping curves down an amazing glacial valley before levelling out on the Transylvanian plain...
After my Inspiration post about Transylvania, I decided to wear crazy patterns, mix different shapes and textures to get a gipsy look for the most awaited part of the trip. I loved wearing my favorite dress up on the mountains for this important happening; meeting the Carpathian mountains and Transylvania...
- end of the Obsession -
http://midorisobsessions.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/following-vlad-tepes-aka-dracula.html
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