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John Arnold
08-03-2007, 09:28 AM
We're headed for Transylvania (seriously) for two weeks. The wife has some urban design work there and I'm going along to fend off Vlad and his minions. I'll return with photos of strange construction problems and Communist era architecture. Not your average summer vacation, I guess.

Scott Patterson
08-03-2007, 09:38 AM
Be safe and have a good time. Oh and when you ask for water they will ask if you want "gas" or "no gas". Carbonation or non-carbonated!

Richard Moore
08-03-2007, 01:35 PM
A friend and I did a car trip of the Warsaw pact countries back in 1973. East Germany, Poland, Chekoslovakia, Romania & Hungary (took months to get the visas). Romania was by far the friendliest place and I still have fond memories of entire village populations waving at us as we drove through in my bright yellow Ford Escort GT. Private cars were still rare back then, especially in the countryside, and they were all the same dull model (some Russian variation of a FIAT I believe).

Another memory of Romania was in Bucherest, where there was some traffic. It suddenly started raining while we were driving in the city and every car just stopped in its tracks. We didn't know what the hell was going on until we realized that all the drivers were getting out and installing their windshield wipers. Evidently, parts were very hard to come by, theft was a real problem, and they kept the wipers locked up until needed!

Anyway, I'm sure things are a lot different now, but beautiful country in areas. Enjoy!

wayne soper
08-03-2007, 01:40 PM
Watch out for beautiful women with sharp teeth.

Rick Hurst
08-03-2007, 03:54 PM
John,

I saw a story the other night on one of those news show that said the castle actually owned by the famous Count in Transylvania was going on the auction block.

Check it out for us if you have a chance and take some pics. Just wear that silver cross around you neck.

Should be interesting. The neighbors behind me are from Romania and their the nicest folks. He is the one who alarmed us when our truck caught fire last year. His translation of Fire was not so good, but the look of panic is known worldwide I quess.

Have fun.

Rick

John Ghent
08-03-2007, 05:18 PM
Must be nice to have a wife who earns serious bread.

Bruce Breedlove
08-03-2007, 05:48 PM
Garlic worn around the neck is a great vampire repellant.

Don't accept a dinner invitation from anyone named Nosferatu.

Erol Kartal
08-03-2007, 09:12 PM
Heavily forested scenic area. The history of the real Dracula is what's creepy.

Erol Kartal
ProInspect

Matt Fellman
08-06-2007, 12:25 AM
I haven't done a lot of travelling outside the US aside from several trips to various parts of Mexico.... It's amazing the condtion of the buildings and the numerous issues (what we HI's would refer to as major hazards)...

It kind of puts things in perspective when you look around here. Sometimes when I find myself in an argument with a realtor about where a GFI should go I think back to Mexico.... It's pretty much the standard to let the children play with extension cords in swimming pools made of asbestos while sitting on the edge of 8 foot deck with no railing....

Jerry Peck
08-06-2007, 06:56 AM
I think back to Mexico.... It's pretty much the standard to let the children play with extension cords in swimming pools made of asbestos while sitting on the edge of 8 foot deck with no railing....

It's called 'overpopulation control'. ;)

Eric Van De Ven
08-06-2007, 09:28 AM
I haven't done a lot of traveling outside the US aside from several trips to various parts of Mexico.... It's amazing the condition of the buildings and the numerous issues (what we HI's would refer to as major hazards)...

The term for that in the Florida Keys is "Rustic". Loosely translated, stay away!

John,
I am pretty sure I saw a show with
Samantha Brown, how do you get her job, where she went to Transylvania and Bucharest. It was very interesting. Have a great time and the cross, garlic etc... doesn't work, at least according to Anne Rice, so just have fun!

Rick Hurst
08-06-2007, 10:10 AM
Eric,

I know what you mean about that Samantha Brown's job. Now that is a job I'd like to have.

I'd like to travel with her. ;)