October Tour of Transylvania

Here are some photos of our trip to the Transylvania region.  We did a big loop going over a beautiful mountain pass, the Transfagarasan (the 2nd highest pass in the Carpathian mountain range) that has been made famous by the British show Top Gear (http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/74640745001).  On our way to Sibiu we stopped at Poenari Castle, where Vlad the Impaler lived, and it is sometimes called the real Dracula's castle.

It sits high up on a hill. There is no road and one must climb the 1480 steps to get to it. This is a view down the valley from the castle.

From here we stayed in Sibiu a quaint old town with German heritage, with winding streets and a beautifully restored pedestrian only town square.

We headed to Brasov and Sighisoara two similar old cities. On the way we stopped at a bunch of fortified churches.

Otto in the top of one of the clock towers

One of the greatest things about the trip were all the castles that littered the country side, although Otto got sick of it pretty fast. We used a guide book to try and find the recommended ones, but while driving we would just see them on the hill tops. This one, the Rupea Fortress, was one of the most impressive. It was build into a black rock formation high up on a hill.  It was first documented in 1324 as a fortress. It has been mostly restored.  Of course the photos do not do it justice. It was hard to capture the awe of seeing it on the hill top as we were driving on the highway.

I LOVE this stuff! Can't wait to get out and explore more...

The life (or lack there of) of a doctoral student

I hardly know I live in Bucharest, except that life is very easy compared to our last 2 posts.  I could pretty much be living anywhere in the world since all I have done since the day I landed is sit in my chair in front of my computer and read/write for school when I am not at work. I am just now coming out of the shackles of my most brutal semester back at school. I apologize to those of you who actually follow this craziness (and fun!) that is my life in the foreign service. I have now been in Bucharest exactly 4 months and today was one of the few days I actually went out and explored (darn...I didn't bring my camera).  It is a freaking beautiful, happening city!!  It has been of course busy moving and getting settled in our new home; adjusting to a new health unit and school for Otto. Otto has adjusted very well, but he is a new person now that he is a teenager (not always in a good way).  School was rough for him at first after 2 years of doing nothing in school in Bishkek, but he has made great progress and his teachers all see what a bright (but lazy) boy he is. I am really happy with the school and it is a perfect place for him.

I am working in a very organized, fully staffed, new health unit.  And even better, we are busy. I am actually seeing lots of patients each day. Nothing like my ER days, but busy enough that I really miss electronic health records for the charting support.  I have been lucky enough to have already stitched 3 people up (their injury misfortune is my joy!).  I am running into the usual early adjustment with the new staff, we are all feeling each other out, but honestly, I feel mostly bad for them having to deal with a new 'boss' every 3 years...and I am not the easiest person when it comes to insisting on high clinic standards. People have been welcoming and there is so much going on in the Embassy community being in a big, European city...the sad part is that I have not been able to participate.

I hope to do some city exploring (with camera in hand) over the next week. Otto flew out today to visit his dad in Portland and I am a free soul.  I do have some great photos from a trip Otto, his dad and I took to the Transylvania region in October.  Famous for everything Dracula. It was a lovely trip, so many castles. I will post photos soon.

In the meantime, I have updated my blog background and permanent photos to reflect my current post.  I had to include a picture of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) since he is the most famous part of Romania to tourists.  I have also put an open book as the background since I will be in school for another year so do not feel like I can honestly lure you in with a beautiful scenic photo of something representative of Romania since I know most of my time here will be spent at my desk...for now. Once I have completed my studies, I will put up a representative background and get back to more regular blogging. In the mean time, I will do what I can.

Something to look forward to...I will only take one class next semester so I can actually try to enjoy my life here and in March I go to Lisbon, Portugal for my annual medical training.  Did I mention life is good :)