BRASOV

No need to ask if you have arrived, the giant white Hollywood type sign, reads BRASOV on top of Tampa Hill. This city is best approached by visiting the hill side white and black towers to get a view over the city center. The Black Church sits in the center near the historic central square. Outdoor bars are constantly full and serving up cheap traditional food and beer. The cheap costs, great night life and old style charm of this city will have you changing your plans and staying longer than intended.

SIBIU

The lively streets of medieval Sibiu are an excellent place to grab a beer and people watch. The cobble stoned streets are lined with vibrant buildings and towering old churches. Busy restaurants and bars poor into the streets and are always busy with Romanians and tourists alike. These ancient streets and the pure beauty had the city had it deemed the European Capital of Culture in 2007 and continues to be one of the most visited place in Romania.

SIGHISOARA

The hill top city of Sighisoara is a great starting place to experience Romania's epic Transylvania. The centerpiece of this city is the clock tower built in 1556 that offers outstanding 360 views over the city. It's cobble stoned streets are packed with restaurants and bars beautifully painted and extremely cheap. Another one of the cities highlights is it being the birthplace of Vlad Tepes, better known as Dracula. This is a town easily manageable in a day but it's small town charm is worthy of a much longer stay.  

BUCHAREST

I had heard Bucharest was not the most inspiring place to visit, and it turned out to be all too true. The city center is a bit lackluster, and packed with drunken homeless people and street dogs. The downtown is lined with shops and restaurants making it a lively stroll but lacking in sights. The centerpiece of the city is the parliament building, the largest in the world, but more of an eye sore than an architectural wonder. In Bucharest's favor however, it does have some beautiful parks in the outskirts of the city that are pleasant and enjoyable.

SPRING IN SOFIA

After three winter trips to Sofia, it was nice to return and see it again in spring. Flowers in bloom, markets opened, and people back in the streets. During winter Bulgarians give each other martenitzas (red and white bracelets) and when spring comes and they see a crane, flower in bloom or any other sign of spring they take them off and tie them to a tree. In downtown Sofia nearly ever flowering tree is covered with them, making it just another reason I love this city!

TUNNELS

During the siege of Sarajevo, (1992-1996) the Serbian army surrounded the city almost 360 degrees from the mountains that were used during the 1984 Olympics. They continued shelling the city for nearly four years and killing an estimated one-third of the population. This is the longest period of time in recorded history that any city has been under siege, yet somehow they survived.

In order to stay alive the people of Sarajevo had only one option; to dig. The UN controlled the airport at that time, being the only part of the circumference of the city the Serbians didn't control, people thought it would be safe. The UN refused to allow refugees to pass through and reach free Bosnian Territory and Serbian snipers killed anyone who tried.

Rather than give up, Sarajevo's resistance fighters dug a 1 kilometer secret tunnel under the airport in order to get people out, food and munitions in and keep the city alive. This tunnel was the only thing that kept the hope alive for the people of Sarajevo in the four years of hell that plagued them. Unfortunately this tragedy is just another one to add to the list of UN and mankind's failures.  

SARAJEVO

War, destruction, death, genocide and mass rape aside; Sarajevo is making a strong comeback. Just 8 years after hosting the 1984 Winter Olympics this city would go from positive international spotlight to headline news for all the wrong reasons. Today the city is moving progressively forward and rebuilding. Although bullet holes have turned the entire city into giant piece of swiss cheese, new buildings are going up and slowly paint is covering up the deep dark past..

The city is a lively place surrounded by green hills and filled up with red roofed buildings. The spires of mosques can be seen in nearly every direction while boasting cheap beer and great food. In multiple spots of the city beyond the bullet holes one will see expansive cemeteries of white headstones all dated from 1992-1996, a stark reminder to the citizens and visitors alike what occurred here so recently.

The people of the city have shown their resilience in the past and continue to strive for a better future today. Although there is mass poverty and still visible wartime destruction the people are working hard to bring their city back into the world spot light as a positive place. The over 300,000 inhabitants still have a long way to go but have much to look forward to such as hosting the 2017 European Youth Olympics.