Sibiu – Leonberger Life

I found out that today, or rather yesterday, that May 26 is World Dracula Day. It is celebrated to remember the day that the famous novel Dracula by Bram Stoker was published (1897). For most of you I am posting this one a day late. However, I found out about it a bit late. Check out VAMP JENN’S CORNER.

It reminded me of our trip to Romania and Transylvania in 2008. During that trip my son and I were inducted into the covenant of Dracula as special protectors of Dracula. Perhaps you could join as well? Viking Blood tastes pretty good and you can buy it at Specs. More on that later. (Photos by me).

Photo of a guy wearing a mask in the Bran Castle — Dressed up dude scaring tourists at the Bran Castle.

First a little bit about Dracula. Prince Vlad “Tepes” Draculea (Vlad the Impaler) known as Dracula was born in Sighisoara, Transylvania, Romania, in 1431. He was the second son of Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Dragon), who became the ruler of Wallachia in 1436. Wallachia is the province to the south of Transylvania. He got the nickname Vlad the Impaler because his favorite method of execution was to impale people, and he is rumored to have impaled tens of thousands. In 1442 the Ottoman Empire tried to invade Transylvania and Vlad Dracul and Vlad Tepes Draculea were imprisoned by the Ottomans. They were able to flee, and Vlad Tepes became the Voivod (ruler) of Wallachia, defender of Transylvania and ultimately the defender of all of Europe. For this reason, Vlad Tepes alias Dracula is a local hero, despite his impalement activities and being rumored to be a vampire.

Stray dog that we came across in Sighisoara. Do you think he was a vampire dog?

It was a Water polo team trip. In addition to the kids on the team, including my son Jacob, there was the coach Mihai, and two chaperones, me, and Jim Smith. We arrived in Bucharest (Wallachia) where the boys played water polo against other teams, and we also visited various tourist attractions such as the enormous Palace of the Parliament erected by Communist Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. We also visited the Snagov island and the Snagov monastery located not far from Bucharest. The Snagov monastery is where Dracula’s grave is located and it is tended to by a monk, Dracula’s monk, and he was extremely happy to welcome us. He had been waiting for us.

Photo of the enormous Palace erected by Nicolay Ceausescu. It is the largest administrative building in the World. — This enormous Palace was erected by Nicolay Ceausescu. It is the largest administrative building in the World.

Photo of a room inside Ceausescu’s palace. — One of hundreds of public rooms in Ceausescu’s palace.

Photo of Dracula’s monk, Mihai the coach, and the seven kids plus two small dogs. My son Jacob is second from right in the dark green shirt. — Dracula’s monk, Mihai and the kids. My son Jacob is second from right in the dark green shirt. Notice the little dogs. Dracula had nice little dogs.

Photo of three of us standing right behind Dracula's grave on the Snagov island. I am to the right in blue, my son in the middle. I forgot his friend’s name. Dracula’s monk took the photo using my camera. Focus could have been better. — We are standing right behind Dracula’s grave. I am to the right in blue, my son in the middle and I forgot his friend’s name. Dracula’s monk took the photo using my camera. Focus could have been better.

Next the monk took us to Dracula’s well and he asked us if we were willing to join the covenant of Dracula as protectors of Dracula. I am not sure if that is the same as the order of the Dragon, the order that Dracula was part of. The monk said that my son was very special. He was the incarnation of the arch angel Gabriel and a special protector of Dracula. I am not sure if that had anything to do with me giving him a good tip earlier. I asked whom I was an incarnation of. The monk answered, no one special, you are just Pedro. I don’t know who Pedro is. Anyway, we drank from Dracula’s well and got inducted into the Dracula’s covenant.

Dracula's monk is preparing for us to drink from Dracula's well. — Drinking from Dracula’s well.

Next, we headed off to Transylvania where we visited the cities of Brasov and Sibiu and the town of Sighisoara. We stayed at a hotel “Casa cu Cerb” built inside the three-story house, at “Piata Muzeului” number 6, where Dracula was born. It was an interesting experience and we got to know the owner well. It is a famous small hotel with only ten guestrooms. We also ate at Dracula’s restaurant next-door. We had brain, not human brains, but cow brains, we aren’t zombies.

View of Brasov from nearby mountain — Brasov

Plaque for Dracula's restaurant — Dracula ’s restaurant

Photo of fried brain at Dracula's restaurant — Brain food at Dracula’s restaurant

We also climbed the Transylvanian mountains and visited the Bran castle. The Bran castle is allegedly Dracula’s castle, but it is not really true. It is more of a tourist trap. The Poienari Castle, which we also visited, was on the other hand built or rather renovated by Dracula.