Don’t Let Your Impaling Define You

The agent at the desk was a gruff short-haired woman who managed to be as welcoming as one would expect, but no more than that. She informed me that I could touch anything in the museum. It was meant to be interactive. The sign confirmed this, but basically also said “please don’t break things.” So […]

In Which I Didn’t Plan to Hike

The sun had barely crested the top of Mt Tampa when I walked out of the door of my hotel to begin exploring Braşov. The city was hushed around me, especially in the old part of town where I was staying, and few cars interrupted my reverie. The morning was cold and the gelid air […]

The Patriarch Drives a BMW

I snapped a picture of the church and was surprised when a man approached me – the second person to do so today. The first didn’t speak English, but this one inquired as to whether I had taken a picture of him, and I averred that I hadn’t. I hadn’t knowingly done so anyway – […]

Bucharest Outdoes Florence

I’ve mentioned before that I frequently come across at least one day during a week of travel upon which all the museums are closed. For example – much of Florence seems to be closed on Mondays. Well Bucharest has done them one better – Most things here are closed on Monday and Tuesday. I’m not […]

It’s a Long Way from Detroit to Bucharest

“Hanu Lui Manuc is the oldest operating hotel building in Bucharest” (I stole that from Wikipedia), and that’s the restaurant I was sent to by the driver who picked me up at the airport. He told me it is very traditional, and the concierge at my hotel confirmed it would be a good choice for […]

Nobody Knows Where I’m Going

It’s 1056 PM on a Saturday night, my plane just left the gate at JFK en route to London, and I’m excited for the next few days. I don’t remember what I’ve told you, but this year I cut back on my workload, increasing my time off. I have, on several posts, mentioned the burnout […]