Tales of Dracula's country: Romania

I am pleasantly impressed to see that Romanian women wear traditional "ie" [read "ee-eh"] more than before; the "ii" [the plural of the noun] depict the regions of the country (presently Banat, Crișana, Dobrogea, Maramureș, Moldova, Muntenia, Oltenia, Transylvania but historically including mainly Bucovina, Cadrilater).  "iile" (the "ii") are made from breathing fabrics like fine cotton which is easier for the skin to breathe during the hot season. At this time the entire country - and especially in cities suffocated by concrete that radiates even more heat - has been designated to be coded "yellow" for temperatures above 100°F (38°C) except in the mountains and the region of Transylvania. The handmade "ii" are quite pricey but worth the pride of wearing them especially for a native Romanian. They're part of the so treasured heritage and well kept for special occasions in a wooden chest. Men wear them also but no...

Face mask (required by law while inside of a public place) Passport American Express credit card In Europe, multiple contingencies must be prepared: Visa, Master Card, cash Comfortable shoes Water, snacks (mask may be removed during consumption) Cell phone + adaptor for 220V + cable A laptop or a note book/ pen, pencil just in case you want to capture memories A camera or good resolution cell phone to capture videos and photographs (and charging cable) Cotton clothes Umbrella Band aids, basic care items including wet wipes and disinfectant Avoid wearing all your jewelry at once! Avoid keeping all money in one place!

It's been a long time since the last train ride...was it France? Italy? The Kingdom of the Netherlands? New York to Washington, DC? I don't recall...it's one of the "disadvantages" of extensive travels. I never liked to keep track of such things but I surely remember the first taste of genuine freedom after the Revolution of 1989, the first trip by airplane, the first trip by train. This adventurous trip to Romania brings all the positive energy of my friends and close family who are joyful of our return. The trains are no longer the old types I remember; they were changed with new ones. But the humor of the Romanians is ubiquitous. Passing through a tunnel, lights are off, one voice shouts: "Watch your bags! It's a long tunnel." I'm smiling but carefully reach out to my purse just in case; truthfully, it's so heavy, I doubt that anybody would want to take it. As I listen to the sound of the rolling wheels speeding through miles and miles...