Transylvania must know my challenges

I don't have Internet so am at a friends, it will be 7 days until I do, I can only imagine what it is like in the harder to get to places in Transylvania.

The problem in I live in a city...

No Internet.

But to me this is a good challenge.

Transylvania and The Internet

I love writing about Transylvania, but the funny thing is on the web you write in google "Transylvania" and ironically you get something from wikipedia and a band...  I wonder about the quality of information I get on the Internet, but given that my blog is on the Internet and it is about Transylvania, the idea that I should offer others some choice where they might be able to find more facts and figures is also of importance.

Still the Internet is a place where you must go in with a mind that questions a lot of information.  Not all information is correct, but then not all book are correct.  asking about Transylvania and the Internet and having a questioning mind is vital to success to any writer.  the reason I mention wikipedia is that it is supposed (popular perception) a great place to find out information, however this does not mean it is in fact appropriate.  Photos of Transylvania can also be placed into question. 

A lot of people do not or have not seen the very land they are writing about and because you do not have the benefit of fact checkers on the history and people of Transylvania, and you are using the Internet this can mean you will find yourself getting into a lot of difficulties.

So what made me think about this?  When I typed in Transylvania, I was looking for the Romanian government's website on Transylvania.

Not quite what I was going for, but there are a lot of excellent photos to look at....

This is Where Bran Castle is....

I had an email request asking where Bran Castle is and if it really is in Transylvania.

On the Above map you will find that it is near Brasov which is in Transylvania. So While some might argue it looks close to Wallachia, I'll say it is on the Border.

When Talking about Transylvania...

Tell them that Transylvania is the most beautiful place on earth.

Above are picture of Bran Castle, Bristritsa, Alba Iluia, and a church in Timisoara (in the Banat) and a river in Transylvania. I just love these photos.

Writing and Publishing on Transylvania

There is a lot of writing and publishing going on these days, but as yet I have not found a good published book that will add to my collection on Transylvania.

Still I think what I am writing about will help with some history on Transylvania. I suspect most will find it interesting, and some won't but to me some one has got to write something.

Transylvania: The Best In Europe?

Is Transylvania the best place in Europe?

Do You Have a Passion?

I was talking about Transylvania to a friend and they asked me this: Do you have a passion?

well yes I do and it is called Transylvania.

it is a part of Romania, and its history is long and proud. So what isn't there to be passionate about?

Writing about Dracula and Transylvania?

This time... not in this book as much as the original this takes place mostly in England.

So maybe the view of Dracula will change.

I Found This of Interest

I love reading the newspaper in the morning and I found this article on Transylvania to be of interest as it discusses the dynamics of Romanian Hungarian relationships.

It is an interesting read.

Funny Thigns Happen When Some One Says "Where Is Transylvania?"

There is this look, then a face... and then...




I try to colour code the area I am talking about... ( the darker colour is the Banat-- the lighter is Transylvania proper.)

Alba Iluia the Best?

Below are three pictures of Alba Iluia, and the surrounding area, one is taken from the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania, and the others are sites in and around the city.

Is Alba Iluia the best city or the most photographed?

I am still trying to decide.

My method of Writing about Transylvania

I of course have my share of critics, but still the best is the Saxon people who lived in Transylvania until about 1945, when the majority were either evacuated to Germany or sent to Russia.

Still they are a proud people and want the correct version of their history to be out there. Of course they are exacting, but who wouldn't be in their case?

My method of writing about Transylvania then is making sure that the people are primary and not the farming details or the politics, as sometimes it is best to avoid such things.

Which City Do you Love Most?

Mine is pretty simple this is Bistritz, Transylvania, Romania. I love this particular photo, which comes from a new blog I found surprising Romania, excellent picture of the old Saxon Church. this is taken before 2008 when the tower was destroyed by fire.

Far and away it is better than my black and white photo.

Why Fortify the Cities?

The images which stand out in my mind about Transylvania are the fortified cities in the area. For some reason I tend to think of them as tourist attractions now-- with good reason, as most of these ancient cities now are... so why did Transylvania have so many?


Maybe because if you wanted to get to Vienna, and the rest of Europe the fastest way there was through Transylvania. So there you have it.

Still the ruins of the ancient fortress near Alba Iluia is the one place I need to really explore.

One thing on Transylvania

I loved the Olympics, it was great to have them near where I live.

Still the best part was being able to talk at great length to a lady who came from Brasov about the land she loves.

She was pleased to see that someone knew where she was from and was happy to learn i was of Saxon origin... apparently the Black Church still has Lutheran Services. This she told me is done for tourists, but there are Romanian Orthodox services held there as well.

For teh record we were talking inside a Lutheran Church.