A grizzly anecdote from Transylvania

This month?s winner of a Lonely Planet guide book of his choice is Dominic Hipkins who lives in Zagreb and regularly reads The Budapest Sun on-line. Here is his anecdote from a recent trip to Romania.


This month?s winner of a Lonely Planet guide book of his choice is Dominic Hipkins who lives in Zagreb and regularly reads The Budapest Sun on-line. Here is his anecdote from a recent trip to Romania. Dominic chose the Lonely Planet guide to the Czech and Slovak Republics as his prize.





Souvenir hunting in spooky Transylvania





The wind howled through Bran castle, pictured, the view through the window revealing endless swaying pine trees cloaking Romania?s snow-capped Carpathian mountains. This was the Transylvania of countless creepy films, and it all seemed so real. The castle?s doors had creaked open after a bribe arranged by an enterprising local taxi-driver. The towering fairytale fortress, one-time home of Vlad the Impaler, is a must-see for Dracula fans. Just a shame there were no souvenirs on sale. Or so I supposed. The castle-keeper had read my thoughts and offered an unusual souvenir - a fierce brown bear?s head which grimaced at me from the wall. "The biggest bear Ceausescu shot - yours for $50," he explained.


With a heavy heart I said no. British customs might not be amused at the idea of importing the dead dictator?s trophy. And as for the airline finding an extra seat for my exotic companion... But if anyone else is interested in giving the bear a home, I hear he is still there.





Travellers, anecdote-writers and readers of The Budapest Sun, don?t forget to send in your stories (150 words max) to Lucy Mallows, Style Editor, The Budapest Sun, 1122 Budapest, Maros utca 12 or email to lucy@bpsun.hu and you could win a Lonely Planet guide book of your choice in February?s selection of humorous and enlightening travel anecdotes.

16.01.2003