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September 07, 2004
Translyvania visit
I guess I could get pretty amusing with a heading like that. But, I'll resist. Actually I am going to a Conference at which I am speaking on the subject of Risk Assessed solutions for fire safety in Brasov, in the heart of Transylvania and quite near Castle Bran, the home of Vlad Dracul.
It is 9 years since I was last there, and am very interested to see how it has changed and in what ways. I made some good friends among the people there the last time and hope that I can renew acquaintances now. I will be there for a full seven days and attending several functions as well, including the National Fire Service day in Bucharest. This will be my first visit to Brasov; on my previous visit I went to Tirgu Mures and Sigishoara - which just happens to be where Vlad Dracul was born.
We tend, in the West, to think of him purely in terms of Bram Stokers "Dracula" or as Vlad the Impaler, the scourge of the Turkish invaders. Neither really tells you much about the real man behind the legend. In Romania he is a National hero - a figure of revered respect. After all, he saved this Christian Nation from being overrun and forced to convert to Islam by the Turkish invaders who had crushed Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Bosnia, and so much more of the Balkans. His method of defending his borders was certainly brutal, definitely unpleasant, but extremely effective. All Turkish prisoners were impaled and placed where they "decorated" the approaches to the border. It tended to demoralise the invading armies.
Vlad Dracul is named for the symbol of his banner - a golden Dragon emblazoned on a shield of gold. Dracul is the Romanian word for Dragon and the sign above the door of his birthplace in Sigishoara (pronounced Sig-i-shwara) is just that.
A fascinating place, an even more fascinating history - the home of the Dacians, the outpost of Rome and whose Legions guarded the Forts along Hadrian's Wall in England - and a really remarkable people. More when I return!
Posted by The Gray Monk at September 7, 2004 10:31 AM
Comments
Have a nice time and let us all know about the trip. An acquaintance who takes school parties on expeditions has just returned from Transylvania - they had to stop camping after bears came into the tents in search of food (in the middle of the night - quite scary) !
Stick to a hotel.
Posted by: Laban Tall at September 9, 2004 11:07 PM
MB guesses her "words to fellow bears" didn't reach that particular grouping in time to have them behave in better fashion.
Posted by: MommaBear at September 13, 2004 08:32 PM