Romania

In 1989, the Iron Curtain finally fell after dividing Europe for nearly 30 years. It's been generations since Romania's historic cities, rolling mountains, rustic villages, and rejuvinating spas and resorts have been so accessible. From the museums and neighborhoods of the bustling capital city of Bucharest and the famous painted monasteries of Bucovina to the soft sands of the Black Sea resort beaches, Romanian resident Caroline Juler expertly guides you through the varied landcapes that is today's Romania.Starting with a detailed introduction to the country's unique history, food, land, and culture - factors that have clearly shaped the distinctive traditional character of the Romanian people - the book then explores in-depth each of the sections of the country, including Maramures in the north, Moldavia in the east, Wallachia in the south, and Crisnia and Banat on the country's western flank."National Geographic Traveler: Romania" covers every area to visit, such as the beautiful 2000-year-old city of Cluj, the limestone formations and the underground rivers and caves of the Apuseni Mountains, and the medieval towns and castles of Vlad the Impaler's Transylvania. Special detailed features give comprehensive information on many diverse topics such as Romanian folk music, the bears and wolves that still prowl the hinterlands, the excellent Romanian wineries, the ethnic minority officially known as the Roma but to this day referred to as Gypsies, and the many myths that immediately come to mind whenever you mention the country's Transylvania region.