Honest thoughts on Romania after my first visit

First time in Romania and I tried to approach it with open eyes rather than preconceptions. Bucharest was the base and a good one — central, manageable, and with strong food options including the best ciorba de burtă I've ever had. Bran Castle was the big set piece and fully justified the trip.

Two things worth knowing: roads outside cities can be rough, which is more of a factor than some guides acknowledge. But also: beautifully preserved Saxon towns, which I'd never read about and turned out to be a genuine pleasure. Solid first impression — I'd return.