Postcard from Romania!

Romania is such an interesting place that it deserves a snapshot - from macro to micro. (From what I have gathered in just 4 days here):

• Population 20mill
• Dimensions 700ks long by 700ks wide
• Capital Bucharest - 3 million
• Language is still 85% Latin in content. (Romania means - 'from Roman')
• Geographical points of interest - Black Sea (400kms wide) and Mountains of Transylvania (to 3,300 metres)
• Main industries - oil/petroleum, pine timber, corn, wheat, wine (some if which is shipped bulk to France and bottled by them as French 'regional' wine). They are big on traditional, long aged in Oak wines. US$5 per bottle for 1995 Cab. Sauv. (Wholesale US$1 - if anyone wants to import to Oz!)
• Average wages - US$200 - $350 a month for unskilled; US$500 - $1,000 per month for skilled. (But many unskilled work in other places, like Spain, for US$1,000 a month for 6 months at a time).
• Democratic Party hold power.
• Inflation rate 6% (High) and housing interest rates up to 14%.
• Laid-back lifestyle; they like to think they are like Australians. Casual and chatty in the way they communicate; little formalities.
• Very safe cities
• With the cessation of communism in 1970s - they are giving all the housing back to the families of the original owners prior to resumption by the communist regime.
• Religion is "Orthodox". They do not tolerate Muslims. They support the U.S. (When Bush came here in 2003, 120,000 turned out in the rain to hear him speak).
• Food - staples are milk, sheep/goat cheese, bread and corn (ground fine and boiled to form solid accompaniment to meats - as a replacement for potatoes) and wine.
• Petrol = US$1.60 / litre
• Mix of Italian, French and Greek architecture - Some amazing buildings - those that survived WW2. Fought for Germany first half of the war - then U.S./Allies second half - with the result that Bucharest got heavily bombed by both sides.
• Apartment in city centre US$100,000 to buy. ($150 per week to rent).
• Many small farm holdings - typically 10 acres each farm. No fences between properties nor on the road frontages. Also lot of 'common' property - on which farmers graze by shepherding cattle and sheep and goats during the day and take them home at night. They harvest by hand - and most farmers use horse and wagon to do their work.
• From a visitors point of view - it is steeped in history; there is much to see - and the people are very welcoming.
• It is cheap to stay and 5 star hotels are superb - traditional in appearance, but full service; likewise the spa hotels in the mountains. (Nicole Kidman shot the movie "Cold Mountain" here with Jude Law and proclaimed it as her favourite European country.)
• Photos attached:
  1. Some French influence 2. A spa hotel 3. A Castle in Transylvania 4. A Shepherd 5. Vlad's Castle (Dracula)

From another traveller - Chris!