The house in Lugoj (Lugos) where Bela Blasko was born in 1882, next to the church where he was baptised. He took his stage name Bela Lugosi from the town.
|
Paying tribute outside Bela Lugosi's birthplace (which has now become a shop). This was an essential inclusion on the Dracula Society's first visit to this area of Romania.
|
A toast to Bela! Lugoj was in Hungary at the time of Bela's birth, which may explain why he is sadly not acknowledged by the now Romanian town.
|
The Golden Crown Hotel in Bistrita. Built by Alexandru Misiuga, a great friend of the Society in its early days, who also later built the Castle Dracula Hotel.
|
The "Salon Jonathan Harker" at the Golden Crown.
|
A suitable greeting!
|
Reading from "The Book".
|
Consulting "The Book".
|
Decorations in the "Salon Jonathan Harker".
|
The Castle Dracula Hotel.
|
The recently erected Stoker statue.
|
In the vaults of the Castle Dracula Hotel. Guess what happens next!
|
Leaving the hotel for outdoor sunset hors d'oeuvres.
|
Eating and drinking by a roaring fire.
|
"Ring a Rosie" (or perhaps something more sinister!)
|
Getting ready to leave on the caleche (or is it cart?) ride in the Borgo Pass.
|
The road's as bumpy as it looks!
|
A toast to "The Count" at the Borgo Pass picnic.
|
On the way back.
|
View from the hotel gatehouse.
|
The intrepid group who braved the ski lift. The view was well worth it!
|
The hotel from the top.
|
Sunset over the Borgo Pass. Still a most beautiful place.
|
Sighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad Tepes Dracula. One of the best preserved walled citadels in Europe.
|
The plaque marking the house of Vlad Dracul, father of Vlad Dracula, which is now a restaurant.
|
Have your photo taken with Vlad! We're not sure how many members succumbed to this temptation......
|
A rather more appropriate monument to Vlad in Sighisoara.
|
Bran, the "fake" Dracula's Castle. It looks the part.
|
A fake Dracula welcomes you to his fake castle.
|
Some of the delightful merchandise on offer at Bran Castle!
|
A view of the "souvenir city" now surrounding Bran Castle.
|
Poienari Citadel, Vlad Tepes's "real" stronghold, prepares to repel invaders.
|
Preparing for the assault.
|
The seemingly endless steps go on.......
|
.........and on.
|
View from the top.
|
We made it (the weather was dreadful!)
|
The tower at Targoviste, one of Vlad Tepes's palaces.
|
Yes, it was raining!
|
Preparing to brave "Club Dracula" in Bucharest.
|
An extra guest soon appeared..........
|
..............and the inevitable ensued!
|