Ever since Roman Emperor Trajan conquered Dacia in 106, the Romanians have had a distinctive Latin language and culture not unlike modern-day Spain, Italy, or France. However, unlike its western counterparts, Romania remained part of the Byzantine Empire long after the western Roman half fell, and consequently it is Orthodox Catholic. Surrounded by Slavic countries and at one time part of the Ottoman Empire, Romania's history is a fascinating mix of east and west.

In the 1930s, Bucharest was called Little Paris and Romania was one of the wealthiest and culturally most vibrant countries in Europe. Tragically it ended up on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain after WWII, and was trapped in a totalitarian communist dictatorship until almost the end of the 20th century. Like the other former eastern-bloc countries, it will take many decades for the ecomomy to recover and for the country to undo all of the damage done by Ceauscescu.

On the other hand, there is an entrepreneurial energy and optimism that is largely missing from complacent western Europe. Romanians are excited about their hard-won freedoms and capitalism and their work ethic is much more American than any other Latin country. They joined the EU in 2007 and construction is going up everywhere, as our housing costs and salaries. Yet labor rates are still a fraction of what they are in the west, which is why Hollywood has been making films here for almost a decade and why I imagine I'll be returning for some years to come.

Bucharest is filled with beautiful old buildings sitting next to Soviet cinder-block monstrosities and brand new glass and concrete office buildings. There are more parks, fountains, and statues than any city I've ever visited, and everywhere young couples can be seen strolling hand in hand. Restaurants are inexpensive and remarkably good, although many Western staples have not yet arrived, such as Starbucks and laundry dryers.

Brasov is a beautiful mountain city located in the southern part of Transylvania. Because it was built by Saxons in the middle ages and largely ignored by Ceaucescu, it maintains the beauty and medieval charm of a small town in southern Germany.