Students at John Cabot University come from all over the globe. Such a wide variety of cultural backgrounds often means some very odd travels, visits, and stays in some of the world's most obscure destinations. For me, however this meant a very interesting trip to a place that is probably not "normal" to most people. About a month ago when visiting my parents in Bulgaria over winter break, my family and I decided to drive 9 hours to a city which seemed odd to me at the time but actually turned out to be one of the most fascinating and breath-taking places I've ever seen: Sighisoara, Romania.
Located in the historic region of Transylvania, Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad Tepis,or better known as the inspiration for the fictional vampire: Count Dracula.
Walking through the quaint and eerie streets of the village, I could truly feel a historic presence, one different from the one we are all used to feeling here in Rome. The old, yet restored clock-towers; the castle on the hill; the abandoned graveyards; and the winding cobblestone streets emerging from the fog truly set a scene perfect for a fairy-tale.
"This can't be real life," I thought to myself when I woke up to the sound of roosters crowing and looked out my window only to see smoke on the mountains and endless old brick rooftops. I have lived in and seen many cities around the world, both historic and modern, but never had I felt like I was in a picture straight from an old story book full of fairy-tales, folk stories, and fables.
This tiny town of only about 3 square miles (7 KM) has been inhabited since the 6th century BC and has a lot to discover, including the city's clock tower which today is a museum of history, the historic city center, the weapon museum, the birthplace of Vlad (Dracula), the covered staircase leading on a hill and a cemetery, and more.
So take a little time off from seeing the world's most famous and metropolitan cities...yes I still think you should see London, Paris, and of course Rome....but why not visit one of the most unique places ever and tell people you have been to Sighisoara, Romania?
Alexa Shearer
Communications Major
JCU Class of 2015
