This is my third try - I will really love having dependable WiFi when we get home in about 12 hours from now.

Commie condos was the name our guide gave these drab concrete apartments the communists constructed so workers could be near the factories they had erected. They are depressing to look at, let alone live in. They were very small. Today some are able to buy two small ones and put them together to make a larger place.

The Romans settled this area in 273. Their influence is seen today in the architecture and language. 80% of their words have a Latin root; 10%, Slavic. The Roman alphabet won out over the Slavic also in the 1800’s.

The Ottomans (Turks) came in the 13th century. They tried to unify the 3 parts of Bucharest. They demanded taxes and goods, but allowed a ruler that they approved of. - many they trained. Dracula, who lived in the south- not Transylvania - was trained by them. His grandfather had started fighting against the Turks in the 15th century. Dracula knew the Turks' way of thinking. He was a fierce ruler. He was knows as "the Impaler" or " the Decapitator. ". He would perceive an enemy's route and burn any villages they might be going through so the enemy would have no access to food or help. He was known as "son of blood , the devil" and thought of as a vampire.

In 1944 Romania switched and came under communist rule, which promised democratic elections , while changing the constitution and allowing a mere figurehead king. In 1946 an election was held. History shows over 55% of the people voted against the communists,but it made no difference. As Stalin said,," it doesn't matter what the vote is - it only matters who counts the votes"

In 1947 the king was given a choice between a gun and abdication . He chose the later and so he and his mother were put n a train with all their things. Their car they were in was detached from the rest of the train and the Russians kept all their riches.