RUSSIA?!?!?!

Thanks to the votes! But here are the real results...

No...I did not go to Russia (though I did attend "Moscow Stars on Ice" last night...no joke...but that's another story!)
No...I did not go to Dubai (but it's on the list!)

The majority of the guesses were in fact correct. Kadie and I traveled 2.5 hours by EasyJet plane to Bucharest, Romania!
Now, I know what you may be thinking...umm...why?!? Really, it is quite simple...it was the cheapest place to fly to and stay in. No joke. Probably not the most intelligent way to pick a destination, but let me tell you something, after deciding on it, we actually got excited when we began to read up on it. Now, when even the most influential and travel-savvy Rick Steves says "Try to get out of Bucharest as quickly as you can", you should probably be a little hesitant. However, as you can see, not only did I make it back alive, but I learned an awful lot, not only about the unique and interesting country, but also a lot about myself.

This trip was one of many firsts...First time traveling to another country where the language is completely out of either of our realms. First time in Eastern Europe. First time to stay in a recently (20 years or so) liberated country. First hostel experiences...we will get into that one later...

Well, where to begin...how about a little recap.

DAY 1
- Skip classes on Thursday to head down to Milan to catch our flight.
- Get there and immediately thrown into culture shock. Crazy cabbies asking if we need a cap BEFORE leaving the airport.
- Long bus ride standing - super sick...
- Get off, no idea where we are, ask closed travel agency, and they have really no idea...take another bus, get off too early, wonder aimlessly but find street, while time being followed by dogs.
- Hostel on "sketchy" street (no joke - that’s what the book said)...and called the Funky Chicken Hostel (I kid you not...Google that!)
- Wander (with Kevlar...just kidding...) and find a place to grab some food (me still nauseous...not really feeling the food)
- Sleep in room with 2 sets of bunk beds...roommates literally come in after we "fall asleep" and leave before we wake up...(I say fall asleep because I didn't really sleep at all...I didn’t really fit on the bed. I am tall, and the bed was meant for, oh I don't know...an eight-year-old?)
- During night, very intoxicated man thought that Kadie's bed was his bed...with no pants...but was steered in the correct direction eventually...
DAY 2
- Next morning take a train to Brasov (small, cute mountainous town).
- Again, cab drama, but take a bus, get a little lost, but cops help us.
- Hostel very super homey and workers super zealous about their excursions (but I was not super willing to fork out that much money...)
- Race to bus station to take a train to city of Bran (home to the biggest draw of Romania)
- A little confusion after getting off of bus, but arrive at the place...Bran Castle...aka Dracula's Castle!
- Walk around it (not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed...seriously, it's rumor that he ever lived there, it was suuuupper small compared to what I was expecting, that show "Scariest Places on Earth" didn't even film there!, and it was used until like the 1970s so there is furnishings in there that look like a Pottery Barn throw back...but I digress).
- Shop in little bazaar and then eat pizza (So Romanian!...but really, it was like all there was that was inside)
- Bus back to Brasov, then walk city at night - very cool sights
- Dinner at good restaurant ("good" = cheap AND delicious!)
- Sleep in attic of Hostel (I kid you not) on a mattress on the floor, two blankets (and the sheet provided by Rachel - THANKS!!!), with 15 other people, heated by two space heaters in no close proximity to me (similar to an Annie-esque orphanage I think...)...again, didn't sleep much at all...
DAY 3
- Train back to Bucharest in the morning, and then back to Funky Chicken to drop stuff off
- Walk very grey streets to the National Opera House, where we purchased tickets to see that evening's performance of "Sampson and Delilah"
- Trekked to the 2nd largest building in the world (as I said, second to the Pentagon) and toured 6 of its 1000 rooms...just ridiculously grandiose (great word - try to use it today)...
- Walked some of the more "downtown" to get a real feel for the city (where the character of the city began to show) and grabbed some food
- Saw opera...first off, amazing structure...soooo old and beautiful...then the show (Sung in French, subtitles (you hear right...) in Romanian...all I can say is the dancing was really nice!)
- Retired for the night, but not before watching the Animal Planet with stoned Jacob, guy studying in Florence, and two other American girls.
DAY 4
- Morning bus ride, then hours in the Airport (thank God for those shops....I bought Honey Nut Cheerios...yummo!)
- Lost in airport shuffle, but things work out, and make it back to Milan
- Miss shuttle by minutes, so have to wait around for hours for next
- Finally back "home"...

Though definitely not the conventional locales for travelers here (majority traveled to Barcelona, Greece, or Amsterdam), it was still an amazing experience. Was it fun? I don't really know. Seriously, I wasn't really expecting it to be. I was expecting a learning experience about a culture that I knew absolutely nothing about, as well as my travel limitations. Now don't get me wrong, there were moments that I was ready to leave...seriously, in the back of my head just a picture of my little dorm with familiarity surrounding it...but I didn't give in. Though I had some Flo moments (only very experienced travelers and viewers of the Amazing Race would get that), I just reminded myself to continue and roll with the punches. It is such a unique country with such a recent past that I had to be reminded. It wasn't until we were back in Bucharest on day 3 that I really began to realize this. There was definite potential for the city in sight while looking past the depressing facades of the buildings and grey clouds and into the eyes of the people, who were so warm, friendly, and always willing to assist. Also this trip, I was taught a lot about my patience level and just how high it can go. Language barriers, pushy people, and people that operated oppositely of me tested this patience, but I think I handled myself alright.

Romania...an amazing, humbling, and downright life changing experience.