The Slovak relatives aren't doing so well with their predictions of crime and danger in Romania . When we left Slovakia for the Land of Vlad the Impaler they almost prayed for us to head west instead. Although the Romanian countryside lies in ruin far west of us, the cities and towns we've visited in Transylvania appear to be prospering. Restaurants are always busy; expensive shoe and clothing stores are the same; and beer flows all day and night at the many street cafes. 
 
 
 
Eastern Europe on a whole, will never win any prizes for friendliness towards foreigners. The countries with the nicest people, from what Elenka and I have seen in our travels, are Argentina, Burma and the Philippines. In our minds, Romania has joined this group.
 

 
Back to dangerous Romania: We were forewarned of vicious dog packs that roam the streets of Bucharest. Like the predictions of crime and danger, when Elenka and I get to Bucharest, we will attempt to seek out and expose these accusations against the canine community.