- An evening under Tampa Mountain
- Sightseeing and town ride
- A drive through apocalypse
- Impressions
1. An evening under Tampa Mountain
Driving from Sibiu, through Avrig and Fagaras, was quite a road trip for us. Amazing scenery, and some good things waiting for us in Brasov. The city wasn’t very far, and the drives through Transilvania are always a pleasure.
Hidden under the Tampa mountain, majestic and diverse, Brasov is one of our favorite go-to destinations for city breaks. With its cosmopolitan lifestyle, its booming tech industry, and with all the sights to be seen, it definitely checks all the boxes for a nice getaway.
Being the 7th most populous town in Romania, it lies right in the heart of the country and its cultural and historical palettes are beyond expectations. There are things to see everywhere. So, after a quick visit to the garage that would lend us the car for the third day of the tour, we enjoyed a really delicious pizza and a good night’s sleep, in a cozy downtown villa, where we’ll most likely come back again.
2. Sightseeing and town ride
The day started out early in the morning, with a walk through the main tourist streets of the city’s center, while having a hot cup of coffee and taking some amazing photos. The old Black Church cathedral is one of the best places to visit in Brasov, and the main square is home to a lot of good restaurants, souvenir shops, old houses, and a gang of friendly pigeons. We even met a clown along the way, but little did we know what other type of fun awaits…
After our ride picked us up, we went up the mountain road that leads to Poiana Brasov (a nearby luxury resort) and stopped along the way for some breathtaking views and some cool photos. The little Toyota, with the top down, felt nimble and fast through the winding roads. The mountain on our side, the city below us, the sky above us, that was some true freedom feeling right there. We definitely recommend taking this short, but spectacular road trip, whenever you’re in Brasov.
Coming back into town, we visited the oldest neighborhood in existence, Scheii Brasovului, enjoyed some wonderful sightseeing at Pietrele lui Solomon, and chilled for a bit in an old little square, where the car stopped to rest in front of the oldest school in town. Having fun on the narrow streets of Brasov, discussing the history and witnessing culture at its finest, while the little race car took a well-deserved break.
Brasov is truly a motorsport Mecca for all car lovers out there, hosting lots of events, including the oldest rally race in Romania, which is held annually and still draws thousands of enthusiasts and teams from all over the country. Apart from this, there is plenty of heritage throughout the town, old-timers sitting next to electric vehicles, race cars burning rubber, and luxurious limousines cruising on the hidden mountain roads that surround the city.
3. A drive through apocalypse
After the city tour, it was time to witness a darker side of Brasov, in the industrial area, where the old, now defunct, Roman factories used to be. Thousands of deserted acres left to die, gave us that odd Prypiat feel, we felt so estranged from the glamour of the town center, it was really a sensation that we’ve never experienced in any of our trips.
While exploring the surroundings, I got the chance to find out more about the small roadster which we had for the day. A 1990 Toyota MR2 SW20, sporting a 3SGE Yamaha engine, which was about 90% stock, running on Yokohama Super Advan SA3R wheels, sitting on a Koni static suspension, and having lots of HKS and Greddy parts added to the engine bay. The little rocket was something truly amazing and most likely, the most fun car we’ve ever had on Tunedside (so far).
On the inside, we’ve been held tight by the Bride seats and enjoyed seeing the 1993 bespoke steering wheel, from Nardi Personal. The small and agile Toyota also had a full body brace from Greddy, a custom rear wing, and a set of low-rise bespoke headlights. Cool factor over 9000, we reckon.
4. Impressions
Brasov has a special place in our hearts, and we’ll always come back to do some materials there, whenever we’ll get the chance. We bonded with some amazing people in this city and there are lots of surprises coming in the future, hailing from Kronstadt (the city’s German name).
Elegant, diverse in every way, and with a high lifestyle, apart from other cities in Romania, this destination is a must-see for all tourists, be it they’re from Romania or another part of the world. Close to Dracula’s Castle in Bran, filled with stories and style, Brasov will never disappoint and will provide quality experiences for all tastes and ages.
Apart from the wonderful architecture, the lovely sights and the delicious restaurants, there’s a piece of history around every corner, in this town. And, although it may put out a serious and cool vibe sometimes, there’s tons of fun to be had here. Goodbye for now, Brasov, time to take the high road and be on our way to the next destination of the tour. Thanks for the good times!
Written by Mihai Dumitrescu / Instagram
Photographed by Anna Dumitrescu / Instagram
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