Starbucks doesn’t open until 7:30?  Yes, that makes me feel like the Walking Dead.

…so I had breakfast at my hotel, because after the previous night, I needed something in my stomach…but I didn’t take any pictures. I got picked up by the tour driver, driven to another location, picked up the rest of the group and were on our way.

Drove through Ploiesti, one of the big reasons I’m even here. Unfortunately, I was on the wrong side of the bus to get a decent photo of the oilfields. In addition to Ploesti’s fame because of Operation Tidal Wave, did you know that the world’s first refinery opened at Ploiești, Romania, in 1856-1857 (source)

First stop: Castelul Peleş, Sinaia in the Carpathian Mountains, on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1914. Its inauguration was held in 1883. It was constructed by King Carol I.

You enter through this lovely passageway, to a view of the beautiful grounds

…then a short walk up to the castle itself.

There’s  an extra fee to take pictures inside, which I didn’t pay, and immediately regretted once I was inside. Somehow, I got a couple before I was busted. Everything was magnificent, but the stained glass took my breath away

Back out on the grounds, where one can take all the photos they like,
so I did.