If you have not yet been to Sighetu Marmatiei, then you simply must put a visit on your next vacation itinerary. Formerly home to a notorious communist prison, it now hosts a memorial museum about horrible things Romanians had to endure.

It is easily the best museum in all of Romania, on any topic, with an enormous body of materials, remnants, photos, letters, raw original documents, and detailed historiography of the events before and during those years.

It would be difficult to think of any other museum throughout all of central and eastern Europe which matches the depth and quality of this facility. You owe yourself a visit.

Don’t worry about getting upset. You’ll find others inside the museum who are unable to stop the tears from streaming down their cheeks as they come face-to-face with the harsh reality and the real people.

…make a match, find me a find, catch me a catch.

Meanwhile, way way way up on top of a mountain (not on top of old smokey all covered with cheese), the hundreds years old matrimonial exchange festival was taking place.

Historically, one would have come to buy a wife, but these days it’s mostly beer and mici.

It’s that yummy time of year when the fruit ripens naturally in the mountains of Oltenia. Unlike an entrepreneurial American child who might make a lemonade stand, these Roma children are forced into child labor by their parents (under penalty of a beating).

One of the many place Marie of Edinburgh enjoyed philandering with her international menagerie composed of various men of state was a rather nice beach house set along side the ocean and styled with largely Turkish influences, inside and out, as a result of her being quite enthralled with all things Islamic.

When the free spirited queen had had her fill of royal adventures in the love nest, one could always enjoy a fine bottle of Mavrud wine and enjoy the magnificent view afforded to those lucky few born into the dominating factions of life.

It warn’t too shabby, iffin’ y’alls be askin’ me.

…and be the first on your block to own your very own souvenir underwear accessory!