Bran Castle in the winter
It is freezing outside on this cold winter day with wind and blowing snow. Imagine th
at you have been trudging through mud and snow for days along the valley floor until you come to a bend in the path. Looking up into the mountains you see the imposing outline of Bran Castle against a cold, wintry sky. The ground is already covered with six inches of packed, slippery snow and you are heading up to siege Bran Castle. You would probably have c
hosen a bright, sunny, summer day when at least it was warm, but you are not in charge. Today your orders are to climb the slippery, steep stone path which is covered with six inches of mud and ice to the front door of Bran Castle and then you are to storm your way into the castle. Several 
hundred others are pushing you from behind as you trudge up the steep hill and woe to he who trips and falls. When you finally reach the castle entrance, you find a steep set of steps leading to a narrow doorway where there is barely room for two to stand. They are very steep and there are archer holes facing you. You must run the gauntlet amidst flying arrows and boiling oil being poured on you from the ramparts. Those sluice gates look to be well used
and so they must be very effective. When you reach the top of the steps, there is a heavy 
iron and oak door that you must beat down. The steps are narrow and slippery well-worn stone. It is hard to keepyour balance on the tiny steps in the snow, but you must push a battering ram through the narrow doorway. There is no possible way to get any momentum and so you pound at the door. The castle is warm from the fire in the royal soba. Jon has managed to get into the castle and is standing next to the well in the center of the courtyard. At least it looks like a well – it even has a rope a
nd a bucket, but it you climb
down into it, you will find a tunnel leading to escape on the next mountain in the Carpathians. Bad enough that you should have to abandon your stronghold, but at least you are spared the indignities of torture at your enemy's hands.
at you have been trudging through mud and snow for days along the valley floor until you come to a bend in the path. Looking up into the mountains you see the imposing outline of Bran Castle against a cold, wintry sky. The ground is already covered with six inches of packed, slippery snow and you are heading up to siege Bran Castle. You would probably have c
hosen a bright, sunny, summer day when at least it was warm, but you are not in charge. Today your orders are to climb the slippery, steep stone path which is covered with six inches of mud and ice to the front door of Bran Castle and then you are to storm your way into the castle. Several 
hundred others are pushing you from behind as you trudge up the steep hill and woe to he who trips and falls. When you finally reach the castle entrance, you find a steep set of steps leading to a narrow doorway where there is barely room for two to stand. They are very steep and there are archer holes facing you. You must run the gauntlet amidst flying arrows and boiling oil being poured on you from the ramparts. Those sluice gates look to be well used
and so they must be very effective. When you reach the top of the steps, there is a heavy 
iron and oak door that you must beat down. The steps are narrow and slippery well-worn stone. It is hard to keepyour balance on the tiny steps in the snow, but you must push a battering ram through the narrow doorway. There is no possible way to get any momentum and so you pound at the door. The castle is warm from the fire in the royal soba. Jon has managed to get into the castle and is standing next to the well in the center of the courtyard. At least it looks like a well – it even has a rope a
nd a bucket, but it you climb
down into it, you will find a tunnel leading to escape on the next mountain in the Carpathians. Bad enough that you should have to abandon your stronghold, but at least you are spared the indignities of torture at your enemy's hands.
2 comments:
Wow -- beautiful!
Romania is a lovely country. I am thoroughly enjoying this year.
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