Things to See in Romania

Spâna village has a unique place in the hearts of Romanians. It boasts the 'Merry Cemetery', famous for the colourfully painted wooden crosses that adorn the tombstones in the village's graveyard. Shown in art exhibitions across Europe, the crosses attract coachloads of visitors who marvel at the gentle humour and human warmth that created them.

The Palace of Parliament is the world's second largest building (after the US Pentagon). Built in 1984 (and still 10% unfinished), the building's 12 storeys and 3100 rooms covers 330,000 sq metres - an estimated three billion Euro project. Rushed, but interesting, 45 minutes tours go every half hour or so and lead into a handful of marble rooms - still rented out for conferences - finishing at the balcony Nicolae didn't live long enough to speak from.

Not far from the train station, the pinky-peach National Military Museum doubles nicely as a Romanian history museum. Note in the entry the communist 1988 mural; in back is a superb hangar with Aurel Vlaicu's famed 1911 plane (which Romanians attest made the first 'real' flight).