The Transfagarasan Highway

The Fagaras mountains contain Romania's highest peaks, up to 12,000 ft. Not huge by Andean or Himalayan standards, but tall enough to hang on to some snow the year round. The highway snakes up and over the mountains, at times supported by what look like twigs when seen from below, and occasionally covered by shelters to stop cars being crushed by falling rocks. On the south side of the summit we drove round the millionth tight bend to screech to a halt – confronted without warning by a huge dam – Vidraru. Then once beyond that and through another tunnel, we snaked down through tree-covered rock pinnacles, on top of one was Vlad the Impaler's ruined castle, Poenari. You can visit, but it involves 1,500 steps.