Travel Tidbits

Romania is an Eastern European gem undergoing a slow-motion collision with modernity after 2,000 years as a feudal battleground followed by two or three generations of modern totalitarianism. The beer is great. Vegetarians will lose weight.

The cultural mix is wildly historical and deeply informative. Bucharest is very sophisticated, but be prepared for a life-shortening dose of secondhand smoke. — GEORGE GREIDER, East Haddam, CT

Here’s a break-the-ice technique for meeting locals. On a tour of Borneo with smarTours, name tags were handed out. Mine said, “Hello, my name is Ted. Please practice your English with me… or SMILE.” — TED MULLETT, Lake Toxaway, NC