Romania is a nation of many contradictions: marred by a past dominated by such terrigying rulers as Vlad the Impaler and Nicolae Ceauşescu while bolstered by a present as the "tiger of Eastern Europe" and recent membership in the European Union; plagued by a legacy of communist-era censorship and oppression alongside rich musical and literary traditions; home to the growing metropolis of Bucharest whose streets are often trodden by horse-drawn carriages and scythe-wielding farmers. As a former Soviet Bloc nation, Romania is still developing its economic and social infrastructure, but remains a must-see for any history or nature buff traveling in Eastern Europe. Even Bram Stoker’s hero Jonathan Harker, on his way to meet Count Dracula in the mountains of Transylvania in the easternmost part of the country, could not help but remark that such was "a country… full of beauty of every kind." And the nation is truly a feast for the eyes, with Saxon stone towns and castles high in the rugged Carpathian Mountains, the untouched wilderness of the Danube Delta, and the beach resorts of the Black Sea coast. Moving from the country to the city, the capital of Bucharest provides any wanderer the opportunity to experience centuries of history at once, with streets lined with medieval cathedrals, fading monuments to the former communist regime, and raucous bars and clubs that provide ample opportunities at nightlife. With low prices and rich opportunities, Romania represents a budget traveler’s dream.