I spent several weeks in Romania a few years ago. It is an absolutely beautiful country and very pro American...The Danube Delta is the 3rd largest bird sanctuary on the planet. Absolutely amazing! I was so sorry to hear that avian flu has been found there. This could significantly impact Europe's bird population. Took a boat from Tulcea to Constanta along a man made water way called the canal of death or some such name. Several hundred thousand Romanians were enslaved to build this waterway, died on the spot and were buried in mass graves... I thought our tour guide had a pretty good attitude about the canal, while quite somber and reverential about her countrymen that had lost their lives building it, she thought the greatest hommage her nation could make to their sacrifice was the use of the canal to the betterment of the Romanian people. Keep in mind that Ceausescu was using slaves to build this thing in the 1980's!Just a few years before his death Ceausescu tried to drain the Danube Delta and turn it into farm land. The Romanians, with the help of UNESCO have been returning the delta to its former environment with very good results. In 2002, when I visited, the delta had been restored to something over 60% of its original size. This, in less than 10 years. I would recommend a vacation to Romania to anyone. Brasov, in Transylvania, is amazing! Also, the food and wine is very good. Go during tomato season, you will never forget it, the best tomatoes on the planet.
Our trip to Romania and Bulgaria was the best vacation we have ever taken. I am very happy to hear that the U.S. is going to station the military there. Also, in northern Romania, spas and skiing abound. I guess I love the place!