It is true, however, that in Romania there used to be superstition, like everywhere in Europe, and this was partially about vampires, the "undead" as they are also called. But nobody in Romania is aware of any connection to Vlad Dracula - in fact, before the fall of communism in 1989, most Romanians didn't even know that their image in the West was mostly related to vampirism...

It is also important to note that the image of Transylvania created through Gothic literature and Hollywood movies is completely false. In reality, the region does not seem dark or scary at all - its landscape is in fact very pleasant to the eye, with rolling hills, fields and picturesque villages in a mild climate.

It is, however, true that Transylvania's industrialization didn't start before the late 19th century. This and the fact that it was long under Turkish rule probably are to blame for its remarkably strange image in the West. The people of this still mostly rural region are until today very attached to their traditions - but then again one must not forget that they are Latin Romanians with an easiness and light-heartedness hat makes living there a great experience for many foreigners.

The reality of Transylvania now is that it is a part of Romania and thus a part of the European Union - and the economic reforms that have been so successful in the country in recent years have also had a very positive effect on Transylvania.

"Modern" is not the first word that comes to mind when thinking about Transylvania - but the truth is that it describes the Transylvania of today very well. It is now a thriving region, still with a lot of agriculture, but now it is also big on services - so for example there is a rapidly growing IT sector to be found in Transylvania. Also, international trade has become more and more important, especially since Romania joined the EU in 2007. Then there still is a lot of traditional heavy industry, including steel and chemical.

And vampires? Oh, that's just a fairy tale. Everybody knows they don't exist, right?