Many of the large hotels that could accommodate large groups are severely run down, thus presenting the biggest barrier to building a thriving tourism industry. Beyond the City Romania has 3,000 towns and villages, and all are no more than 40 miles apart. This system of planning arose in the feudal days when horses and carts couldn't travel more than that distance before sunset. Forty five percent of the people today still live in the countryside. This is Romania uncontrived and pure, where communism didn't leave its indelible mark.
Farmers still plant by hand and use animal plows.
Furniture, rugs and clothing are often handmade in the villages. The people dress as their forebears did centuries ago. Picturesque wooden houses and high-roofed churches dot the land. Colorful gypsy caravans waddle down the dusty roads. Folklore and superstition play a significant role in rural communities.