The first stage of our journey to Georgia just began! After months of winter downtime, it felt good to be back on the road again – the car warming up to long distances, and us easing into the rhythm of travel. We knew from the start that we wouldn’t simply follow the fastest highways. Instead, we pointed the wheels toward the legendary Transalpina, known in Romania as Drumul Transalpin, one of the highest and most scenic roads in the Carpathians.

I had driven this route nearly twenty years ago, back when the surface was mostly gravel and rock, and the climb demanded patience, a steady hand, and a bit of courage. Today the asphalt makes the ascent easier, but the landscape hasn’t lost its magic. The road winds across the ridges of the Munții Parâng, with clouds drifting below the peaks and wide horizons opening at every turn. It’s a place where the mountains feel ancient — a reminder that this route was once used by shepherds and, according to some stories, even Roman legions crossing the Carpathians.

From the high passes of Transalpina we descended southward, letting the scenery shift from alpine ridges to quiet valleys and small villages. We reached the Bulgarian coast and stopped at Златни пясъци (Zlatni Pyasatsi) — Golden Sands. Once a simple stretch of shoreline, it grew into one of Bulgaria’s most iconic seaside resorts in the mid‑20th century. For us, it was the perfect place to pause: a few hours of warm sand, gentle waves, and the calm feeling that the long road east had truly begun.

Map of this trip:

Trip Photos: