Dracula

Chapter I, pg.2

    We made it to Vienna and were now on our way to Klausenburgh. It took most of the day to get to Klausenburgh and I was relieved to find out that we were to stop for the night at Hotel Royal. We ate dinner together, the dish was called “paprika hendl” which I thought to be rather delicious. Jonathan requested the waiter to get him the recipe so he could bring it home for Mina, Jonathan’s fiance. I didn’t know Mina but I have seen her on multiple occasions. I was quite disappointed when I found out Jonathan had a fiance but I didn't make any mention of it.

    It was time to organize the sleeping arrangements. Jonathan let me take the bed while he ordered a cot to sleep on. I slept soundly all night and only woke to the continuous knocking at our door, signaling it was time to wake up. We got ready for the day and then ate breakfast, which consisted of more paprika hendl and another dish called "mamaliga". It was like a porridge with maize flour. We also had another dish called "impletata", which was an eggplant stuffed with forcemeat. Jonathan complained that dogs were howling at our window all night long and he didn't get enough sleep. I found it strange, I didn't hear any dogs howling.

    We had to rush by the end of breakfast, fearing that we would miss our train. We rushed to the station only to sit there for nearly an hour before the train took off. I drew and read most of the time, occasionally looking out the window. Jonathan requested that I draw him an owl, saying I could draw any type of owl I wanted. I decided to draw a barn owl because of its beauty. My favorite part of the barn owl is its heart-shaped face. When I finished drawing the owl, Jonathan did the same thing he did with his other drawing, he folded it up and put it in a pocket on his coat. I decided to take a break from drawing after that and looked out the window. I took in the beauty of nature. We passed by little towns, castles, rivers, and lakes. Every time we stopped at a station, Jonathan pointed out what people were wearing and how different they looked from people back in London.

   Just after the sun set we arrived at Bistritz, “an interesting old place” is how Jonathan described it. Count Dracula had directed us to go to the Krone Hotel to stay the night, which we did. We seemed to be expected because when we got to the door, an elderly lady waited for us.

    When we got close the elderly lady bowed and said “ The Herr Englishman?”

    “Yes, Jonathan Harker.” With that, the elderly lady smiled at us and gave a message to an elderly man that came to stand next to her. He left quickly and returned with a letter in his hand, giving it to Jonathan. Jonathan read the letter first, handing it to me when he was finished. The letter was from Count Dracula. He welcomes us to the Carpathians and that his carriage will be waiting for us at the Borgo Pass.