A surprise appearance by 'Dracula'. (A member of our group with white face paint, false teeth with large canine teeth and a black cloak.) Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Problem
Everybody knows of Dracula but how well do you know the story? We discovered during the last night quiz on a Dracular holiday in Romania that everybody thought they knew but some people had muddled up the story with that of Frankenstein. (DraculaR? - that was a typo but I am leaving it and turning Dracula into an adjective adding the r.)
Answers
A few facts about Dracula.
The Dracula story was written by Brad Stoker. (Not Mary Shelley - she wrote Frankenstein.) Several films have been made. One of the films was directed by Roman Polanski. One of the films starred Christopher Lee.
Dracula was based on the story of Vlad the Impaler. He was the third Vlad. (A bit like the Henry kings in England, who got as far as Henry VIII.)
Story
I went to Transylvania in Romania with a group of nearly 30 hikers and visited Bran Castle, one of three castles associated with Vlad the Impaler, Vlad III, who inspired the story of Dracula. On the last night of our trip we had a quiz on Dracula and a surprise appearance of a member of the group dressed as Dracula.
Phil won the cloak. He was best at the quiz. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Tips
If you are going to Romania, or not doing a Dracula tour, you might like to read the Bram Stoker Dracula story or watch a film at home in advance or at the hotel after you arrive.
If you get a recording to play in the car that will amuse you on a car journey or in the hotel at night.
If you are organising a group, you might like to hold a fancy dress party on the theme of Dracula. If carrying costumes is too much, have just one person dressed as Dracula, either greeting guests, or as a surprise entrant.
Here I am in the Dracula cloak. Lovely hood.
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