Hilary Bradt (L) and Dervla Murphy (R)
“Dervla is the real thing. In an age of gimmicks and promotions, she has travelled for the sheer love of it, for enjoying spectacular scenery away from the crowds, and for meeting people away from the trappings of civilisation. Her 26 fascinating books are a secondary consideration, a natural outcome of her desire to share her experiences and political views (politics are as interesting to her as other lands and cultures).
Dervla’s rejection of comfort is well known, and this has enabled her to travel and live as close to rural people in the developing world as is possible for an outsider. In her 88th year this award is richly deserved.”
Patrick Leigh Fermor 
And this has what connection with Patrick Leigh Fermor?
That she is a great travel writer of a similar vintage to Paddy and just as adventurous.
And at least one of her books is about Romania: “Transylvania and Beyond”