I’m having big trouble with iPad connecting to wifi. I seem to be able to connect up the phone but the iPad which is really going to disconnect me from the world and it’s so strange how awful that feels. Anyway the missive will go ahead and hopefully will stay in draft form if I can’t send it. Just arrived in Sighisoara and it is obviously a beautiful town although night has rapidly descended. I have a train to Sibiu at 3 tomorrow so will have to do all the exploring I can tomorrow.
First a whinge. The Romanians are the biggest smokers I’ve ever encountered and they smoke EVERYWHERE !! Restaurants are full of smokers as I’ve said but I arrived at my hotel here which is rustic to say the least and as usual I struggle up the stairs to my room and it STINKS. I’m not a particularly fussy person and I can put up with a bit but this was really overwhelming. So I asked if they had another room…no go! So I’ve opened every window I can and have left the room to eat. That’s my only whinge.
Well, what a busy, busy day! And a terrific day. At 8 this morning I set out with Valli, the guy from the hotel who is lovely and who takes tourists around. So I and a lovely Canadian couple set off. Gorgeous, gorgeous warm day as was yesterday which is a good thing as I’ve developed holes in my very hard working and only pair of shoes so rain is a real bummer!!
First stop Bran for an injection of Dracula and his castle that wasn’t really his but was interesting and atmospheric with a bit of most appropriate mist about. But god it was another climb up to it and then stairs and more stairs!! But still it was great. Finally got to see this castle that epitomises Romania. Now I’ve got to see the new Dracula movie.
Then we went off to Rasnov to explore the massive fortress on the hill. Again it was so interesting and so full of the Hungarian Saxon history of this part of the world. I guess for this reason it is full of German tourists too.
The Canadians then had to catch their train so we dropped them off but I paid my Valli for the extended tour which was actually the best part of the whole day. Off we went to a couple of fortified churches which were fabulous. They are churches and in fact whole villages that were walled to defend themselves against the ottomans and others. Amazing in many respects…ancient frescoes, defence passages all around, hidden tunnels. I was just entranced, and they were so pretty too. So I loved it…gorgeous warm day and so much to appreciate.
Then back to the train station for the train to here. Through farmland with peasants toiling in the fields with horses and hand implements for slashing etc.
As I said where I’m staying here is somewhat depressing but it’s only for one night so I’ll cope.
I’m starting to think settling down in Italy is well timed with holes in the shoes, an orange bag that is a kind of grey, brown, grubby colour and a case full of clothes that have been worn to death including my jeans that have been washed once in six weeks….well what do you do???
Some maintenance won’t go astray though!!
That’s it for another day.