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A last day in Sibiu and goodbye to Transylvania

Spent until after lunch in Sibiu just wandering, wandering. Sibiu has these amazing attic room windows in their roofs that have king of slitty eyes. I became obsessed with these eyes watching me and I couldn’t stop myself taking photos of them. You will see when I do a photo download. I took my time over lunch and had a gelato sitting in the Piata in the sun. Can’t complain about that. Back in Bucharest now after a long and fairly 5 hour train ride. My time in Transylvania has been amazing, I have loved Romania so very much and can’t understand the bad press is seems to get. The people are friendly, helpful and many speak English although traditionally German is their second language due to their Germanic heritage.

I have had a few discussions with Romanians who are very aware of their need to market their country. There are ‘Roma’ peoples about the place that add colour and interest and yes there is some begging but no more than in many countries.

Anyway…it has been a great experience, a magical country with all the interest of Europe without the crowds of tourists.

I am going to extol the virtues of Romania!!

6 weeks of travel in Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania has been a real treat. three very different countries with such treasures and surprises. I have just loved this first rewarding phase of my travels.

Tomorrow…maybe an art gallery in Bucharest that is open on a Tuesday…otherwise a very laid-back, regrouping day before Italy on Wednesday.

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A day in Sibiu

I have spent a leisurely day in Sibiu and honestly I’ve run out of adjectives for these beautiful towns in Transylvania. In many ways Sibiu is the one I love the most, just for its ambience, it’s laid back chic ness really. Again just a beautiful small town with wonderful buildings, a fortress wall and passages, towers, bastions. It is Sunday so when I set out this morning people were coming and going to church…religion is big in Romania. So I just wandered all over the place. Nothing too dramatic just absorbing it all and loving it….so many photos!! I went to the art gallery in a magnificent building. It is supposed to be the best art gallery in Romania which is good because it will compensate for the missed ones in Bucharest. And it was good….some lovely pieces. What it reinforces is the strong Saxon/Germanic influence in this region that perpetuates. Germans and their influence everywhere.

I then found a lovely place for lunch and sat in the warm sun on this lovely day. I wandered the fortress walls and the towers, I sat in the Piatas and watched Romania on their play day. It was gorgeous. The other observation is that there are quite a few gypsy’s about in their distinctive dress. They do beg at times and you do (rightly or wrongly) make sure your bag is well zipped up.

Now I’m out to dinner in an LPG recommended restaurant in a cellar. Unfortunately my camera is recharging so no photos of this really lovely atmospheric place. Only,and usual, problem is that IRS full of smoke. I just asked some guy not to close the door when he got up to do same. Anyway, you would all love it here and how I wish you were with me!!!!

I start with breaded, fried cheese and I follow with ‘peasants stew’. Hopefully this will save until I get back to my lovely hotel to send!!!

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Sighisoara to Sibiu

Well my darlings I’ve just arrived in Sibiu after another really big day. I got to my hotel and it’s lovely particularly after last nights completely revolting shithole. Then I went to connect to wifi to send last nights email and it wouldn’t connect again. That was it for me, it’s these tiny little things that is sometimes all it takes and I melted down. I sent a distress signal to Hammy of course. Then I sat, pulled myself together and thought of the old turn it off trick. Lo and behold it worked!!! And I’m back on deck. Crisis over, now it need a glass of wine most urgently and that’s what I’m doing as I write this.

I hated the room last night so much that it quite unreasonably unsettled me. So I was out of there early…they also provided a shit breakfast…I kept myself nice because I needed them to keep my case for the day, but I was out the door to explore nice and early.

Well, there were things to do places to go in this magical little town full of delights. First I had to climb to the top of the beautiful clock tower to get the perspective of this town as a Citadel. So you stay inside the citadel surrounded by walls, towers and bastions. Up I went but was somewhat thwarted by mist and fog, very atmospheric but not good for perspective or photos. Nonetheless it was terrific, great views and a real sense of the town. The next thing was the church on the hill. A cover stairway leads up to it…172 steps. Well why put it off, ot had to be done!!

That was really not a problem…not to say I bounced of but it wasn’t too hard. The gripe I have, and I’ve already said this, is that they don’t let you take photos inside their churches. I get very frustrated but if you try and cheat there are always members of the Romanian mafia disguised in all sorts of pious ways just waiting to nab you!!

I spent the rest of the day walking around the citadel walls, up and down the hilly, cobblestone streets and into and out of ancient churches. Really al quite enchanting. I allowed myself lunch in the restaurant Casa Vlad where he was apparently born(or was that died??).

Then off to the train for the 3 hour ride to Sibius…and here I am. I love watching all the villages roll by in amongst the hills and forests, it is lovely.

As I said before I’m getting grubbier and grubbier so something’s got to give but I guess not until I get to Italy. First impressions of Sibiu….just gorgeous!! Romania has grabbed me by the short and curly….it is fabulous!!