A European Pomegranate?
I've just finished the most luxurious shower. I wanted to feel really good when I started to blog about my experiences thus far so that I'd not skimp on information (good or bad for you). The water pressure here is amazing and the temperature has the potential to just scald the first 1 or 2 layers of skin right off if you'd allow it. The shower even involved a candle. Oh my.
Yesterday was jam packed. We ate a breakfast of cheese, vegetables and fruit before jetting off in the early morning. We made our way to Sinai where we were able to go to the Monastery. We went into the new church there and then to the old church, there in 1695. There was an amazing tomb of Take Ic...I don't remember his last name. He was a sort of revolutionary. (Forgive my lack of retention on some of the facts.) There were Romanian school children everywhere. We made our way all through the monastery..surrounded by a high wall like a fortress. There was a courtyard and a deep well spilling out the coldest water. I dipped in my hands.
From there we went on to have lunch at a small pizza place. I had the Pizza Salame. It was good and cheap. Large bottles of beer, Ursus, were around a dollar. I opted for the Coca-Cola Normala. After lunch we went on to a town I cannot pronounce where our "guide" pointed out his family's neighborhood. He told us he was going back today to visit his mother. I asked him if his mom was a good cook and he emphatically said yes so I felt the need to ask if he'd have us for dinner at his home. He only laughed. heh. He showed us the largest oil refinery in Romania. Our drive was a few hours..making various stops along the way. There were huge fields of crops with people out hoeing with small garden hoes. Amazing. Such hard work. It seems nearly everyone here grows grapes in their front yard. We had many suggestions of all the local wines here. There's also a very strong liquor made from plums called Pilanca? and also Soica. I know I'm spelling things wrong but I'm trying.
Our next stop was in Transylvania. We visited the Bran castle where Vlad "the Impaler" stayed. We made this hike up an enormous, steep hill and upon reaching the top were greeted by a tall flight of many, many stairs. The castle was simple, beautiful. Inside we roamed very narrow staircases. Everything was delightfully rustic. In the center there was a courtyard with grapevines tangled all the way up the wall. Afterwards we nearly tumbled back down the steep hill and were greeted by the most tacky Dracula souvenirs in history. I do hate being a targeted consumer. We are seen and immediately the vendors rise, rushing on us with "Please! Please!! You buy!" I've only purchased one thing so far. It is a rather tacky/cheesy souvenir for my husband. I spent about $3 on it. (He's worth it.) In Transylvania we stood at a bread counter where they were making um.. anyway, they take the dough in thin, very long strips and roll it onto a huge metal pin. This rotates over hot coals, baking the dough. The outside gets crisp and slightly coated with carmelizing sugar. While they're still dripping and bubbling the breads are rolled in nuts or cocoa or cinnamon. We picked at some which we had stood waiting for so as to have a very hot loaf. It was so worth the wait. With bellies again full we made our way just through some mountains to the Rasnov Fortress. Coincidentally..the mountains we drove through were the mountains where the movie, "Cold Mountain" was filmed. We drove by a tiny place where Jude Law stayed and supposedly Nicole Kidman popped in to stay...and according to Dan, our "guide," they stay not in separate rooms! ha.
The Rasnov Fortress was amazing. From miles away we could see it perched upon the highest peak. We made our way to the top on an incredibly bumpy and steep gravel road. We parked and then had to walk the rest of the way to the top. The view was absolutely incredible. Words cannot describe. I'm praying I'll be able to post pictures. God it was unbelievable. We made our way to the tip top and stood on the crumbled edges of the fortress. We were able to stand on the edge of a cliff where we could've easily tumbled to our death. This would've never met safety code in America. Thank God they allowed it here. It would've never been the same if those areas had been roped off and forbidden. I couldn't stop myself from snapping sooo many photos. After spending quite a bit of time there we wandered back down the hill among "Don't-Forget-Me's"..pointed out by Daniel. Forget-me-nots indeed. Lovely. I took pictures of some wild strawberries as well. I'm easily impressed.
Following the fortress we went on to Brasov, another large city. As it was evening by now we wandered..admiring architecture, snapping photos. We walked amid the common wild dogs and locals. On a mountain on the edge of the town there is a huge sign like the Hollywood sign that says Brasov. It was cheesy and humorous. heh. I'm dying to take one of the cable cars to the top of a mountain. It'd be terrifying and amazing. I've never been in a cable car like that.
Finally, we were on our way home from Brasov..a 3 hour drive cut down to roughly 2 hours by Dan driving 90-120 km/hr. We did ask about the legal "limit" and found we were exceeding that most all the time by a lot. I crashed out on the way back as jet lag is lingering. I really haven't slept much at all since I left home. The exhaustion is well worth it, though.
We spent hours lounging last night and I watched the others get drunk on wine and listened while they talked about work.
The morning came early as we slept not long before the sun came up. Breakfast was delicious. I had grilled vegetables, pineapple, red peppers, prosciutto, different cheeses and bread. There was steaming coffee and fresh squeezed juices. After a satisfying meal we spent an hour or so in the coffee bar people watching. The huge windows we sat in front of were reflective on the outside so it was funny to see people stand and play with their hair or admire their asses. There was much smoking and Sugrin, coffee with whiskey. More talk and then I was off with another to walk around Bucharest. We walked for a couple hours and saw so many things. We went to the market where everyone was selling fresh strawberries, every kind of vegetable, fruit and fresh flowers. Tiny children begged us for money. We went into the local Orthodox church where services were drawing to a close. The timing was perfect as we stood in the crowd and parted down the middle in preparation for the priest. They sang as he walked through and blessed everyone. He blessed us, touching us each on the forehead. A good start to the day. I loved every minute of it and strive to soak up every bit I can. I want to keep this updated both for myself and for Husband. It is good to write it while it's fresh before I get home and can only remember details in spurts. It will all come together here and then. My cheeks are red from the sun. I should get dressed as it's late in the afternoon and there should be more trips this evening. I hope you're enjoying your holiday weekend wherever you are.
I miss you and love you, Husband.
