Apollo Sibiu

... by these is very difficult and the maps we have are very high level. I have a compass on my watch which helps. But, we still get lost. We ask for directions in a small town. The young girl speaks English very well and we get back on track.

Even along the main road are some fun experiences. We pass through Fagaras which has a, large, ornate Orthodox church (apparently completing construction of the exterior) which is sending the sermon over loudspeakers to the surrounding ...

... to the purpose, but nevertheless we arrive at the bottom of a huge hole in the hill.

Down there is a cold trap where the snow in winter is conserved as well in summer and this snow converts into a glacier. This glacier then is slowly flowing through a cave system into the mountain. Really unique and special to see such a thing. Was worthwile to deviate from the normal road ...

Sibiu is a delightful city, small - about 250 000 people, but ready to make your staying one of the best in Romania.
The city, on its German name Hermannstadt, was founded in the 12 century and in 2007 was Cultural European Capital.
The Bruckenthal Palace in the Big Plaza, today an art museum and the Evangelic Cathedral are worth a 2-3 hour visit.
Also, climbing all the way up in the Council Tower , the 12 century gate of SIbiu, let us see the city from above.
Great place!

... in a Saxon village called Viscri, but the rainy weather put a damper on our plans to walk around the countryside, so we went to the local church and climbed the clocktower for great views of the surrounding valley.

The main story here, and in almost everywhere I've been in Romania, is mealtime. We start with a round of cheese and vegetables, right now really delicious local tomatoes. Next, we have a soup, and I ...

... mills, homesteads and every other building you could imagine. You couldn't walk in the rooms, but you could peer inside where they had it decorated with old beds, tables, clothes and linens. The place was pretty empty and it was nice strolling the grounds to myself. The weather still is crazy hot and I kept ducking into the shade for a little bit here and there to cool down. After around 3 hours I still never saw everything, but I think I ...

... I decided to go chase blue skies and sun. Total airfare for all this flying is about $225, and would have been cheaper if I had less baggage. Of course, since making travel plans, Sibiu has been nothing but blue skies and sun. No snow on ground though. Life has been trying to get some writing for work done (with very limited success), and afternoon meal at a restaurant. I've had some excellent food, and some not so good. I never, ever ...

... nests on the top of almost every power pole on our way to a Monastery. We made it the Monastery but just had a look around the outside since there was a service going on inside. Next our cabbie took us along a creek where all the locals go camping and this weekend was no exception. We went all the way up the "road" and at the top there was another church. Outside there was a group of about 20 children in what I'm guessing was their Sunday School class since there was ...

... Through the interpretation by Marco, it seemed that the shepherds were especially interested in knowing more about me. I was the first visitor they had ever seen from Asia. Yes, it is special to be "yellow" at this corner of Europe. They even suggested I could stay there longer as an "intern shepherd." Well, thanks, but no, thanks... Later we dropped by another village and chatted with some locals (through Marco's interpretation of course). We also learned some ...

... this trip. All others I had are multiple country guides like "Let's Go East Europe" and "Lonely Planet Western Balkan." Yes, I really did plan to spend more time in Romania than in other countries. The train stopped at the border area for quite awhile, later moved forward, then it stopped again. This was going on for more than an hour (which caused further delay for my arrival). Finally it started moving fast forward again, and traveling from ...

... do I know anyway?) about the possibility of the adventure we were planning. His reply was the first of many of the ilk: "You're going to walk to Biertan?!" "Yes." "That is a long way away, you know." "Yes, I know, but I think it's manageable." In my mind, I was thinking that four hours is hardly that long. "How will you get back?" His eyebrows shot up when he asked this. Also, behind him sensing perhaps all the commotion, an old lady entered the room. "Well, I don't know ...