Capitolina Cluj-Napoca

It is Sunday at everything except the churches are closed. CLuj has several large churches, one of which is broadcasting its sermon into the plaza. 20 people are standing outside, listening to the service while facing the church. Not sure why they don't go in.

I hike to the top of a hill for a great view. Two of the museums ...

Located out of town, but close to the economic area of the city, BLACK TULIP, a four stars hotel, represents the perfect destination for those wishing to rest. I have appreciated the room atmosphere, the quality of the services...and the high degree of refinement of the cuisine.

... and is Dracula themed. Once settled we went out to see the sights including some Roman ruins and the usual churches. Due to the lack of local restaurants or fast food outlets we decided on using the complimentary room service and ordered our meal from the hotel’s restaurant. At least this way we save on the drinks and the meal ended up being quite reasonable at about $A20 ... gotta watch the budget!

The train from Sighisoara to Cluj Napoca was another sauna experience. I had opened the window, but the elderly woman in our berth asked me to close it (though she herself was sweating).

The only good thing about Cluj was a brilliant candy store in which we spent a fair amount of money (for Romania).

Sighisoara to Cluj: one 2nd class ticket (3 hours) – 36.70 lei

... ja alempaa tieverkkoa. 80-luvulla päivänsä päättäneen hirmuhallitsijan kädenjälki on yhä surullisesti nähtävissä Romanian tieverkolla. Suuret infra-ajatukset eivät oikein ottaneet huomioon liikenteen kasvua, ympäristöasioita tai ei itse asiassa varmaan mitään muutakaan. Osoittaakseni jälleen, että en ole nukkunut kokousten aikana, voin kertoa täysin Romaniaan liittymättä Intiassa olevan 3,2 miljoonaa kilometriä maanteitä.

... avea dreptate, era clar un abuz.
Si se pune si suna la presa, si cheama ziaristii si organizeaza conferinta de presa si face copie dupa document la toata lumea, si mai si ameninta ca da in judecata primaria Cluj daca nu primeste autorizatie de constructie.
Dupa o luna vine DNA-ul cu mandat de perchezitie la sediul firmei si in masina lui. Si ce crezi ca gasesc in masina lui? O servieta plina ...

... their intentions created an opening for the concept of communism to make perfect sense. There's a video on how communists infiltrated peoples lives..all about agents and keepers and manipulation and deceit....looks like its out of the 50s...but fascinating..anyway, check out some of the photos from this park...esp Stalin's empty boots...they took him right apart at the knees... On our way to Romania...now I know very little about Romania...I have old friends ...

... me with heavy eyelids and I was thankful for her mysterious arrival. I left the flat and spent some hours wandering through the dimly-lit city in a drowsy stupour, past some discotheques pounding Romanian house music and gargantuan, neon-lit cathedrals. It all seemed to wash over me in a blur along with the sploosh and whir of the nearby canal.



So for now to bed, to dreaming of Maramures and the long train ride ahead.

I did a really stupid thing in Cluj. I got off at the wrong place, just a little over-anxious I guess, but that's what happens when you don’t speak the language well. I wouldn’t speak it at all if it didn’t have significant similarities to the other Romance languages ...

... boots and cheering. G claims he enjoyed it, even though I had to keep poking him awake during the first part of the show. Poor baby, walking all day tired him out. It was a shame that Eger (where we spent the last two nights) has something against internet cafes, because I couldn't write about all the wonderful wine we drank there. Really, I think that when my mother goes to heaven, it'll be there. A little valley with a ...