Maramures Hotel Baia Mare

... He realizes that farming is coming to an end. He wants to escape it but his family clings to its roots. Like the students in Cluj, he believes his government is corrupt, local and federal. He does not believe it will change and that his country's economy will remain decrepit. He says that he wished that Germany in WWII had won and kept Romania so that it would be stronger. I can hear the despair in his voice. He listens to a type of music that is of the underclass ...

... are buses.” “No, there aren’t.” They went back and forth for a few moments before the old man said, “Hey, that guy right there is going to Sighet.” He waved the approaching car down for us and we were on our way. I don’t know if this man made a business of taking people to Sighet or not, but he picked up another guy, a Mormon (All Mormons who are proselytising wear suits. This man was wearing a suit. He was a Mormon.) on the ...

... in shambles. A religious group in Switzerland offered to help build the project, but when prices began to escalate, they pulled out. Vasyl had already bought some of the building materials. They decided to build anyway under the difficult conditions. They were able to barter for other materials such as concrete. They put up the walls and roof and decided what to do next. Over the years they ...

... the back of the line for maybe 15 minutes when I decided it wouldn't be worth it as it was in the evening and would be dark in an hour or so. Plus there was nothing on the other side, no town, nothing. There may have been a town further down the road beyond the bend but I wasn't all that interested in finding out. I had only wanted to go back into Ukraine just for curiousity. I went back towards the bridge but was called back by a border guard. Her little post was just on the Ukrainian ...

... to be the highest wood structure in Europe at 75m. A nun (they have such friendly nuns in Romania!) opens the basement chapel for us and we explore the unfinished parts of the church upstairs. These Orthodox churches consist of three rooms: the anti-nave, the nave, and the alter, which again I am doubly prevented from entering on account of my gender and religion, but I can peak in. Also on our tour, Florin stops at a famous wood carver's ...

... selling.) Art took his pictures with his camera by his side - sort of secretly. I asked and usually got a smile and a nod. The close ups of food I just took without asking. One Roma (gypsy) woman, who looked like a beautiful Carmen, yelled at us - apparently screaming that we thought we were better than she was. Otherwise, the people were friendly and full of smiles.

... you. We found out later that we could have requested two comforters. We also realized that we should have showered at night with plenty of hot water because it was cool to cold by the morning. These are minor complaints; all in all it was a very interesting and comfortable place to stay. Judy and Jerry had a room - actually two separate rooms, each with a bed - in the main house with a shared bath. Comments on roads: The ...

... Every change in the engine Churns my stomach. Still. Bloody great view - Green fields of England, Patchwork quilt. Oh. Another hectic turn. I wish he wouldn't do that. Climbing to 37,000 feet At 850 kilometres per hour. The clouds now look like They are just lying on the ground. I can't stop looking out of the window. Huge banks of clouds like Some photo of the Arctic. Powdery snow just Waiting To be used for snowballs. They could have ...

... neither of us could speak a word in the others' language! A short bus ride took to me my destination, Sapanta. Interesting as it was, I can't help but feel that perhaps it wasn't worth the energy expended getting there, especially as I was having to drag my bag around with me - couldn't help but resent having to carry guide books to China and Thailand around a tiny cemetary in a tiny village in the far north of Romania. Character building, I think the polite way of ...

... we took a trip over steep, rough and muddy roads to see the nearby and most famous of the great wooden churches built in 1364. It and 3 others are found in Iued. By now you've realized that churches and religion are at the center of these people's lives. Perhaps the reason for the deep joy written on most of their faces? I think that's what struck me the most. Their faces, their eyes. Especially the eyes of Dumitru Senior. His eyes squinted and gleamed with such ...