Perla Sigheteana Baia Mare

... sounds a little gypsy, a little middle east but not at all appealing to the Western ear). He is bringing home a shopping bag full of peppers since they are much cheaper in Timisoara. He despairs that so many people drink heavily with over a hundred bars in his town of a few thousand. I try to empress on him the importance of education and that Romania has the potential to improve greatly.

I am staying at the Happy House Hostel owned by a Brit who married a ...

... br>
As there was no discussion on the way back, I thought of the Merry Cemetery, the reason we went to Săpāntă. Years ago, a local decided that he would add a bit of hope, humour & colour to the normally dull grave marker. All the grave markers he created used carved wood with a relief of the deceased, often doing something related to his life but sometimes related to his death. Each is painted in vibrant colours with a short, usually rhyming epitaph ...

... the money and got support from various people to finish this building. In the meantime they started their program for street children in the center of Vinogradov about four miles away. The building was officially opened this past year on July 17th. The president of Ukraine's daughter was present along with the ministers of social services on the national and regional levels. The building will now ...

... of the bridge to check the cars coming and going. But I guess a pedestrian who crosses the bridge, then stands at the back of the line to enter Ukraine only to then leave again creates some interest. I actually don't know if she called me back but as I walked past her little post she called out and I looked back and she pointed at me, so it's safe to assume she wanted to talk to me. I went back and she wanted my passport. She looked through it and was talking in Ukrainian. I of course ...

... works are quite impressive, including several huge gates. These gates were originally built by royal landowners to ward off evil, a symbolic barrier between the safe interior and the unknown outside world. Today, they often front common houses as a sign of wealth and social status. They remind me of the large gates in front of Wyoming ranches, though perhaps with a different rustic feel. We also visit a Romanian washing machine. Part of ...

Also in Sighet is the Memorial Museum of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance. It is housed in the town's former prison. Many of the cells have been converted into exhibition spaces. I recommend you go to http://www.memorialsighet.ro (click on the English flag) for details on the museum, each floor, and the exhibits in the cells. There is also information about anti-communist resistance in the mountains, Iuliu Maniu, a father of ...

... are mostly 2 lane, need a lot of work, many bridges under construction - look like they've been under construction for years. Not many potholes, but much uneven road, especially edges, narrow to no shoulders, commonly deep drainage ditches alongside roads, bicyclists common, but usually riding slowly along road edge. Frequent horsedrawn carts, cows, dogs, sheep, ducks on roads. Very scenic but necessary to stay focused all the time.

... that wing. It's filthy... I'll have a word when we land. Got to try and get a Veggie brekkie. Excellent! 1 egg omelette, 2 little hash browns, 1 tomato, 1 fruit salad, Bugger... Turbulence. Erm, 1 roll and cheese spread, Coffee, Fanta. Not bad. Oh yeah, 1 toothpick. I can't believe we're still rising. Scares the **** out of me. Did you know that the 'Dixie' anthem for the Confederate States Was written by a Black? Turbulence! By the seven sons of ...

... it is. The unique feature of this cemetery is that instead of the usual headstones, almost every grave in the place had an elaborately wood carved and colourfully painted headstone, depicting the deceased in everyday life (in most cases) and a short passage/poem celebrating that person's life. Even not being able to read Romanian, I spent an interesting hour or so wanding around the graveyard. Unfortunately, that left me with another six hours before my train was due. A ...

... for what appeared to be no real reason. I've never seen children play together so nicely as I did that day. They were all headed home from school when we were coming back from the churches and many jumped on the back of our cart. It was -7 Celcius and they were happy to be going home. Vacile's sister and one of his young cousins cuddled up to Katrinka to keep warm. The older kids on the back smilingly teased each other and played until 1 by 1 or 2 by 2, they popped ...