Scenic Mountain Drive to Brasov
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2006
1
9
14
Trip End
Sep 11, 2006
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Brasov,
Romania
Friday, September 8, 2006
Scenic Mountain Drive to Brasov
Midnight Brasov Time
Dear Readers:
Today is our major long-haul day, so we drag out of bed early and hit the road at 8:00am. We head in a westerly direction from Roman, through beautiful village after beautiful village. This is obviously one of the hay harvesting seasons, and strapping young men are out in the fields swinging their scythes to cut the hay, raking it up, and then piling it into haystacks or onto the top of horse-drawn wagons. Women are driving cows to pasture. People are lined up in other fields picking up and sacking the potatoes that a tractor has just furrowed out of the ground
01 Tiberius Leads Us in Bicaz Gorges Hike
. I feel like sleeping, but resist because I don't want to miss any of the passing beauty.Before long we head into the Bicaz Gorges, carved through about 1,000 feet of limestone by a seemingly gentle river. Our guide has the driver stop at one point, and tells us we will begin walking. We can't see what is around the next curve, and wonder just how far we will be going on foot. Around each corner is another staggering view of the gorges, until finally we reach a stretch of road that is lined with stalls where people are selling every manner of touristy junk. I purchase a funny gift for someone who is having his birthday tomorrow and a wooden mask for our own collection.
We drive to the top, stopping for photos at a huge rock outcropping and again at the summit. Nearby is Red Lake, a beautiful resort area with people out rowing canoes on the lake. The lake was formed by a sudden earth collapse that blocked a river. Dead tree trunks still protrude from the middle of the lake. Some young men are making a tasty cake with honey and nuts that turns on a spit above coals. We purchase one to share while it is hot and take another group photograph with the lake in the background.
Our last visit for the day (other than pit stops) is the citadel at Prejmer
02 Bicaz Gorges Ovehang
. This peasant fortress surrounds a 13th Century Gothic Evangelical church, and was the most powerful in all Transylvania in its day. The thick walls have many small rooms lining their interior. Families lived here whenever the fortress was under attack. We climb up and walk around the top of the walls to see how the place was once defended. Many of the rooms inside the walls are open to give an idea of their size and possible furnishings.We arrive in Brasov before 5:30pm, and agree to take some free time to wander the city before meeting again for dinner at 7:30pm. The hotel is marvelous, and just blocks from the central square of this vibrant city. An annual beer festival is being held today, and there are crowds of young people and lots of loud music. After a delightful dinner at our newly renovated hotel, several of us walk through the square and plunge into the festival throngs. It is the fun ending to a long and scenic day.
Hugs,
Dan
