Friday-Monday, Sept. 2-5 Sibiu, Bucharest and Maimaia, Romania

This is not the best connection, so I will make it quick.

Friday we drove and also toured Sibiu, a town that is industrializing but also contains a medieval center.  They are trying hard to develop tourism, and they have a lot to work with.  Ceausecu's son (sp?) was the mayor and protected the town from much of his father's destruction,  The bldg. above on the left was the Communist HQ and the one on the right is the Catholic cathedral.  This symbolizes the choice the people had to make--the dictatorial communist regime or traditional  beliefs. 


On Saturday we drove through the Transylvanian mountains reaching an altitude of 1250+ meters.  Lots of hairpin turns--reminded us of Colorado, but lower elevations and more forest.  (pretty scenery and photo ops with quaint horse drawn carts and senior citizens.  photos above


We also arrived at "Dracula's Castle".  It now belongs to the grandchildren ofthe last resident Queen Mary of Romania, who  lived there in the 1920s and 30s.  Climbed the stairs and more stairs.  Nice place but no heat, no furniture, thin windows in a cold climate.

On Sunday we arrived in Bucharest.  Had a bus/walk tour of the city and visited the 2nd largest bldg. in the world (after the Pentagon).  Ceaucescu had it built starting in 1984. The revolution was in 1989, the year he (the dictator) was shot and killed.  It is impossible to keep the politics, the people and  the changing borders  straight.  Sorry - don't have those pix yet.  It is a huge bldg.--crew of 700 to maintain it.  It is used by parliament and rented out for expositions, conferences, etc.  A big expense for a poor country--such a waste of money to build an expensive monument for an ousted Soviet dictator. 

Today (Labor Day Monday we left Bucharest and drove mostly on freeway to Maimaia on the Black Sea.  Got in my quick dip--lovely shallow beach, warm water.  Ate dinner at tghe CG restaurant.  Bob is starting to like the (non sweet) desserts and I am liking the sauerkraut and cabbage salads!!!!


Tomorrow we cross t5ghe border ibnto Bulgaria and then on the next day to Turkey.  It is dark now outside the office and I can't see the keyboard.  We think of you all abd hope you had a bnice Labor Day weekend.