10,000 Teeny Boppers

This may be an interesting post. After twice losing my entire new blog to cyberneverland at a cafe yesterday I'm not working on the guest house computer. For some reason it brings up my blog page in Korean...yes, I am in Romania....Sighisoara, a downscale place from Brasov with more spectacular walled city.

Brasov has the black church, so called because the outside walls were blackened by fire centuries ago. Not much left of the walls but some beautiful walking space/city center with a clock tower from 1460. Our hotel was in the historic quarter and 100yrs old so quite new...good spot, good service.

Leaving Brasov we drove to Daracula's castle (Vlad the Impaler....a cup of coffee to anyone who can tell me the details of impaling.) which is Romania's #1 tourist stop, as the 10,000 teeny boppers present can attest. We were invited into a private tour with a family of 3 from Cleveland. Joanne's scepticism vanished and she, too, was very glad we stopped.

The drive to Sighisoara was a delightful ramble through mountains and countryside. I've been warned not so speed so we tool along at the speed limit which every other conveyance, other than horse carts, whip around us no matter the passing situations. I've made many Dacia owners happy because for once they could pass someone.

Joanne thought we were going to rough it when I said he had a hostel, the only place I could find online, but its very nice...and a comfortable walk from the hill on which the wall, towers, and historical churches stand...two of which are Lutheran.

Sighisoara was once mostly Saxon (German). Now of 25,000 people only 500 are Saxon and only 200 of them are pure. The old Saxon cemetery is a beautiful place with huge trees. beautiful flowers and the songs of birds.

The poet may have said, "What is so rare as a day in June?" but had he been here he would have said "May". Cloudless sky, slight breeze, 80 degrees....

There is a Lutheran Church on the highest point of the old walled city...Lutheran since the reformation. To get to it there is a covered staircase of 176 steps...6steps, landing, 6steps, landing, and so on...designed to remind climbers that God rested on the 7th day....sermon illustration anyone? Next to the church is the city high school. The church guide said no problem for the students but some of the teachers are 60 years old. Handicapped access does not exist in Romania. We will go to a concert...classical...tonight.

If it weren't for the Romanian steps I'd have gained 50 lbs. by now. We were served the traditional Romanian brandy last night after our waitress forgot Joanne's salad....I'd take the brandy over the salad any day. In Brasov we had pickled mushrooms....the waiter talked to fast for me to follow...if the taste didn't get the texture did!

I have I told you that we're having a grand time? Well we are as we do our self guided elder hostel.