* I never liked what happens to human eyes when too much light gets there all at once *
Long time, no writing once again. What can you do? You can't play with inspiration - it only comes when it wants to.
Let me tell you about my birthday present!!! Hihihi - so excited !
Soooo ... Because for my birthday we decided to go to Italy and because there can't even be too much traveling aaaand especially, because I saw too little of Romania and I had places on the list where I was dying to get, Stefan prepared an awesome route as part of my birthday present!
Roadtrip: Bucharest - Sighisoara Fortress - Sibiu - Sarmizegetusa Regia - Huniazilor Castle - Deva Fortress - Bucharest
Do you know how long we thought it would take us? Four days - do you know how much it actually took us? Exactly two. And we didn't hurry at all!
Let me tell you how it was:
First of all, our road trips are mega fun because we sing all the way ... especially Romanian songs from 2000s.
Then I have to do a pirouette in every super place we go through because "it`s our thing now" lol.
First stop: Sighisoara!
Here we are. Already loving it - colorful & crowded houses and Kurtos Kalacs.... OmonOm Nooommm !!!
Sighisoara still stands as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. One of Transylvania's seven fortified Saxon cities, located in Mures County, roughly 300km north of Bucharest, it has enjoyed historical prominence given its position right in the lap of the Carpathian Mountains.
There is a really cool Medieval Festival organized here every year, at the end of July. It brings together knightly groups, medieval music groups, folk artists and craftsmen, animation and theater troupes. Unfortunately, we missed it this year ...
At the base of the Fortress is a paid parking lot, you can pay directly by text message - no holidays are taken into account, so you'll pay anyway.
We entered The Citadel, where it was full of tourists - as it most of the times is - we walked the narrow streets (fortunately for us) empty, with colorful walls on both left and right sides.
We climbed 300 stairs on The Scholars' Stairs while I was thinking... hmm what would my legs and ass say if I'd do this on a daily basis? Those motherfuckers would enjoy the hell out of it, I am sure of that. hehehe
The stairs are one of the main attractions located right in the center of the Fortress. Also you can see the Clock Tower, one of the 9 towers that remained standing, considered the symbol of Sighisoara.
We took pictures.
We looked for a place right in the center of the Fortress, on Tripadvisor, where we could eat, but even if there were many terraces and restaurants to choose from, we were not attracted to anything because we already had another place in mind, recommended - I'll tell you right away!
I did some pirouettes - obviusly - and left.
You can always see lots of pictures and storyes on my Instagram @goingplacesnanana
Who got lucky instead? A very small kiosk that sold hot dogs for 10 lei (around $2 USD) and pizza. You don't want to know how long the line was!
Ah, and if you need to go to the toilet, prepare 2-3 lei ($0.70 USD)
From this small, colorfull and amazing place we left hungry, directly to the Dracula Danes Domain. A place recommended by a family friend who lives in the area.
WOA! I would eat here every weekend if it wasn't so far from Bucharest. THE BEST and traditional and Romanian and super service and more than that? They have riding lessons and an hour ride through the woods with the horse and the prices are really ok!
So .... at least once, we'll come back here for my riding madness. Hooray!
Let me show you what we ate, I'll make a small description:
Smoked bean soup served in bread (first time trying this) and red onion. - This is amazing Romanian dish to try if you haven't already! .... & Palinca!
Dish number two - which we shared and from which I, alone, ate 3 quarters - a plate with: rustic potatoes and pork muscles, breaded pork ribs and pork sausage - all heated in lard.
A flavored plum brandy.
A healthy appetite!
Check in @ Sibiu
With full and happy bellies, we went on to Sibiu, where we spent the night.
Tips: Know what kind of a sleep you expect to have! The accommodations in the Old Center of Sibiu, the ones with the windows towards the streets of the Old Center are not the most suitable if you want to have a peaceful sleep. The cleaning cars make a huge noise starting at about 4 in the morning.
For me was the second time in Sibiu and I liked it even more! I was kind of a travel guide for Stefan. This was his first time here.
First thing? We were looking for the highest place to watch the sunset! Because we like it so much !!! If you read my other blog posts you know by now, we are Sunset Maniacs!!
The houses' eyes were judging and staring at us. (Look up to the right!)
Have you ever been to Sibiu? Have you noticed how the houses look at you? Like some gossiping old crones! I think it's awful to have a bad day here. Just imagine to walk alone on the streets, to accuse yourself in your mind of whatever happened to you that day and when you want to raise your head, to look at the sky, you can't! Because you run into the relentless glances of the roofs, which confirms what a disgusting human being you are.
Buuuut, apart from these gossipy old ladies, the city was in full celebration and the scene resounded to the rhythms of classical music. It's as if the whole people of Sibiu were there! And do you know what else was right there? Starbucks! (co we are Starbucks maniacs too) Only, it was just too late for a coffee, and we wanted some wine anyway ...
Right next to the Bridge of Liars is a terrace with a piano that we looked at from the first moment and which we circled orund until, finally, a table was released and finally, we were able to end the day with a glass of wine, on the background of live, piano music.
The terraces were full, the Old Center was full, and the chairs had blankets because, even though we came here in August, it was still quite cool in the evening.
Woke up, picked up some fresh pretzels and drank our coffee at Starbucks, obviously. Our friends know that more obvious than that it isn't possible.
Sarmizegetusa Regia
Now, this is a place we both looked forward to!
Sarmizegetusa Regia, one of the 7 energetic points, here in Romania and the capitaland the most important military, religious and political centre of the Dacians prior to the wars with the Roman Empire.
The car can get you quite close to the place and there is a large parking lot, free of charge and quite safe where you can leave the car. From here, you'll have to walk by foot about 2 km, on a paved road, directly through the forest.
As we begun to approach the place, we see 4x4 police cars, guards, everything super secure. An entrance is paid first, because you will walk through an old marble settlement. There was nothing left, but the whole ground was full of glitter - it was like magic!
At Sarmizegetusa archeological excavations are still being made and different utensils and pieces of interesting things are always discovered. The plateau is green and although there are just some pieces of stones and wood, placed horizontally, remnants of the former settlements for the Dacian Gods, it takes your breath away!
People walked barefoot on the ground but most of them sat on benches improvised by those who take care of the space.
Tips: Do not try to sit directly on the grass! A guy tried and immediately one of the many guards came to tell him he was not allowed to. No further explanation was given.
As I said, it is known that it is one of the 7 big, energetic points of Romania. The spiral-shaped interior of the settlement forms an Energy Vortex. We don't need to find out if it would allow us to teleport :)) the saddest thing is that we can't find out anyway, being very well guarded.
But on such a green plateau it is almost diabolical to be forbidden to sit directly on the grass!
Next stop? Huniazilor Castle!
Until we reach the Castle, the road shows us several small castles, chic, identical, in a whole chic and identical village. The architecture made you think they were temples from Thailand, but they were nowhere near them. Apart from the shape of the roof and the red color. These small villages are known to be inhabited entirely by gypsies.
There is absolutely nothing to do in the city ... it is still a restaurant that many people have recommended to us, but it did not attract us at all, so we won't be recommending it either.
But instead we bought The ice cream of the future from the castle's yard - ice cream made of small, colorful, fragrant and ice cream beans. It's good! Try it :D
The architecture of the castle is truly remarkable and has always made me imagine it like the Owl Castle, something from Shrek.
Very nice!
Deva Fortress
Do we take the elevator? We don't take the elevator. Why take the elevator when there's a car route! Go by car! And besides ... the whole Deva is always in line to take the elevator!
We go up a few minutes by car and we see the entrance gate of the Citadel. Cheerfull, we venture about ... maybe 40 steps and the momentum is cut off. Over. Frozen. HOW MANY-STAIRS-ARE-THERE ????
Imagine that moment from the movies, when you look up to the stairs and they don't seem to end, ever. Yes, exactly.
We reached the top as we reached the end of the line when running in school, to sports class - we felt like something inside us was dying of torment. And that was probably our physical endurance, which lately has been used for sleeping.
We walked through the Walls of the Citadel, I looked through the windows from dizzying heights aand I did pirouettes!
We watched the sunset until the sun got behind the mountains.
And that's all, folks!
And because you came so far, let me tell you how the last day ended!
We returned to Sibiu and ate at one of the dozens terraces, something traditional and we stayed and talked until about 11:30 at night. Then, we returned to Bucharest, because we promised ourselves a generous breakfast at Paul's, in the heart of our city.
AAand .........
Don't miss these:
Eat at the Dracula Danes Domain, visit Sarmizegetusa and watch the sunset from Deva Fortress! Worth it 100%!
Until next time,
