While C. is asleep on my chest, I seize the opportunity to tell you something about this website.
At the top of this site, you’ll see a photo. What photo exactly, I don’t know, beacause it’ll change as soon as you refresh the site. (You just did it, right?) But of course these photo’s aren’t chosen at random. They’re chosen because they represent aspects of Romania that we liked, that we fell for. That made us decide to move there.
For instance, there is this picture of a red rooftop cabin near a lake. It’s a weatherstation in the middle of the Făgăraș mountains nowadays. The lake is called lake Bâlea, or more precise Bâlea Lac. In summer, this lake is accessible through the Transfăgărașan (another one of the photo’s), a motorway that was called the most beautiful road in the world by Topgear (season 14, episode 1). That road is also called Ceaucescu’s folly, because he insisted this road from the south to the north was build, so that if war ever broke loose, he could transport his army from south to north or the other way around faster. Fourteen, mainly young people were killed building this road, but eventually Ceaucescu had his way.
Apparently he really enjoyed this birdview of the valley on the northside, ’cause now he also wanted a summerretreat in the mountains, near this beautiful glacierlake. One was build for him and his close ones, another for the staff. Nowadays there are three cabins, all with a red rooftop: one weatherstation, one mountainresue station and a restaurant.
Another picture is taken in the centre of Sibiu. You see a few old houses with peeling paint in the foreground. It gives us a mix of a medieval/ south European/ old German vibe. It’s a lovely town to discover if you’re ever in the neighbourhood (all is relative). The town has a friendly looking marketsquare and a nice museum (Brukenthalmuseum) with a lot of art and biological objects on display. It even has a few Dutch painters in the collection.
There is also this picture of Râpa Roșie, or Red Ravine. Natural erosion has given this place it’s characteristic red, rocky appearance. It’s quite big and definitly something to see for yourself. Though it’s a bit hard to find and you need a robust vehicle to get there, it’s a lovely place for a little hike and a picnic.
Now that C. has waken up my attention is needed elsewhere. Next time I’ll tell you more about the photo’s and about the name.