Dig unu

The landscape on the journey was very beautiful, somewhat akin to vast miles of English countryside, only completely unbroken by cityscapes.

George was a bit late meeting me so i watched him arrive knowing exactly who he was as his hairy description has somewhat proceeded him. I then made the worst mistake; to his question as to my preference for car or foot, i sealed my foom with "I'm ok to walk".

Half an hour later, exhausted, dehydrated, and bright red, we arrived at the university halls and i threw down my things and was rushed out again for the supermarket trip and to meet the group. There are now 7 of us excluding George, everyone seems very nice. We chose our dinner and breakfast items that George pays for and then came back and watched Spiderman 3. I have Romanian French Students in my room, who are really friendly.

I was presented with my own trowel and so am quite excited about tomorrow's dig. Everyone seems a bit bored of archaeology, but i understand they've been on the project over a month already.

We walked to the site early and started to trowel away a layer of earth. I found some pottery and a tooth, then part of a jaw. I love finding things! We worked until 1, when it got too hot to continue, and then had a school dinner style lunch at the university. Fruptura du pork!

I fell asleep later, then we wandered down to the beautiful park and had a drink in the cafe. In the evening we had our sandwich dinner and played cards and talked about childhood.

I have arranged to go with Glynn to the Romanian rock festival in Sibiu next weekend. Should be an interesting experience.

My roomate kept me up til half 12 talking about life in Romania, showing me photos, looking at mine on facebook, asking about my life. Cultural exchanges one might say. It was really interesting. Turns out, her sister is her mum! I tried not to think of eastenders and laugh when she told me.

Next day was another good day of digging. I actually really quite enjoy the work, i was better at it today. I found a big cow tooth and the days best find - a handle. I also uncovered an 'ancient' coin that George had plantede to test our spotting abilities. Christi, 'the sweet archaeologist' as the girls call him, found it rather hilarious.

Went for a very pleasant walk after a shower and a rest to the outside of the fort. We had to claw our way through a huge gaggle of kids waving money to buy an ice cream; small as they are, in numbers the sheer force is crushing.

Everyone was tired in the evening. I watched 'Bad Santa' with Iulia. Having given my finished fantasy novel to Lucy i'm a bit stuck for easy reading til tuesday; the Robert Sheppard is far too good to waste on my exhausted mind.

I miss George. His personal brand of Romanian sarcasm and humour never ceases to amuse me. He has gone 'to the mountains' for the weekend. We were informed at the dig today that men from the mountains (such as those working at the site that want to marry us) are 'best in f*ck' due to being 'very strong below'. George denied seeking one of these on his weekend expedition, but admitted being from the mountains himself.

On our saturday, we decided to go to Tiga Mores. We got the 2.5 hour bus there, a pleasant if slightly too swelteringly hot journey, then realised we only had a couple of hours in the town. We got some yummy pizza for lunch in a dingy little underground bar, then had about a half hour speed sight seeing, somewhat like speed dating with a little more running involved. We got the train back and did bugger all in the evening. I would've liked to go for a drink but that's something these weathered archaeologists tend not to indulge in. It's probably for my own good.

Sunday was the day of blissful lie-in. I dreamed i was starring in a play, standing in the wings still wearing my archaeology clothes and was pushed onstage, holding my costume and attempting to change during my performance, dancing and singing and kicking off my walking boots.

Me and Lucy went out for a coffee and a hot chocolate in the morning. Didn't quite still the aching longing for earl grey tea, but it was a nice morning.

One thing i have neglected to mention is the wonderful system of change-givinbg in shops. You very rarely get coins, just Lei notes, so never are you able to pay the odd 40 bani. So the shop owner will give you your notes, and then gum change, or chocolate change, or cigarette change. I bought an alarm clock, and from my 5 Lei note got back a 1 Lei note and 2 plasters. I think it's genius.

Nice relaxing few hours in the park. Nice pasta after a nice long walk. We bumped into a tired George, back from the mountains, who told us we were leaving tomorrow after work.

Our last day of digging in Alba was really good. We didn't finish our house however, because no one had any motivation except crazy thrive-on-manual-labour me.

Said goodbye to Alba Iulia and my Romanian roomates and three hours later arrived back in Brasov.