2 Days in Brasov

Emerging from the airport in Bucharest, I scanned the crowd for the 'Projects Abroad' sign and its imposing bearer. I had been warned of Leo's Italian Mafia appearance and demeanor, and i was not disappointed (whether this was him playing up to it somewhat i couldn't say, but judging by his 'Italy' sports t-shirt it's possible).

He insisted upon feeding and watering me, so i was presented with my first 'romanian' meal; something that suspiciously resembled a chicken burger. But boy was it good. On the way out, being typically english and stupid, i tried to get into the driver's side of the car. Duh!

We had a three hour journey to Brasov and aside from being a little sleazily hit on, and occasionally fearing for my life as we zoomed around blind corners overtaking everyone, it was a pleasant journey. The first town we drove through consisted of rows and rows of huge filthy concrete flat blocks, 'in the russian style' i was informed. Past this we met wide open fields, endless sky, and the sun setting over the mountains on the horizon.

Leo told me some more Romanian history... well his own take on it; that the Romans invaded for three things, that is, the beautiful dark and red haired Dacian girls, the bees and their honey, and the fishing. He was also an avid admirer of Vlad Tepes (otherwise known as 'the impaler' and 'dracula' for those who didn't know).

Eventually we reached forementioned horizon, and drove up into the mountains of transylvania, right up into the clouds which cast the most apt atmosphere of ancient eerieness and mystery as twighlight set in. Especially as i was being told to wear a cross and garlic, being 'too lovely a lady to be lost to the vampires'.

Feeling a bit more secure when we drove into bustling Brasov,  with its name in lights set into the mountain like hollywood, i said goodbye to good old Leo 'your first best friend in Romania' and was taken in by my host family. Monica and Razvan are really lovely, as is their little boy Alex. He knocks on our door and says 'excuuse meee diinner is reeaddyy' and always hides and jumps out shouting 'BOO' when we get home.

I met my really lovely roomate Ally also, she's from Australia on the vetinary placement. All the volunteers meet up in Brasov in the evenings, but after my 13 hours travelling following 4 hours sleep, i am now firmly and unabashedly crashing out to the max before my induction tomorrow.

In the morning, Razvan took me on a walk round the gorgeous old Hungarian style town. The architecture is incredible and there's an amazing atmosphere around Brasov. We wandered down to the Projects Abroad office where i met some people. I played table tennis with Leo and spoke to the archaeology guy George (of the jungle as Mircea calls him) on the phone. Tomorrow i take a train to Alba Iulia to begin Archaeologising.

Danielle took myself and another volunteer to lunch. Said other was french, so we had an interesting conglomeration of languages being spoken. I had a traditional (Hungarian) goulash beef stew with cornmeal mush (more appetizing than it sounds).

I wandered round the town after this, visiting the Black Church and fascinating streets. I walked through the park, past the roses and gaggles of old men playing chess on stone tables. Monica cooked a noodle soup and delicious lamb spinach stew for dinner with awesome bread and chocolates afterwards.

I went out with the volunteers. Had a really lovely evening, went to three different bars. By the end there was just me and a lovely gap year couple called Jess and Tom from Gloucestershire. We discovered we had a pretty much identical taste in music and interests so clicked along real good; it made me sad that i was leaving Brasov the next day. They lent me a book of poetry; 'Hymns to the God in which my typewriter believes' by Robert Sheppard which i have since begun reading and instantly adore.

The next day i was a little hungover and slept a lot til Razvan took me to the train station and i left for Alba Iulia.