BRASOV
Today is Sunday 9 September 2007.
Arrived by train leaving Medias after 6 1/2 weeks with my farming family on organic farm, and eating organic food as well of course. Medias is the main centre, 8kms out is Mosna where I lived. It is a peasant town filled 70% with gypsies who live in houses, four mud brick walls, dirt floor, a ceiling and a hip roof and of course, cable tv.
Brasov has its name on the hill, like \’Hollywood\’ and it is surrounded by hills. Hills in Romania just rise out of the ground and go up – not sure of the grading but will be very high. It\’s like walking up the side of a mountain! Brasov – what I have seen is lovely and after the peasant villages and towns, I know I am back in the real world. Here in Brasov, about 2 hrs closer to Bucharest, there\’s a Kentucky Flied Chicken store!, people are better dressed, and the town is tidier and wealthier. It has 312,600 citizens and I shall venture out on a guided tour tomorrow I think to get a feel of the place. There are a few very high view points, and the 3 days I am here I want to walk around, see all the very old buildings etc.
The temp at Mosna went in a few days from about 35o average to 12o – and now it is wet and cloudy and much easier to move around in. My baggage is v heavy and I will have to discard something, not sure just what, as I have to keep old clothes for farm work. I managed to pick up some second hand clothing a couple of doors away in the village, and I found a couple of pair of trousers, winter weight that fitted perfectly. I have lost a bit of weight, my aim. The trousers cost 4 lei each about $A2.20 and the l/s warm orange top 2 lei and I picked up a fancy cap for .20. All are in perfect condition and good quality and brands and are from Germany which is how it is in Romania – Germans are involved all over the place.
There is an orphanage in Mosna, village of 3000, run by a couple of germans and funded by Germans. Saxons (Germans) lived here for years and then just left and moved back to Germany. Now there are many G agencies, NGO organisations, who fund these villages, particularly in Transylvania, and send truckloads of goods, baby stuff, clothing, household items etc x2 per year to give away. Back to the orphanage – the children mostly are gypsy orphans, given up when the gypsies dont want them at birth, happens a lot, because they don\’t believe in termination. This place looks after them well, they are well dressed and seem happy.
Previous travel info will come sooner or later. Bucharest I arrive on 12 Sept and meet my friend Julie on 13, won\’t that be a joy to talk orstrayan again. Wonder if she heard about Chasers fun with the Bush visit?
I have a cd with pics on it, right up to date, not too sure what to do with them now, but hoping to get a few onto a site for your access.