The train to Brasov, Romania

Today was a travel day for us. We had a rough start at the beginning. Our nonstop nice train was an hour late and somehow became a stop filled, regional train (which translates into the dirtiest train we have been on...ever). The stops added an hour to our trip. We enjoyed the leisurely pace though because we got to see lots of sight s along the way (and we maybe wouldn't have gotten to smell the worst smelling sandwich ever.... No idea what it could have been but it was so bad I chose that time to get up and leave for a WC break... Remember we are on the grubbiest train ever, so I will leave this one to your imagination) the stops consisted of many peasants (I use this term hesitantly, but it is what the locals use) getting on the train, paying the ticket taker what they could (which seemed acceptable once he hassled them a bit) and riding to the next town before that got off. We followed along a sometimes picturesque river and we passed farms, churches, villages etc, pretty much as you would expect. Lots of horse drawn carts hauling sticks, hay and families. The riverbeds were filled with apple trees laden with ripe fruit, and Elderberries dripping off their bushes.

We arrived in Brasov and set off in search of a cab. We were told it should cost 8-10 lei for the ride to the hostel and that this was the most efficient way to get there. The taxi we approached wanted 35. Uh, no. He wouldn't budge so we sought out another guy. He told us 20. Rather than look further we said yes. More than we had been told but still a very reasonable $5.00.

After we got oriented and unpacked we headed out for the produce market. I bought some delicious mini blackberries and mini blueberries and some vegetables for dinner one night. We then went to the regular market to buy staples like bread, milk and yogurt.

We dropped off our groceries and went in search of the town square and the free walking tour. We enjoyed the tour with some Aussies, Germans and a couple of British folks but we were, as expected, the only Americans. Dinner out and then home to our less than quality mattress. We slept like babies.