Vacation to Romania-Part II

Bucuresti Train Station

Bridge in Bucuresti

Predeal   Romania

Transylvanian Alps

modern station design

stretching my legs in Brasov

BRASOV in white letters on mtn top

moving onto the central plains 

mountain off in the distance

getting closer

Sibiu  Romania

It's Springtime in Sibiu

story book streets

the roof has eyes

Main Square

Primeria and  Catholic Church

Evangelical Church

Romanian Orthodox Church

medieval town wall

checking for cannon balls

Hermannstadt clock

City Council Tower

view from Council Tower

Liar's Bridge

now tell the truth

Ursuline Church

baptism ceremony in Ursuline Church

returning to Bucuresti

Vacation in Romania, Part II  is all about a train trip to Sibiu, Romania.  We took the train from Bucuresti and it takes six hours to arrive in Sibiu.  As we leave the capital, we pass under a modern suspension style bridge.  About an hour out of  Bucuresti, the train begins to climb.  We are entering the Transylvania Alps.  The mountain peaks are awesome and snow capped.  The woodland forests come right down to our train tracks and rushing streams follow us at times.  As we pass through small villages, we can see gardens and houses.  Between towns we see herds of sheep and cows.  About another two hours and we are entering Brasov, a major city of the area.  I get off the train to stretch my legs here and check out what snacks and beverages are available.   Brasov has a lot of apartment buildings and busy streets.  It sits at the foot of a mountain peak and high up on the mountain top we can see the big white letters spelling BRASOV.  There is a trail there that one can walk up to the top.  But our train only stops for twenty minutes, so not enough time for that.  Now we continue through the mountain plains with the green fields running along our way and the mountains off in the distance.  We have turned west and are heading for Sibiu.  Sibiu was named the cultural capital of Romania in 2007 and is recognized as a World Unesco Site.  It has all the charm of a story book town.  It's culture combines many of the elements of Romania's past connection with the Hapsburg Empire and the Germanic influence.  An old name for Sibiu is Hermannstadt and we still find it on a town clock.  There are ruins of a medieval wall which used to surround the whole city.  The town square is a natural draw to all visitors.  It has many beautiful buildings and churches and towers.  One special place is the "liar's bridge" where it is said that if one would tell a lie on this bridge, it would surely fall down.  The City Council Tower is seven stories high and you can climb to the top.  We did.  It gives an excellent view of the old town center.  There are several museums in the city.  We enjoyed the Burkenthal Museum of European Masters.  Burkenthal was a governor of this area back in 1776 and had a pretty nice palace for a residence and he was a conscious collector of art which he left for the enjoyment of the citizens in Sibiu.   Among other enjoyments, the ice cream cones, placinta, and beer were memorable.  Not to overlook the 1 lei "mocachino" from the vending machine.  After two days, we boarded the train back to our starting point, Bucuresti.