The 11th day

The 11th day

It was the perfect start to a day.  Mr. Only-Sleep-A-Specific-Number-Of-Sleep-Cycles got up at the crack of dawn and headed out on his bicycle (you saw that we carry it on top of the car, right?) with food, a map, his cell phone (TURNED ON), and his camera.  The rest of us got to sleep to our heart's content.

There was all that wet laundry to pack up, but NS and I managed.  We got started down the road shortly after 10:00, just as we received the text message that S2 had arrived at the monastery he wanted to see.

Those Hungarian peaches got us started on the day.  We drove through countryside similar to what we saw yesterday.  I noted that when I stopped to let two girls cross the street (at a pedestrian crosswalk) they crossed themselves (as in the action people take when entering a church).  The carved wooden gates to peoples' houses were spectacular.  NS noted they when had carved wooden chains.

We arrived at the Bârsana monastery and met up with S2.  Gorgeous is the best way to describe it.

Bike back on the car we continued our journey into Borśa.  We stopped at a Penny Markt (we have those in Germany) and bought some pastries.  They are known for lots of baked and fried cheese.  We found many different kinds!

Up over Prisiop Pass (roads did get pretty bad on this section)

Afternoon rain showers saw us into Voronet Monastery (S2 was the only one who left the car for the rain).

It was a short drive to Suceava, also on the UNESCO sites that we visited today.  Again we were offered the Matrimonial Suite (in two different hotels), and again S2 choose to sleep on the floor.

It was a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant, and we found out how to order just a single glass of (good) wine.

Oh, I forgot to add, laundry is still drying.  NS rode most of the day surrounded by drying clothes, the remainder is hanging up on the back porch of the evening's hotel.

Truly, I can't say enough about the wonderful scenery, the helpful people and the authentic experience of Romania.  Come soon, before Western Europe discovers how quaint it is here.