Romania, 2017

We have not visited Romania for a year and a half. Before, our trips were always for the winter holidays. With Catalina in school, the best time to take off of summer. So, after Munich delighted us with beer and sausages as Catalina kept on saying, we packed our bags once again and flew to Iasi, Romania!

One scary car ride later we were in Botosani. It was Ami's first visit in Romania. Catalina remembered some parts of it, but we were eager to show her more. We celebrated Daddy's 40th birthday there, and the girls found their fun between adults who drank too much and spoke too loud

Being in close quarters meant that we had more time to spend together. The girls played together, fought and loved each other just like sisters do :)

We headed to Vatra Dornei, a beautiful (as I remembered it) mountain destination in northern Romania. It was disappointing to see it run down, its hotels in bad shape. We tried to make the best of the trip and put smiles on our faces even if we didn't feel them.

 The park in the middle of Vatra Dornei is supposedly full of cute squirrels who come to you if you knock 2 walnuts together. Both Ami and Cati knocked the walnuts, kept on calling them (they are all called Mariana), but none came. they would run away with a walnut you dropped in front of them, but that was all. Happy that at least we saw some, we let them be.

Late 5 minute walk with my husband. Unfortunately the grandparents did not mix too well with the girls, so we did not have too much time alone.

We found a playground close to our hotel and the girls spent a good amount of time there.

My deepest hope for Vatra Dornei was that we hike the beautiful mountains to enjoy nature. We started one afternoon on a hike, but we missed the trail and walked uphill in between houses for about 2 hours. In the end we were rewarded with beautiful scenery, but having 5 people mumbling that it's too hard for them made it was less fun for me too. Mountains are still amazingly beautiful!

Something else very beautiful in Romania? Churches! Somehow the houses are run down, people are poor, but all churches are freshly painted and in good shape...

 Last day in Vatra Dornei I was hoping to finally get my nature walk. Catalina became very very sick, threw up a lot so I had to stay with her in the room. Marius was forced to take Ami and walk with his parents. Poor Catalina did not recover till the second day, when we took the train to go to Roman!

There was a festival in Roman and we hurried to get there. The good part was spending time with family, the festival was nothing special. We met Dana and Costel and Madalina and we tried to stretch out resources. We got too tired so we had to end the evening early. That night it was my time to be sick...

Good thing that bunica Milica took care of my girls while I was recovering. Catalina got a make up demonstration while Ami was very interested in cooking classes :))

 There was a lot of running and spending time outside once we got better.

Farmers market!

Did I say churches are beautiful?

And then it was time for the most bitter sweet trip, to visit my grandma. It enlightens my soul to see her, to be in her house. At the same time, it breaks my heart to know she's in constant pain, that she can barely walk. But there are always smiles in her house!

 Catalina always shows her sweet nature. While she was there she constantly wanted to help. She reminded me so much of myself when I was a child!

This warms my heart

mure!

bounty

love

looking for eggs!

A small trip to a nearby town and I met one of my cousins. A judge!!

Play place in my home town!

We stay a short time in Roman, but we had more time with bunica and bunicul in Slanic Moldova.

Bus ride!

Slanic Moldova was beautiful. Maybe because I liked the company, but it looked more updated, more in line with our times.

And, what I liked A LOT, was the fact that I finally got my mountain hike. It was a hard one, I had Ami at my chest and we had to hike a steep trail. Bunica is not in the perfect physical condition and bunicul is, well...70 yo. But nobody complained (except Catalina towards the end) and well all did it with good spirit. Mountain does cleanse you!

 At the top of the mountain we took a small break. Luckily, I found in my backpack some holy shnaps from Germany and we got more energy. We needed it on our way down!

Little stops along the way made it more fun

 Oh yeah, it was that steep!

 The girls slept beautifully at the end of it!

Family time

We spent a good amount of time with bunica and bunicul. The smiles we had together are what is left in my mind. Daddy preferred to stay alone in the room, too bad he often cannot let himself join in the happiness.

And after that it was time to pack again. This time for good. We left to Bucuresti, just so we can take the plane back to Philadelphia.

In Cismigiu park Amelia found lots and lots of pigeons to feed. She soon lost interest when the pigeons did not want to eat from her hand. Not Catalina. Persistent till the end. So different, and both so much loved!

One of the most famous bookstores in Bucuresti

 And of course, People's House in Bucuresti. Impressive from the outside.

And just like that, our Romania trip was over. The summer vacation was over. Ready for school to start? Ready for daycare to start? Ready to go back to work? Ready or not, all that was coming! Life is happening right under our eyes. So, so good I have wonderful girls to make it sunny 🌞.