You say the train ride is how long?!?
16 hours…oh…uh…okay. 😛
Yup, that’s right…16 hours to get from Budapest to Brasov, Romania in Transylvania. (That’s pronounced like Bra-shav…it’s actually gotta a thingy-ma-bob under the s, but I can’t type it.)
The train ride was okay though…I had a couple things going for me.
First I stocked up on some provisions and yummy snacks, somehow calculating the cost within 50 florint of what I had left in my pocket. (That’s about 20 cents.)
On the train I found that I was sharing a compartment with a cute Hungarian family. Papa, who looked kind of like he should be coaching a girl’s gymnastics team somewhere, Mama who was all smiles, and the kids: Big sister, about 14, Brother about 12 and Little Sister about 8.
They found me a little bit of an oddity, peeking several times at the cover of my book to see if it was actually in English. They smiled at me every chance they got and when it came time for dinner they offered me some of their’s: sandwiches made with bread and…I don’t know what…it came in a tube and it was deffinitely a meat product…but squeezable. I tasted it, politely, and it wasn’t all bad but…well…I won’t be looking for it in the store. I offered some of my bread, I had wheat they had white, and we shared a little train picnic, wordlessly.
When we crossed the Romanian border and everyone on the train held their breath a bit because the border guards are a bit off putting, my little family helped me out. I had no idea what the guard was asking me, quite pointedly, until Brother translated that he wanted to know where I was traveling to. That sorted out, I thanked Brother but he got shy on me and his english disappeared. It was a shame, because he spoke quite well and I know they were all currious about me.
We settled in for some sleep around midnight, with a lightening storm lighting the sky and thunder rumbling, echoing off the mountains. It’s tough to sleep with 6 people in a compartment…even if it’s meant for 8. I finally fell asleep, but only got about 1.5 hours because the family was getting off the train around 4am, and they began to gather their things.
Before heading off the train they all waved and said goodbye, and I replied Vesontlatasro (not how it’s spelled, but Hungarian for goodbye.) They smiled even bigger and left.
Awake I stayed. I wasn’t sure if my stop was the last, so I figured it better to stay awake. The sun was rising and I could see the mountains outlined on the brightening sky. Soon the sun was up enough to see the little villages, encased in early morning fog, rolling by the window. It was a perfect introduction to Transylvania: shepards with their cows, farmers in the fields, grandmas with their babushkas, all in a gloomy, overcast orange morning light. I was enchanted. 🙂
I finally made it to Brasov at 8:45am…having left Budapest at 4pm. I didn’t realize I was jumping ahead another hour and thought we actually got in early, but no such luck…time to adjust my watch.
I met a hostel rep on the platform, Julian, from Rolling Stone Hostel. He was all smiles and good cheer and I hadn’t arranged a place to stay, so I chatted with him. I had decided earlier in the night that I really wanted a private room today, because I hadn’t slept and I hadn’t had a room to myself since Fort William, Scotland (unless you count Philip’s livingroom, on the couch.) I was tired but wired.
Julian sorted me out with a room and I happily got a cab to the hostel. My cab driver was adorable, round of belly and mustachioed and eager to point out everything along the way: churches, plazas, restaurants and even groceries. I was surprised to find I understand a little Romanian, because it’s another Romance language…love those Latin roots!
At the hostel I had to wait for them to clean my room, but I happily collapsed in a chair with a cup of coffee, with no fear it would keep me awake. They changed the sheets and even dusted the spotless room before I crumbled in a heap on the bed and slept for 5 hours.
Awake, showered and refeshed I met some of the people in the hostel and headed out for a walk. The “city” is lovely! Surrounded by mountains, it’s quiet and picturesque and I couldn’t help smiling as I walked the streets.
The Main Plaza
Now…it’s time for a bite to eat. I hear they ply you with free schnapps in the restaurants here…but I’ve got to get some food in my stomach! I’m headed to a place that lefts you order what kind of music you want to play when you order your food. Sounds cute!
Yay!
Tags: Romania
LizG