Middle East here we come.

Bulk booze for sale

      Odyssey gave us this "One of the gladest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy."  quote by Richard Burton

      We have now left the very western ways and the things that we are more used to. Like Praque, which was very upbeat but western in appearance except for all the old buildings. BudaPest was the same, although I didn't realize it was 3 cities combined into one called Budapest originally called Pestbuda. We took a doubledecker bus throughout and saw many of the sights. It was Easter Sunday - many church services in the big cathedrals with bells ringing. but made it impossible to buy a camera as we had broken ours. Many on the truck had spares so no worries until we can find a replacement.

Jewish memorial along Danube River in Budapest

    Then we entered Romania and we realized the actual truck trip starts here. The highway is gone, along with the smooth roads. The older generation is in traditional dress although not the younger generation. We are driving through mountains and many small towns - which we love. We stopped at Turda to go hiking through a gorge. Lots of limestone caves and many rock climbers on some pretty scraggy peaks. It is the area to climb, some people using chinese style runners and others in full kit with all the proper equipment. We laughted about the name of the town, not something you would brag about coming from. But so nice to be out and about - hiked up a ridge (read crest of a hill) but the view was great. Lots of spring flowers already out although we keep changing seasons here whether we are at the top of mountains or in the valleys. One thing that is in full bloom is Sylvia's hayfever  with all the pollen changes. (Drugs are good)

Hiking in the Turda Gorge

A climber who failed to look up

      We are now called Mamma and Poppa Bear. (Probably because of Russell's tatoo on his shoulder or Canadians live with bears). One night it was getting quite chilly and therefore I got out another layer of warmer clothes out - next thing you knew the word was out the Mamma Bear got out heavier clothing you better bundle up!! second thing we have become known as the oldest swinging couple but that was because we set our tent up under an old swing set - the only level spot around. The rest of the campers set up on the hillside and all ended up at the bottom of their sleeping bag in the tent, they would have rolled out of the tent but the door stopped them.
      In Romania I went looking for the WC but the sign outside one said Barbatl but the second one said Femni so I knew where to go.
    We actually stopped in Sighisoara which was the birth place of Count Dracula.

Sign on Dracula's house

 We saw his birthplace and all the trinkets and momentos that go in that theme. Had a traditional supper of rubbed beans with onion and sausage.  Not Great!!!! Pizza was the meal of choice by most and most restaurants as well.  So we stopped at a hipermarket and got Russell some ice cream for dessert! as he had boiled cabbage and sausage which didn't sit too well. We also ordered cabbage salad which was exactly that sliced cabbage or the red pepper salad was just sliced red peppers with nothing else. Alcohol has been sold in all the grocery stores so far which makes it easy for a team of three (me and two others) to stock the bar on the truck. What I find amazing is just how often we have to do it!!!! Hard to keep up with the younger Irish,  Scots and English travellers.
     New saying for us from the Aussie's on the truck, they call their snowbirds the Grey Nomads.
     Have had a local man shake his finger at me as I tried to take a picture of a horse and cart, oops! the Romanians are a very private people in fact they don't even go by first names unless you are a relative or you have been friends for years. The buildings in the industrial areas are all abandonned since the Soviets have left the region. They provided the work without the pay for many people and they sit empty now. There must have been many more people in the area when they were working because the apartment blocks are also empty, gives you a ghost town feel, and the people you see never smile.

Sylvia's getting her fortune told by a mouse

    We toured a more modern castle along the road. It had lots of men in suits of armorer along with the swords, secret passage ways and beautiful woodwork.Really big and Sylvia said she wouldn't want to clean it and polish the goblets or furniture.

Pele Castle

   Once entering Bulgaria the landscape changes again. The farming is much more organized and richer looking, the houses still poor but most have people in them. They all have gardens to feed themselves and the people just seem much more happier. Bulgrians shake their heads side to side when they say yes /  up and down when they say no - which is quite confusing to us westerners.
    Do love waking up in the tent to the cuckoo birds (and not the clock) but the nightingales were really loud last night and all night long. Plus the bull frogs put in their voice for quite the serenade.
We are still having trouble figuring out blogs and getting internet connections where we are.Ahhh!