Romania, a country of juxtaposition

Having spent almost three weeks in Romania, the country still defies any sort of definition.  The extremely rural town of Archita is a perfect example.  I saw a man leading a rickety horse cart down a rutted dirt road talking on a cell phone!  I stayed at the Archita Gasthaus.  The place is run by a nice couple and the food is great.  They have an extensive organic garden that produces some of the best salads I have ever had.

Parts of this country are a place out of time, while others could be in western Europe.  The city of Sibiu for example has a marvellous central square with elegant restaurants and cafes everywhere.  My favourite has to be the citadel town of Sighisoara.  I cannot seem able to get enough of that place.  Walking around the ramparts on a clear moonlit night, sitting in the sunshine at a hidden cafe built into the city walls or talking to the local artist who seems to know everyone.  Accomodation is plentiful and reasonable.  Hopefully I will have some pictures to come soon.

Cultural Mash up

I think I have experienced the ultimate cultural mash up today.  I was eating goulash soup, Hungarian style, with French bread, at a pub called Dirty Harry's, did I mention it was an Irish pub? Drinking Tuborg, in Bucharest, Romania, while the music playing was "Born in the USA", by Bruce Springsteen!