Romania

Over 2 weeks without an update, but I am sure you have not been checking this blog everyday for an update, so it is all good!


So, where was I? Oh yes, I was going to Cluj-Napoca from Budapest, and got there in the early afternoon, that gave me time to find my second hostel of the entire trip to put my bags away and explore the city. I asked the super-friendly hostel host, Diana, about a traditional Romanian restaurant, and Diana pointed out Cafe Andaluca on the map, and so I went there.


My first reaction to the resturant, it was very cheap! 1 euro equals 4 lei in Romania. A bottle of Romanian brew was 4 lei, I had a huge three'course meal with rice meatloaf type of thing, potatoes with onions and a dessert that was similar to a donut with sour cream and fruits all for 35 lei which added up to only 7 euros... champs!


Cluj was a different town. it wasnt tiny enough to get bored of it, but not too big to get lost in it. Just sized right, and two days was enough to see the citadel on a hill, Botanical gardens, the usual churches, plazas and a meal at a restaurant. That evening, I found my way to the Deaf Club which was only 10 minutes away from my hostel.


Nobody knew me, and I knew nobody, they were surprised to see a stranger come in their Deaf Club, I told them that I was traveling from America and found the address of the Deaf club from the internet, so here I was! They welcomed me in, and I had fun chatting for 3 hours.


I also met an old-timer who lived in America for 25-30 years when he immigrated from Romania and worked as a tailor. He moved back and lives in Romania now. He was glad to see someone (me) signing ASL again - it has been awhile for him - and told me that ASL is the most beautiful and best language in the world he has seen. Hey, those were his words!


It was time to catch my night train to the capital of Romania, Bucharest. Then began the most worst experience of the entire trip.


Basically, I slept all the way, and when I woke up, my wallet was gone. Usually when I get on the train, I move my wallet to the money belt and end my worries. That night, I did not do that, and that was a quick lesson learned!


So I was stuck in Bucharest without my wallet. Luckily, I always carried 100 euros in emergency money, and that was enough to last me for awhile. I went to the US embassy to request assistance on cancelling my credit card, it took a couple of hours but it was done. It also marked my first visit to an US embassy.


I lost all motivation to stay in Bucharest, and did not feel the good karma here, so I decided to move on to a new country. I did not have any desire to visit Bulgaria, which was south of Romania, and inquired the information booth about a connecting train to Greece.


Just my luck, apparently, Greece has closed its border to ANY international trains or buses from Bulgaria, so It was impossible to use my Eurail Pass to go to Greece. I asked how do people go to greece? The information attendant shrugged and guessed "by air?"


some things in the world just dont make sense. This was one of them.


So I decided to change directions and go back west to Vienna, Austria which had a connecting train to Munich, Germany.


So, when I update my next entry, it will be about my first trip to Germany in Mannheim, Heidelberg & Berlin (Including the Frontrunners Turquoise Party) and the second trip to Germany in Munich.


And no worries, many thanks to my parents who Western Unioned me money so I am able to continue my trip in Europe!