Constanta and Brasov

Our last weekend in Romania has been an opportunity to travel more. On Friday Faith and I rose early and took a train to Constanta – a harbour city looking Eastward over the Black Sea. A short bus ride north led to Mamaia, a grockle-filled resort lacking individuality but providing us with exactly what we needed: several hours to sit and read, occasional dips in the warm sea cooled by waitresses bringing lager. Non-evasive dance music and an international crowd meant this might have been anywhere, but it wasn’t. As a tourist, I expect nothing more.

On Saturday we again rose early, but this time our train went northward into Transylvania. Brasov is renowned as a hidden treasure, and it was indeed pretty. The old town was contained within city walls, and the German influence was blinding. Cafes gathered around two churches in the main Piazza, and were it not for the incessant rain we might have felt more charmed. As it was, I feel it sufficiently ordinary to warrant a public opine: the real secrets of this trip will remain kept.

Some photos have been added to the photo album.