On The Road

I leave Belogradchik to work my way along the Danube to the border town of Ruse.

There is no traffic at all. At some point the road is just gone and there is no sign of any ongoing work at all. So I get a bit of sand riding in that way

Every once in a while I get a glimpse of the Danube.

At some point I get turn around at a road check and I have no idea why at the time. Later I find out that the road leads to a nuclear power plant.

Another random road side monument, this time for world peace. Can’t argue with that cause.

It’s just lovely country side and empty roads.

I make a stop at the rock-hewn Holy Virgin Church in Ivanovo, which is in a nice river valley.

Afterward I explore the area around Ivanovo a bit, but it is late

and I don’t even make it up to the castle.

Ruse is a border town, a bit on the scruffy side but not without its charm.

There is a free concert going on in the central square and I join the locals for a few drinks and a bit of fun.

Tomorrow I will head into Romania.

Today I’m off to Romania. This is the one country that well meaning people have warned me most about. According to them I will have all my stuff stolen and will be besieged by begging Sinti and Roma. I generally ignore such warnings. Surly, the country can’t be as bad as its reputation. I do have some trepidations though. Romania, along with Albania, were there poorest of all the countries of the former communist block. I remember sending care packages to these countries as a kid.

So, I make my way to the border, going past this small post communism, phase 1, enterprise.

Romania is just across the Danube. Luckily, motorbikes get a free ride over the “Bridge of Friendship”. Border formalities are minimal for EU citizens.

I try to exchange my Bulgarian Leva for Romanian Lei but the exchange place won’t take Leva. Great, no choice but to go back to Bulgaria. I fill up the tank and buy some snacks for the Leva I have left and head once more across the bridge.

The road is good and there is not much traffic. I make my way through some villages

until I have to go on a major highway with crazy traffic.

My destination for today is Curtea de Argeş, which turns out to be a lovely town at the foot of the Fagaras mountains. Historically it was the second capital of Wallachia, around the 14th century. The Princely Church from that era still stands. It’s the oldest church in Wallachia.

The Curtea de Argeş Cathedral at the other end of town is from the 16th century and a true architectural marvel.

I can’t get enough of it and spend a long time locking at some of the details. I’m no expert and it has hard for me to make out which parts are from the 16th century and which are from 1875-1876, when Frenchman Lecomte de Nouy added some pseudo-moorish bits. The overall result is undoubtedly stunning.

Tomorrow I’ll take the famous Transfagarasan!!!