Hello friends, family and who ever stumbles upon this. After almost 6 months of planning, we finally were able to make it to the homeland. Grandpa, Mom, Dad and I departed the St. Louis Airport midday on Saturday May 23rd. After beer drinks at each airport (St. Louis, Raleigh Durham, and London Heathrow) we finally arrived the next afternoon in Bucharest. We took a cab ride to the Marriott hotel (nicest place I have ever stayed) with a wonderful Romanian man who spoke pretty good English and drove us by the sites of town. One of these being the Arc of Triumph. The hotel itself sits right across from the Parliament Palace. This was built during the Communist regime, and we were going to take a tour but it was too late in the day. But this structure is the 2nd largest building in the world, following only the Pentagon in DC!! After a change of clothes we walked past the massive said building and went to the old section of town. Along the way it was evident to see that Romania still is trying to catch up for lost time. There are many Soviet building blocks still up, although they don't look like they were built to last.
Day 2: We fly to Iasi (pronounced: E ash). From here we picked up our rental car and drove to Suceava, to pick up Curtis. After finding him we set off again to Gura Humorului. What a beautiful little town. And we lucked out with a high floor at the hotel so we could see all around!
In the evening Jared and Catherine arrived and we all enjoyed a nice dinner at one of the pubs.
Although I don't suggest trying Cow Stomach Soup!!
Day 3: We set off to find Furstenthal (Voideasa) and after many wrong turns down gravel roads, we stumble upon it about mid day. It only take another 2 hours of trying every street in town and around it to find the cemetery. We didn't find exact names we were looking for, but we found Gaschler and Augustin names at the cemetery, so we were all pleased in thinking this was the place. We spent a long and wonderful dinner at a pensiuane's patio overlooking the valley.
Day 4: Everyone went to the painted monastery of Voronet. It is just 5 km southwest of Gura. Very beatiful and still in good shape for having been painted in the 1500s. They are slowly doing some renovations. Hopefully my small contribution will help. Then we split up with Dad, Mom and Grandpa wanting to go on a hike, and the rest of us wanting to go to Cernowitz, Ukraine. Unfortunately, as we waited at the Ukraine Border stop, we were informed that our rental car could not leave Romania. They said to get another car and return. As if we were going to rent another car. We asked if we could walk across and in this Russian accents they said "No, different Car". Ok, so much for that plan!! So we headed to Radiatz (which is supposedly where the Aschenbrenners are from) and found a market to walk through; with nothing to tempt us to buy. And soon after a Greek Restaurant. Luckily I spoke a few Greek Words and Aurelia (the lady in Charge) became our friend. She went as far as to kiss each cheek upon our departure. We exchanged emails and took her photo, which she wants to put on her website. Hopefully we will keep in touch! After this we headed to hike and had a lovely afternoon of strolling, and Catherine twilling on hills like in "The Sound of Music"!!
Pizza that night and it was wonderful!!
Day 5: Jared and Catherine head for Transylvania.
The rest of us pile into the little car and drive south back to Bucharest.
Once there, Curtis and I go to the Train Station to buy him a ticket home, and we are told there are not seats left. So he must buy a more expensive flight back to Kiev. At least it will only take him 5 hours instead of 15 hours! We walk to the hotel and enjoy the sounds of city goers.
Day 6: Awake at 3 am to get to Airport in time for Mom and Dad to go to Italy. Grandpa and I fly out at 8:30am, and Curtis leaves at 10:00 am. It is so said when saying goodbye. Curtis is such a good friend and lovely person. And who knows when will see eachother again, seein as how he still has 7 months left in the Ukraine.
Grandpa and I arrive in St. Louis around 7:00pm and are too tired to eat. By this time it has been around 26 hours of travel. Grandpa is happy to be back home, and although I enjoy a change of clothes, I would much have preferred to continue on toward a new path. It would be fun to see where Curtis teaches in Kramatorsk, or go even farther to Kazakhstan to see my good friend Kim in her Peace Corps settings. Or even stopping in Praghue (Praha) to see LJ- a good friend from college as well.
All in all, it was a lovely trip!!
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