Wednesday July 17

Driving from Budapest, we arrive in a small town of Cristian, just outside of Sibiu, Romanina near the Transfagarasan.

Sarah has arranged, via Vlad Grigori (sp?) with Team Mongolification, and Liliana, (the Director of The Fortified Churches of Romania),  for us to stay in an absolutely delightful historic old fortified church.  There is a very excited crowd waiting outside the church gate when we arrive at 10pm.

The Bus, with the roof rack stripped of most of it’s luggage, barely manages to squeak just under the low arched gate, and we enterinto their beautiful gardened courtyard.

We are summoned to the kitchen and treated to a traditional Romanian welcome toast.  The church house is full of older gracious German speaking ladies who take excellent care of us.   Inside is a spiral wooden staircase that leads to the 2nd floor and a large room with sleeping for 15 in very comfy beds.

Vlad is hosting a Mongol Rally Party in the nearby town of Sibiu, which most of our team quickly changes clothes for and heads out the door to.  I very much wanted to go, but I decide I must take a pass to catch up on sleep, so I stay behind with Jan.  We had a wonderful time chatting together on the quiet patio under the stars. Sarita also stayed behind to get ready for tomorrow’s filming of our journey on the Transfagarasan.

Everyone agreed the next morning over a delicious scrambled egg, potato, bacon? hash breakfast whipped up by our teammate Calethat it was an awesome party, but that “Free Beer ALWAYS has a price”  (Cale also discovered some wonderful dried/smoked sausages from the smoke cellar in town!)

The most amazing this about this town, is their Storks.  They are EVERYWHERE.  Walking through town, they have built huge nests on top of the electricity poles, chimneys, and rooftops.  They are absolutely beautiful creatures and I am delighted to be able to watch them in their nests with their young, and catch them soaring in flight with their fabulous outstretched and graceful wings.

We lingered in the late morning light of the courtyard and its garden. Don commented “To Hell with the Rally, let’s just stay here!”  We finally packed up around 1pm as the Transfagarasan beckoned us with its mountains, cool weather, and hair pinned curves.

This town has been a wonderful treat – a definite slice of heaven!