Back to ... civilisation

This wkd was for outdoor activities. After attending so many "indoor" events where our main occupation was eating, drinking and socializing we decided to get our noses out in the nature, especially that it had been snowing heavily the last weeks. We planned one-day trip nearby Cluj, and our first thought was to go near Tarnita Lake and climb the hills for a great panoramic view of the area. Well, Sunday at noon, together with our extreme outdoor partners, The Mishes, we packed some apples, water and some sweets and we drove into the wild.

As Mishu cried out for some snow, our driver (Peter), made us all a surprise and keept on driving long way after we passed through Tarnita Lake.

This is one of the dam's views

The road soon started to turn into a sinouos and snow-covered one. But our "race car", winter equipped, didn't let us down and we could soon reach the top of the hills and enjoy the great Marisel area.

Even if in Cluj there's no sight of snow here we could play with lots of it. The snow layer was about 20-30 cm thick. Enough to have a snow fight me and Peter and then me and Peter against Mishu...which of course Mishu lost! Anyway the Mishes were not in the mood for snow fighting...but will have plenty of time to "educate" them in that spirit as we booked our New Year's Eve with them in Slovakia...hehehehe. Hopefully they won't read this, so will clearly have an advantage with that!

Up there on the top of the hills we discovered again the quietness and peace of the old Romanian villages. Unfortunatelly, lately the Ro villages have turned into a strange mixture of old and new, a kitch, trying to be modern but at the same time keeping some old traditions. Here at first sight we felt like time stopped and that the village remained as I used to know it in my childhood.

We walked for aprox. an hour on the plateau on a terrible freezing wind but it was worth it to see people:

Make new friends:

This cute puppy (yes! he's a puppy from an interesting Romanian dog-race "ciobanesc" meaning the dog that watches for the sheep herd). This kind of dosgs can be very dangerous if you step on their territory, but this one was like a doll. Despite his fierce name "Ursu" (en. bear) he was very calm and friendly. I must underline that I guessed by mistake his name...hehehhe. Here, in this picture, he's having his siestaafter eating like crazy the cake we gave him. Anyway I would like to have a house with a yard and a dog like this one. I love dogs they are so dedicated and faithfull animals.This one came with us for a long way...well I think he had other reasons than just friendship..he was for sure thinkink of those cakes!

We admired the nature's agony...the last moments of life before complete burrial beneath the snow! The light was not so good for pictures!

This is the most normal picture Peter could take with the "author". He's always playing!

Anyway it was a nice trip...which ended with a feast at Motel Gilau and then a nice dessert home-made to which all the four protagonists took part in. We also played scrrable game. It doesn't matter who won, does it?! :)