Sighisoara and Viscri

We travelled into the Transylvania area, through hills and forests. We stopped in Bistrita for lunch, where the Roma or gypsies were making themselves known. They were the last of the Asian people to migrate to Europe, were originally enslaved, then freed with nothing and nowhere to go, without status or citizenship. I bought a pasty for lunch while a gypsy with babe in arms touched my arm to beg for it.

On to Sighisoara, a picturesque medieval hilltop town with pastel homes and cobblestones. Its claim to fame is that Vlad Tepes, of the Dragul family, was born here. He became known as Vlad the Impaler, sticking his enemies on spikes but missing vital organs so they died slowly. Somehow Bram Stoker picked a version of the family name for his book the Legend of Dracula, and an industry was born.

I went into the building where he was born, somehow surprising the guy rushing to jump into a coffin and say boo. Just a little cheesy. Shops all around the small old town sell Dracula kitsch, so I bought a t-shirt.

A few of us hiked to a restaurant overlooking the town with great views at sunset.

The next day we went by van over dirt roads with detours to Viscri, an old Saxon preserved town. It was deserted, then recently restored, helped by Prince Charles who bought a home here.

My room is in a restored building with ancient furniture, a brand new jacuzzi shower with a swallow nest above it, and sheep in the yard.

We checked out the Saxon castle and church with museum, then used local transportation (horse and cart) to visit the town blacksmith and bricklayer. It’s like living a century or two ago.

Our dinner was outdoors at the home of one of the 15 Saxons left in the village. Schnapps and almost drinkable wine was supplied along with the cabbage rolls leading to some funny pictures.