Scenery, Citadel and Shenanigans

Grandeur

The Carpathian Mountains do not disappoint.  We have seen them from multiple vantage points throughout this beautiful country and as usual, beautiful even from a distance.

Bună Dimineața, Sighișoara!  This was the classic "medium sized" breakfast complete with fruits, vegetables, bread, jam, meat, cheese, eggplant salad and an egg, oh and yes, the juice is apple and yes, its green.

Sighsoara, starting with the mid 12th century, German craftsman and merchants known as the Transylvania Saxons were invited to Transylvania by the then King of Hungary, Geza II, to settle and defend the frontier of his realm and improve the region's economy.  Central Sighisoara has been preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified town.  It has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and each year; a medieval festival takes place in the old citadel in July.  In Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe, Sighișoara is one of the few fortified towns that are still inhabited.  The town is made up of two parts.  The medieval stronghold was built on top of a hill and is known as the Citadel.  The lower town lies in the valley of Târnava Mare River.

500-year-old school, appears to still be in use

Also, in Sighisoara. The sign reads: "In this house lived between 1431-1435 the ruler of Wallachia Vlad the Dragon son of Mircea the Elder.  Vlad also known as Vlad III, Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula.  This was his boyhood home.  He was a fierce opponent of the Ottoman Empire and served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker's famous vampire character, Count Dracula.  Welcome to more of the Translyvania Region of Romania.

Sora Leavitt has an affinity with sheep and taking photos of them all.  I think I finally figured it out.  Grandpa came to America from France to herd sheep.  I guess its genetic.

On the road again.  Just another village, this one was off the beaten path and had no paved roads.

      

Quick overnight stop in Brașov with the Rigby's.  Took a tram ride to the top and had dinner at the restaurant up by the sign before heading to Zone Conference the next morning.

We had Zone Conference with 2 of the 4 zones and enjoyed the training and a few shenanigans.  It's always good to be together and enjoy the young missionaries and their energy.  I'll explain the eggs on the next blog, so stay tuned. 

Fun fact.  We have seen these green leafy balls in the trees since the leaves fell off in the fall.  They remain green all year.  We recently found out that it is mistletoe!  Mistletoe is a parasitic plant and it drives its root system through the bark of a tree, such as a hawthorn, apple, poplar, lime or conifer, to live off its host.  The formation of mistletoe begins when its seeds are dispersed onto trees by birds. Birds consume mistletoe berries, and as they excrete waste, the seeds become attached to the tree branch. These seeds have a sticky outer layer that helps them adhere to the bark, ensuring their contact with the tree’s vascular system. 

The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is the world’s heaviest and one of the largest civilian administrative buildings, housing Romania’s Parliament and several museums.  The Palace of the Parliament, also known as Palatul Parlamentului or the People’s House.  It serves as the seat of Romania’s Parliament, including the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and also houses the Constitutional Court, three museums, and an international conference center.  The building is 84 meters high, spans 365,000 square meters, and contains 1,100 rooms across 12 floors, with eight underground levels.  Commissioned by Nicolae Ceaușescu during the 1980's, the palace was part of a massive urban restructuring program inspired by North Korea’s monumental architecture.  Construction began on June 25, 1984, under chief architect Anca Petrescu, who led a team of 700 architects and over 20,000 workers.  The project required the demolition of the Uranus-Izvor neighborhood, displacing around 40,000 residents and destroying historic churches, schools, and homes.  The building was completed in 1997, years after Ceaușescu’s execution during the 1989 Romanian Revolution.  Over 2,800 chandeliers, some weighing more than a ton.  Massive woolen carpets covering 200,000 square meters.  Eight underground levels, including a nuclear bunker.  A floor area larger than the Pentagon, making it the largest civilian administrative building.  Approximately 70% of the building remains unused, despite its grandeur.  And yes, the chandelier above has gold leaf.

Domn and Bobă out for a stroll.