Balkans_2018...You Only Live Once!

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Someone else had the same idea







...and it goes on and on. Inside and out, both sides of the spring and creek, upstairs and downstairs...















Finally it's time to leave this gem, museum, art-galley, display gardens....call it whatever, all rolled into one


A similar, sedate pace in the main street, out the front gate...







Roads and weather are good, traffic non-exist, navigating easy with good signage circling Sibiu.... so we're at the start of the northern ramp of the Transfagarasan fairly early to make the most of it and spend a little time here.


Transfagarasan....aka Rt. DN7C

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Even before we're officially on the road proper...

No bland Chicken-Noodle soup or limp + mushy sausage rolls here

OH NOOO!! ....THIS is PROPER roadside tucker!!










Let's hit it!

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Things are still quiet at the top, where the road cuts underneath the ragged ridge.
Some whispy fog plays with the blue skies and sunshine for some speccy shots during the walk along the lake....
















...and some of the traders are busy setting up to "catch the early bird".
While the peak-season is well and truly over... there's still a buck-to-be-made.

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There's always ONE to jump the "safety"-fence







Some of that fog from the other side of the ridge has decided to creep its way through the tunnel and make it look like a huge, horizontal smokestack.






Only a few minutes later we're popping out the southern portal and hey , this isn't shabby either!!

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Vidraru Dam is another well-known rest-area sprouting a dozen or so food-stalls and kitsch-sellers through the high-season....deserted now, but just as welcome to turn the key and get off the saddle for a while....







Another typical reminder of the former dictators Ceaușescu's (fake) communist aligment with Moscow....well, somebody paid for the dam
and the hydro-power while Romania was flat-out broke (nothing's changed to this day...)







Just having a snooze in the sun...a couple of the usual strays, the rest of the pack most be somewhere close.








It's all in the faces....







We cross the river....and shortly after turn off the main road for some narrow backroads along Lake Budeasa.
Finding our booked stay turns out a bit of lucky shot.... after cruising up + down the main road through a couple of small villages. Who would have looked for a long gravel drive up a steep-ish hill with only the 2. story of the place poking over the edge of the hill


Found it....and the entire 2-storey place is ours, with the owner leaving for a night on/ in the town.

No worries....it only takes a "supply-run" to the small General Store to find some tucker for dinner and breckie...and some local coldies


Classy...real timber light switches! Great hosts, HUGE place, check out the link below.










Last night on the road....Budeasa/ Romania