One interesting matter I didn’t include in yesterday’s blog was the funeral we came across while we driving between monasteries. As we approached we could see orthodox icons being held aloft and people wearing black and with striped sashes. We initially thought it was the start of a religious parade but as we passed we could see they were all surrounding a stationary hearse, and in the back of the hearse, laid on the floor, was the deceased dressed but with her face and hands uncovered and no coffin to be seen. A slightly shocking sight for us effete Brits, where death is hidden away and where doctors almost seem be promising us everlasting life!

In the evening we had a communal meal with 10 of our fellow campers. 6 Dutch, 2 Germans, 2 Romanians and us. We sat on a table with four Dutch campers, who of course spoken excellent English and as we worked our way through an enormous Romanian meal we discussed all sorts of topics including the inevitable Brexit.

Today was supposed to be a moving on day. I had intended to drive 120 miles to the next site. SatNav said that would take more than 5 hours and we soon found out why. Having praised Romanian roads we found a bad one. Not just any old bad one, the worst road of any length that we have ever been on, including India. Fifty miles through mountains and over the Prispa Pass and the whole road was atrocious. We could not even maintain a 25 mph average. It must have taken years off Basil’s suspension’s life!

View from the Prispa Pass

We stopped at the top of the pass to look at the views and I took the opportunity to look for alternative, earlier stopping places. I found one which was only 20 miles away and so we headed for that. Even that didn’t go smoothly. As we arrived at the road on which the camping stop was based a policeman blocked our way. When we explained that we wanted Camping Borsa he waved us through. He needn’t have bothered. We were stopped by a JCB and an enormous hole in road, which were between us and the camping spot. Camping Borsa’s owner came over and assured us all would be sorted by 5pm, but since it was then only 2pm we were not very impressed.

It wasn’t going to happen quickly!

He ushered us onto his cramped drive temporarily and we had a late lunch. When we started looking at the work being done, which was to install a drainage pipe across the road, Sarah and I were not convinced it would be complete today let alone by 5pm.

On the way to Camping Borsa we had seen a sign earlier for a camping car stop, so we decided we would give it a try. It turns out to be lovely. We think it’s called Perla Maramuresului (47.648501, 24.688443) and at 30 Lei (€6) it’s a little gem. It is set out in the large grounds of a guest house. The owners don’t speak English but we conversed in my best French.

No sooner had we parked up than Mabel slipped her lead and chased the owner’s chickens round the large grounds, Sarah and I, horrified as feathers went flying. Mabel left me lying in the mud as she slipped my tackle, but Sarah finally managed to grab her. I thought we would be kicked off the site, but instead the owner came over and said he would lock his chickens away so our dogs could have a run. He then took me to see his rescued wolf! He had been brought a wolf pup which had been hit by a car. He had it’s jaw mended and it had lived with him ever since. It’s a lovely creature. Much smaller than the wolves you see on TV in Russia or Alaska, but with piercing yellow eyes.

Oh Mabel ……

He also has a number of other rescued animals and until recently had had a Lynx which lived until it was 18.

Mr. Wolf

All in all this is a very pleasant place to take a break from the appalling road. It’s a shame we can only stay here for one night. Tomorrow it’s wooden churches. Sarah’s already looking excited!!!