Day 5

A christening, a wedding, and today a funeral, we have managed to complete a life cycle in Romaina. Driving up the mountain on a curvy road I looked out to see a funeral taking place in the valley below. The wagon was decorated with flowers, people were gathered around, and the horse was waiting nearby, ready to be hitched up.

Jeremy, our instructor, wanted to go down the hillside and join the funeral but our Romanian guide, Daniel, convinced him otherwise. We were all relieved as none of us wanted to intrude. Daniel felt it might be different if it was taking place on a city street. With my telephoto lens I could make out the scene. The priest entered the house, and we could hear music, then out he came ahead of the open coffin. The deceased did have a blanket tucked under his arms with his hands resting together. Everyone stood around in the courtyard while the priest did his thing. There was a gaggle of older ladies standing together and I wished so much that I had a longer lens. I would have loved to get that shot. His head was bare, and I kept thinking someone should put a hat on him so he would not be cold. How ridiculous was that.

A wooden cross was at the head of the coffin with the family name and the date of 1938 when he was born. The priest again said some blessings while two men blew the trambita, a long wind horn used by shepherds to call their flock, very similar to the Alphen horn. The sound was deep and strong echoing throughout the valley. A fitting backdrop to the scene.

We continued our journey, stopping to watch a blacksmith shoe a horse, then on to two churches, one Orthodox and one Catholic. The Catholic ones had grumpy nuns who were quite stern about picture taking. You will enjoy the sign below.

All the paintings look the same throughout the area we have been in. I am told that when you go to theological school, you can choose to become a priest or a painter. You are taught to do the paintings according to tradition. The paintings are put on the side of the churches to teach people about Christianity. The second church is famous for these paintings done in the 1400’s and are still here today.

Tomorrow a long drive…