Day 10 -12

I am sitting in the Newark airport waiting for my flight to Burlington which does not leave for two hours. I am so sick of lugging around my backpack, and what is so kindly referred to by the group as my “Mary Poppins” bag.  This bag has a reputation because you never know what is popping out of it from pillows to passports, money, tickets, Kindle, phone, glasses etc. Now I wish I had an umbrella to fly me to Stowe.

There was no time to write the last couple of days as we would pull into the hotel around 7 pm and rush to dinner. By the time we were through I was too exhausted to go through pictures and write.

How to describe this trip and get across the romance of Romania. Before I went, I did not know if Romania would be bordering on a poor country, still struggling from the aftermath of communism or if it has been able to bring the country into modern times. What is so wonderful about Romania is the rural areas. The people have maintained the old traditional ways and blended some technology to their world. It amazes me that we can’t get cell service in Vermont in many places and yet in Romania even the poorest villages down in the valleys have service.

The landscape is varied driving from open land to high mountain tops. Curve after curve as the road winds up the mountain, brings spectacular views of the valleys below. The leaves are changing on the trees which provide a backdrop of shimmering gold meadows against the multitude of sheep. The shepherds and their dogs are always willing to share a story, allow us to take their pictures and talk to us about their job. Sheep roam the countryside while the dogs keep them reined in and protected. It was always a question when we stepped into the meadows if the dogs would attack. Our Romanian guide kept a whip handy in case, but if the shepherd was nearby, he had complete control of the dogs and if we stayed together there was not a threat.

The farmers with their ox and carts would stop and talk with us while hauling wood or other products. They would allow us to take pictures of their cows getting milked or of them cutting their fields with a sickle. The goats loved to come and be petted and nibble on our shiny jewelry. The churches, seemed to grow in the countryside like meadow mushrooms, doting the picture-perfect landscape. There was not a turn in the road to disappoint us photographers.

Now I have my answer to the question of “Why Romania?” It is a place that makes you believe there are people who care for our planet, who respect their environment and are trusting enough to let a group of photographers into their homes to share their way of life.