Brasov, Romania Day 2

Brasov, Romania Day 2

After a much needed night sleep, we ate some bread, nutella, and fruit and headed out. Our mission was to take it easy and hike the Brasov peak to the south of the hostel. Easy enough. The streets are lined with beautiful unique houses and store fronts. We came across many tennis courts at what looked like a racquet club of some sort. All the courts were red clay and we watched some players for a bit. From there it was an easy walk to the trailhead. The trail started as a walking path with lots of locals out for a morning walk. Then the trial took a turn and went up the mountain. It was different than Turkey, with the straight up trails. This trail was blazed with a red triangle and followed up the mountain with swithchbacks, giving us a gentler grade to follow. We just took our time enjoying the forest that looked like some old growth was still present. Some of the trees were about a meter in diameter and we were covered in full shade. There was a slight chill in the air and it only sprinkled on us once just as we hit the top. The top had a massive radio tower and a little sky top restaurant at which we rested our legs and ordered 3 dark Ursus treats in a glass. It was a little cheaper than the place on top of the mountain in Albuquerque for sure. With the Romanian exchange rate, we are able to treat ourselves a little bit, unlike Athens and soon to be Germany on the Euro. After just a few pictures, we headed back down the peak probably descending about 900 feet. Just enough to get the blood flowing.

From the top we could see the Black Church, which we really wanted to go check out. It was very close to where the trail let out, so we walked over to check it out. It was built in the 14th century and started as the church of St.Mary, then with the reformation, became Lutheran. It is the largest gothic church in the country and is a good representation of the architecture they say. The pillars in the back by the altar are skinny and octagonal in shape which reminds me of something from the Star Wars episode 1 and 2 where the Jedi hang out. Those things are really high and from the back of the church it looks as if there is no end to them. Cool, but I could not get pics in there since they don't allow it. Oh well.

Ending the day, we took a walk around the main mideival square that everyone thinks of when they think of Brasov. An ice cream cone did the trick and we just took a look around. With tired legs, we headed back to the hostel, grabbed some dinner snacks and breakfast treats for tomorrow, and came inside. Tomorrow will be a big eventful day with a tour of Bran Castle, Pele's Castle, and Rasnov Fortress. The owner of the hostel will be taking us in his car. We hope to get some local insight and should be out with him for 7-8 hours.