From Cluj to Dej and Rădăuți

Back to Romania! Let me tell you... that is one beautiful place to visit. We were so lucky to have friends from there who could show us around and translate. I know they were so exhausted trying to translate and remember who to speak English to and who to speak to in Romanian, which was switched up a few times to all of our amusement. They'd say something to one of us in the wrong language, and we'd just stare blankly and laugh. :)  We really appreciated it though. I did my best with Romanian spelling and names in this blog. Hopefully I didn't mess up anything too horribly! Feel free to let me know so I can fix it.

On day 2, we took a road trip to Rădăuți, where Dan grew up. On the way, we stopped in Dej to visit Ana's parents.

Ana's Uncle, Aunt, and Mom.

 After breakfast we got back on the road. We saw a sign for Hotel Castel Dracula and couldn't resist.  hehe.

Ana's brother Catalin, Ana, Dan, and Me!

Steve in front of the Bram Stoker statue, which is really funny because Bram Stoker has never been there, and this is not the real Dracula's Castle.

 But it was fun anyway... hehe

 I walked down the hillside for a better view of the countryside. It was worth it.

 Transylvania is beautiful. You really need to visit if you haven't been there. I mean, seriously, look at that.

 Coffee stop!

 Photo stop!

Me and Ana.

 We made it to Rădăuți! Dan's dad greeted us with some lovely gifts and had the restaurant, Pensiunea Tarancuta, ready to serve us breakfast!

Dan, Dan's dad, Me, Steve, Catalin

Cow, goat, and sheep cheeses with slanina (pork fat). So good!

Ana, Dan, Dan's dad, Steve, Catalin

 After eating, we took a trip to some monasteries. Stefan the Great was said to have built a monastery for each battle he won.

Putna Monastery

Dan's brother, Stefan, getting some well water.

Hermitage Monastery Putna

 It was so pretty inside. I could have spent hours looking at all of the paintings.

 Below is a replica of the Shroud of Turin. The image of the man shows wounds consistent with Biblical descriptions of crucifixion.  From what I've read, some people believe it's Jesus, but radiocarbon dating places this in the Medieval period. I suppose it's controversial. I'd never heard of it until I saw this replica. Either way, it's very interesting.

 On our way out we stopped to have a drink from a spring that locals and those at the monastery consider to be healing water.

Storms are coming. Hadn't seen those in a while.

 Rădăuți

Small monastery down the street from the restaurant, Pensiunea Tarancuta.

Radauti Cathedral