We parted ways as they tried to give some good advice. And off I went into the most peaceful morning I've ever had. Not a thought or prayer in mind. Just the haze, the sun, and the absolutely breathtaking view. Quick rolling hills with colorful green and brown. Red rooftops spotting the land. And mountains off behind all that.
I pulled into Moldova-Veche, Romania to the police station and was escorted into an empty building. Literally no person or furniture on the 1st floor, and 1 room with 1 person on the 2nd floor. After I saw the town I now know why.
I stunk like I hadn't showered or even taken a river bath in 3 days, which I hadn't, so the office got very awkward very quick. The TV played equivalent to "happy hip morning news" while the police officer and his secretary asked me questions and attempted to learn how Microsoft Word works.
They figured it out after 2 hours basking in my aroma, they named my kayak Ciaci Marc Anthony, for me, for legal reasons. They stamped my passport with authority, we shook hands and I waltzed out with pride and relief.
As I got I prepared my boat to leave, a very enthusiastic police officer suggested I check out the town, I insisted not to. He doubled suggested I should. So, not to be rude, I thought of a reason to go into town, ice cream.
The walk in was desolate and also peaceful. Slums next to nice homes. No paved roads, except the one main one in town which I found right next to the "H-Spitle"... or, hospital. Yes it really said that.
I found an ATM after being harassed by a lady who wanted money for her kid who got hit by a car. I got too much money from the ATM and avoided her to go get ice cream. She was very rude to me about having money when I didn't, I even showed her my wallet at first, before i got money, and she called me a liar. So I thought, if you're going to be rude, you dont deserve anything. I'm probably wrong, but I dont think just because you had tough luck it's the world's responsibility to save you.
Anyway, I got my icecream. a beer, tried to talk to a Romanian man who skyped with his sister from Florida, and we talked in English, I made his day. He was proud that his daughter married a black man from Jamaica and now they live in Florida!
I walked back to my boat, bought a fresh white T. AND then met Toby for another quick beer and water a few KM down. It was good to see a familiar face after 2 days of solitude.
We paddled off into one of the most Lord of the Rings looking places I've ever seen. A majestic castle built into the hill led us into the narrowest section of the river. Cliffs on both sides with caves spotted in them.
We checked the weather and saw a good chance of rain. So we decided to look for camp.
We spotted a small clearing, and it looked like someone's house. We thought, maybe they can tell us where to camp. It turned out to be a campground with 7 bungalows! And only 10 euros for the night. Within 30minutes it started to rain. So we, Toby and 2 travelers from Italy, ducked into the pavilion to maming pasta and pasta sauce. It was really nice. We all bulled about our worlds and world views and all that crap hippies do, and drank each others booze. We had rakia, which is like Serbian moonshine, and they had something like moonshine but dropped herbs and sugar cubes in the Mason jar. So we ate the sugar cubes and got buzzed.
We watched a beautiful sunset over the mountains and now I'm so set to passout.
We lost an hour here so instead of 830 its 930!
Tomorrow we get close to the iron gates, and hopefully can find camp in a place where people say is hard to find.
KM 1025
No comments:
Post a Comment