Ceahlău

Last week, some friends and I hiked to the top of Ceahlău Mountain -- Toaca Peak to be exact -- which reaches 1,907 meters (6,257 feet). Ceahlău is steeped in legendry -- one historian said, "had the antique historians known of the legends of Ceahlău, it would have been more famous than the Olympus." However, to me, it's simply that intimidating peak that forms the Eastern horizon. (If you want to read more about the legendry, go here. Because there's some cool info, forgive it the fact that reads like a third grader's social studies project.)

Anyway, we met Thursday morning in the town center and took a "cab" the 40 minutes to Durău. The use of quotes there is because we simply paid a guy to drive us there. This guy was a gem. From his yellow welder "sunglasses" to his insistence that drinking only strawberry juice will help him live until 120 to his rusty Dacia that he claimed ran on kerosene, he serenaded us with crazy the whole way there.

Once we mercifully disembarked from the Super Dacia, Shades went back to pick up the other group as we anxiously awaited the looks on their faces when they got there. They didn't disappoint.

The climb took about seven hours, including some off-road exploration and multiple breaks to rest, eat and simply breathe it all in. We summited the first day, then hiked to a cabin at the top for the night, heading back down the next morning. Words like "unbelievable," "mesmerizing," "amazing" are a start, but I'd prefer to let the pictures tell the story. I also edited together a few panoramic video shots from the top. (I suggest you watch it in HD and full screen.) They're an inadequate substitute for the real thing, but it's the best I can do.

Next week, I'm off to an all-TEFL conference in Sinaia, home of the Peleș Castle and some stunning cliffs, where I'll get to see everyone from my group and meet everyone from the group that's been here a year. It'll be a full day of workshops and... Actually, I'm going to stop there. You all know what happens at a conference. A bunch of us are heading in a day early to see the sights in Sinaia, then staying a bit late to check out its bigger neighbor, Brașov. Check back for photos, etc. Romaniamania, activate.