Miles Driven: ?? A lot
Time in Car: 5.5 hours
Borders Crossed: 0
Tanner graciously took the wheel this morning at 7 am for the drive from our quaint bohemian campsite to the famous Transfăgărășan mountain road. Considered “maybe the best road in the world” (see Top Gear episode), this mountain pass recklessly spans the second highest mountain range in Romania by way of 90 kms of switch-backs and turn outs. You might think a 64 horsepower subcompact wouldn’t be the best means to tackle such a fabled road and you would be right, but passing by bikers and shepherd’s with their flocks of sheep confirms it’s not the worst either.
Atop the pass
What the Transfăgărășan lacks in guardrails and run away ramps, it makes up for in views of the many crags and valleys of the Carpathian Mountains. At the peak of the mountain, the team took in uninterrupted views of the Mountain pass and the hair-pin turns we nervously maneuvered to get there. While the air was brisk and cold, we were glad we left early as we encountered hardly any traffic and tourists on the way up and down the mountain.
Stevie and team atop the pass
Coasting down the southern side of the road the dense pine forest gives way to massive soviet hydro electric dam and eventually the small city Cuerta De Argeş. After covering 2000 meters of elevation via 7% grades and 180° bends the Skoda gracefully shifted into 4th gear for the first time all day en route to Bucharest.
Reservoir opposite the Transfargasan
Bucharest, while it may be known by most as a city that “sounds a lot like Budapest” or as the capital of Romania for trivia buffs, was quite a pleasant surprise to the entire group. Getting into Bucharest around lunchtime after navigating the insane downtown, seemingly lawless streets, we quickly walked around the old town and public gardens. Quickly, we realized that our aimless milling about town didn’t really give us any context to the city or it’s history. We knew next to nothing about the Romanian capital, so we decided it may be worth our while to take a free walking tour throughout the city. The three hour tour proved to be one of the highlights of the rally thus far.
The city of Bucharest is one of constant rebuild, both politically and physically. From it’s colonization by the Latins during the height of the Roman Empire to Vlad the Impaler fending off invasions of the Turks to the independence from the Ottoman Empire to finally the bloody liberation from rule of the Communists, Bucharest has been pushed and pulled by the ruling party of the era. It’s visible in the city’s architecture, culture, and personality of the people. Little did we know about the recent and bloody end of the Communist era only 30 years ago. Our tour guide shared personal stories of the hardship she and her family endured during the revolution days which made the tour particularly memorable. Today, the city itself is still rebuilding but since the recent elections in 2013, the city seems destined for great things. That along with it’s great food, cheap prices, and nice people make Bucharest a great destination many Westerner tourists may not consider visiting.
Tomorrow, we head to the coast of the Black Sea for a beach party. Until then - FWY
Bucharest square