• Dave HipplerRomania and MoldovaTraveler
    They're always watching you.
    They're always watching you.Piata Mare, the great plazaA pottery fair on Piata MareCity HallThe art museum. Closed on the days we were in town. It opened 3 years before the LouvreThe Gypsy market in Piata Mica, the small plazaGypsy marketGypsy market“Saint Mary” Evangelical Cathedral In the backgroundPiata Mare at night. The pottery fair wenu until 9 pmLike all Romanians, just having another smokePop up disco on a side street“Saint Mary” Evangelical Cathedral"Holy Trinity" Orthodox Cathedral Catedrala Ortodoxă "Sfânta Treime"Chess in the parkAstra County Library - Palace of the AssociationFirst day of school on the pedestrianized street, Nicolae BalcescuHermanstadt is the Saxon name for SibiuAt ASTRA, the culture park outside of townAt ASTRA, the culture park outside of townAt ASTRA, the culture park outside of townAt ASTRA, the culture park outside of townThe old city wallPiata Mare“Saint Mary” Evangelical Cathedral

    Sibiu

    Sep 6–8 in Romania ⋅ 🌬 77 °F

    Known as "The City With Eyes," Sibiu is another former Saxon town in Transylvania. The nickname comes from the old houses that have roof vents that look like eyes. They were for drying grains that were stored in the attic.

    School started the day we arrived. On the first day of school, everyone dresses up nice and buys flowers for the teacher. By 10 am, they're done for the day and they roam around the city and drink coffee and smoke. On the 2nd day, it's back to T shirts and jeans. They also seem to be done for the day by 10 and do the same thing. You don't want to rush into things.

    Smoking by all ages is prevalent here. It won't take long for someone to ruin a meal by lightning up. We could eat inside where it's officially banned, but the weather and piatas are just too nice.

    Other than that, Romania has been wonderful and Sibiu (see BYEW) is delightful. Deanne was here 26 years ago doing volunteer eye care at orphanages and didn't recognize the place, it's been fixed up so much.

    Ceasescu's communist-era policy was for women to have as many babies as possible. Over 10,000 women died having illegal abortions. Many parents gave unwanted children to orphanages, especially if they had crossed eyes or other birth defects. These orphanages were horrible places devoid of love and a whole generation of unloved children became a case study in what happens when a child is raised without parents, touching, or love, confirming Harry Harlow's work with Rhesus monkeys.

    In a sad coincidence, I saw an elderly man collapse near the Black Church steps. Another man and I rushed to help him. His face was badly bruised, but those were not recent wounds. He was clearly drunk and had been drunk for years, it seemed. Deanne noticed his crossed eye. I can't help but think that he might have been raised in one of those orphanages. The other man called an ambulance for him.

    Our visit on Monday and Tuesday meant that the museums were closed, but we were here for a pottery festival and got to see the Gypsy market. We like it more than Brasov, which seems like a one-trick pony with their old town. Here, there are less tourists and more people living in the old town. Behind every wall and through every tunnel, there's something interesting to see.

    More photos and videos are here.
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