Fall in Valea Drăganului
These are lastyear’s fall memories, but you know by now that my year was crazy and difficult.It passed. The good times endured.
So, here they are,shared with you in early winter (so, it still counts!)
It also counts thatMarcel wanted to return to Valea Drăganului (first explored in June 2020)because he loved it so much!
Wish granted.
Onthe way there
I’ve always wantedto railcycle. After keeping in touchwith the kind gentleman who manages it, I surprised Marcel. The start point isCornăţel, while the end point is Hosman. We arrived late and couldn’t completethe entire route (14 km there and back), only half. We’ll be back for more!
For a deliciousburger, stop at Unic Burger inSebeş. It’s a local business run with passion. Vegetarians will be happy, too.
Whereto sleep?
The best partsabout Montana 219 (RON 300/night,breakfast included) are the kindpeople welcoming you and the heated jacuzzi. An evening soak is always a goodidea.
Whereto eat?
Restaurantpescăresc ‘La Marin’serves tasty trout for fish lovers and delicious salads for vegetarians. Plus,their apple pie is exquisite. It’s where we passed – after a huge storm – fromIndian summer to fall proper.
I have been anovolactovegetarian since I was 3, but Marcel is a meat lover, especially a fish lover.You can buy trout (and prepare your meal yourself) from Păstrăvăria Bologa.
Around–
Who knew there wasa sequoia in Rogojel? You can hiketo it or drive and then walk. Either way, it is imposing and bewildering. Andso is the view – a quintessence of the Apuseni Mountains.
Bologa Water Mill isa good example of how rural Romanians used to manage. By using the force ofwater, cereals could be milled and clothes and carpets could be washed. Thelady running the museum didn’t change a thing. We shared a special moment whileMarcel and I were there because we also share a love for cats.
BologaFortress,first mentioned at the beginning of the 14th century, is another stop to consider. As youclimb into the keep, a typical Apuseni view will open up and make you smile.
Notto miss
We headed therefirst and foremost to kayak theDrăgan-Floroiu reservoir. The whole area is one of the wildest in Romania. Howto get to the water? From Valea Drăganului, drive towards Lunca Vişagului andthen take the rather bad road (reception might be lost). Right before reachingthe bellevue point, you will see a smaller road to your right. Take it anddrive to the western end of the reservoir. You will see glimpses of the lakeand a path through the forest to your left. We descended with our kayaks and launched. Wewere lucky to enjoy two days of Indian summer during this trip and this was ourview.
Overrated–
Marcel didn’t feeltoo well – he had had the same symptoms after the passing of our beloved catPeticel –, so we started our drive to Braşov. Still, we wished to enjoy moresunshine, so we took a short detour to Aghireşu and its Blue Lagoon (Laguna Albastră). You can park your car and continue onfoot from a certain point. To me, it felt overrated. People were swimming, butit didn’t seem that inviting to me. High expectations? Probably.
It was still myname day when we arrived in Braşov, so the best gift was enjoying cake with my dearones, a hug from them, and a fluffy hug from Kara and Linu.
Theywere so small last year! ♥ Too cute to be real.
