To better understand the warmth and generous loving spirit
of the Romania people, a tale or two of our travels here
seem the best course for us to follow.
One of the first lodging homes we stayed in Transylvania was
in Gura Riului (translated as "Mouth of the River").
Without our knowledge, Felicia and Adrian had arranged that
we would be dressed in traditional Romanian costumes. We
arrived late in the afternoon, and after a lovely dinner we
embarked on a walk of the village. While walking, we stopped
to speak with some of the villagers sitting outside of their
home enjoying the summer evening. We chatted as people can
do when they don?t understand each other?s language,
helped with brief interpretations by our hostess. The air
became filled with laughter and smiles. After a time, one
of the women disappeared only to reappear in traditional
costume. We were awed and delighted, and were allowed to
photograph them with our digital camera. When we showed the
pictures clapping and exclamations ensued, and soon more
women appeared in traditional costume. We were all having a
wonderful time.
Shortly after that, and without much prodding, I was led into
one of their homes to be dressed as well. The magic truly
began. Even the shoes fit perfectly, I felt like Cinderella.
After the hand-to-mouth kisses of perfection that told me the
women were satisfied, we returned outside to see the reaction.
The look of astonishment on my husband?s face was priceless,
and the look on the others? faces made me feel I was part
of this fabulous village. Many pictures and happy moments later,
one of the elders of the village took me on a tour of her home,
and then we walked arm-in-arm with another woman around the
village while she nodded to her neighbors her approval of us.
We were honored and blessed to be taken into the hearts of
the people. Once we returned to our lodgings we recounted our
evening activity with the lodging family amid more laughter
and gasps of pleasure at our first night in town.
Before embarking on our tour of Sibiu the next morning,
it was inquired what we would like for dinner that evening.
Our reply was that whatever our lodging hostess would like to
prepare would suit us beautifully and please not to fuss
over us. That afternoon our tour was cut short by a phone
call from our lodging hostess. We had been invited to a picnic
in the mountain with their family! We were overjoyed at the
prospect and returned to the lodging home immediately. We
took two cars, drove almost to the top of the mountain, made
a fire and had a picnic fit for a king. The laughter and good
feelings filled the mountain. A man rode up to our camp on a
bicycle and asked us if that was the pub we were having so
much fun, and which surprised us no end. We had truly
arrived.
But more was to come. The next morning, and to our and our
Romanian host?s couple complete surprise, our lodging family
insisted on dressing my husband in the traditional costume
for men. What a sight! He brought a tear to an eye or two,
and was hugged all around. It became a family affair to be
shared by all.
I also add a few Maramures pictures for you to see
other folk Romanian costumes.
Where else could a person be welcomed
with such heartfelt cordiality we asked ourselves.
Only in Romania...
Copyright : Christina & Mac Meyer
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