Poiana Brașov: valleys, mountains & forests

  1. Good morning in Brașov. A seven-centimetre stag beetle sunbathes on the arcade of the Catherine’s Gate.
  2. The main maternity hospital of the city since 1973 (before that it was a medical college).
  3. The Black Tower of the 15th century (modestly indicated under the loopholes) isn’t that black now, but it once burned, too, and this isn’t forgotten.
  4. A sax guy has settled near the tower and methodically asks passers-by where they are from.
  5. Apollonia Cultural Centre.
  6. The Franciscan Church was built three centuries ago as part of the Franciscan monastery (little remained of it by that time).
  7. One of the monastery walls.
  8. A Brașov man crosses himself without waiting for the thunder.
  9. After lunch, I took a bus with a bicycle trailer to the picturesque ski resort of Poiana Brașov.
  10. I tramp to the cable car past the circus on wheels.
  11. The Church of St. John the Baptist is younger than me, but built in the Maramureș style to sell souvenirs to gullible tourists.
  12. Aurelius Spa also knows how to present itself.
  13. A creepy sign of the Escalade Hotel. Don’t go climbing, kids, you’ll end up badly.
  14. Ascending in a Coca-Cola cabin past an indecently geometric reservoir.
  15. A hotel-restaurant just below the cable cars. The views from windows are surely stunning, but I foresee difficulties with the infrastructure.
  16. There are still about a hundred metres to the top.
  17. Whatever they use to get here.
  18. There’s a suspicion that a metre column at the top of the Postăvarul Massif (1799 m) was installed for the sake of rounding.
  19. Let’s look back at the path we’ve travelled.
  20. Let’s enjoy the endless spaces.
  21. And then let’s tramp down, stumbling over the “No access” signs. (Beg pardon, but where to?)
  22. Making my way through dense forest to Peştera de Lapte (the Milk Cave).
  23. You should notice the entrance somehow. If it weren’t for the sign, I’d still be looking for it.
  24. It’s polar cold, dank damp and pitch dark inside. The little bright spot in the centre is the very entrance.
  25. Geological layers. Watch your head.
  26. I have no idea who was milked in this Milk Cave, but I’d better go.
  27. These strawberries did not bloom for me.
  28. A dung beetle is a relative of the sacred scarab, by the way. Show some respect.
  29. Sunset rocks.
  30. Carpathian pastoral.