Constanța Romania Cycle 8km 5mi and Walking 12km 7mi
First things first, get rid of the bikes!! Paul spoke with Marius yesterday to make inquiries about bike preparation for flying. All seemed OK with this option so we rode over to his bike shop as early as we could. We were happy with his ability to basically do everything from dismantlement to packing them up, thus making yesterday's box redundant!! C'est la vie, this made things just too easy!! So we rushed back to our digs to make all the necessary packing arrangements for onward travel. We were back with Marius by 2pm to seal the deal, and most importantly get our bikes dispatched!! We were then free to begin sightseeing our final 'Port of Call'!
Til now Constanța had struck us as somewhat of an uninteresting port city, but how wrong we were! Over that afternoon, and the next 2 days until our departure it slowly revealed itself as not only a lively holiday destination in Eastern Europe, but also a center of trade, and shipping with an enormous Black Sea Port, the epicenter of oodles of Greco-Roman archaeological activity, and a place to garner considerable knowledge about Romania's recent past over the last 150 years of subjugation under Ottoman rule, fascist leaderships, USSR Soviet influenced Communism up until the upheavals of 1989, and the demise of the Soviet ideological machine. As usual, the more I learn, the more I realise just how little I know.... very little indeed. So, one of my projects is to begin a history lesson on this part of the world, from antiquity to the present day. Speaking to a young man in the museum exhibit about Nicolai Ceausescu helped illuminate his treatment of his 'political prisoners' who contributed to the construction of a canal in the 1960's. They worked on the canal until they died, nearly 1000 so called 'dissenters' to Ceausescu's leadership perished simply for speaking their views about his ambitions, and Modus Operandi, or less.
As evil a leader as any of his contemporaries like Hitler or Pol Pot! Lest we forget!
The Greco-Roman archaeological legacy is significant in this region, and we've cycled past, and directly through much of it! Amphora Galora, funerary rituals, statues, coins, architectural finds show this area was an extremely active part of all the most significant empires over the last 2000 years!
The Old Town of Constanța shows all the attributes of such influences with not only Orthodox Churches, but fabulous Islamic Mosques, and neo-Romanian architecture aplomb!
We walked past a Greek Orthodox Church at one point that was wide open for all to enter, which of course we did, and we could watch over a tribute to a group of Greek WW2 War heroes. So many of the churches in eastern Europe are small intimate places with varying degrees of elaborate decor. Undoubtedly, faith plays a big role in the lives of these people.
Thankfully for us, bakeries and small shops also remain open and welcoming for us 'Ultra New Age Travellers'!
We discovered the beaches, old port for small vessels, and part of the old town on our first afternoon walkabout, then the main old town park and the bulk of the Old Town on our second day. It was our impression that work was definitely underway on numerous Old Town properties to restore and upgrade many of the old buildings to their original splendor! It'll probably take 10 or 20 years, but I for one would love to return here in 5 to 10 years to see the degree of progress! Without doubt the main seafront area is delightful, the work done there on civic buildings, the casino, lighthouse and promenade is most appealing indeed!
Paul and I took the easy route for dinner number 2 in Constanța and we agreed pizza and beer was necessary.
We hoped to watch the Rugby final, but it wasn't being televised as was the England game for their 3rd place bronze. Such is life, so off to sleep by 10pm for a busy day of getting home tomorrow!
Until I woke up it was unclear if we'd gain an extra hour in Romania or not? Thankfully we did, so I could get some blogging done, some swimming done, and the final packing done!
Marius arrived on time but he'd failed to recognise the clock change until this morning as well. We got to the airport in good time and exchanged gifts with Marius.... we gave him our unused camping gas, and he (more like his wife), gave us a jar of homemade strawberry jam!! Just another shining example of Romanian kindness and generosity!!
On the way to my swim I met a complete stranger who greeted me as an old friend, inquired about myself and proceeded to show me an unusual degree of respect as a total stranger. It seems to be their way here in Romantic Romania. Most of the country is basic to the eye, but to the soul it is as incredible as any place I've ever visited.
I will hope to return to Romania in the next year or two to visit Bucharest, and the Carpathian Mountain carpeted region of Transylvania with my wife, Maria. So many people have told us just how special these places are!
Being a person who has often over indulged in taking time to talk to strangers, even to the point getting criticised for it, I now realise in many parts of the world that this is a great characteristic engendering peace, trust, respect and harmony with others. So, long may this seemingly unique nature remain beyond our shores.
Bless you all for your wonderful support for our charitable causes across Canada, The USA, and The UK in support of MND Motor Neurone Disease, aka ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis research and care. Also for your moral support for Paul&I on the demanding physical and mental.challenges associated with this ride!
Best Wishes,
Doug&Paul
