Back on the road

Quick update, we have picked Carol up and she is back on the road ready to head off in the direction of Bulgaria tomorrow morning! We are not quite sure where we are going exactly but we are looking forward to getting back on the road!

Like I have said before, Brasov was not a bad place to break down and I know it well! It has been lovely to spend some time here again. I first came here in 2004 and again in 2007. I have been visiting some old haunts and some new!

I am always saddened by the number of stray animals on the streets in Romania. It seems the situation is not changing. We got an opinion on the issue from two locals who both explained why there is such a problem here. Apparently, during the communist era when all the very typical soviet blocks of housing were built, many Romanian lost their homes and were forced to move into these buildings. There was no space for their pets and thus there is now an increasing problem with stray animals. Many of them look well, they don't appear ill or undernourished, but they are on every street corner eating scraps and being barked at by all the guard dogs.

I have been overwhelmed with the friendliness and helpfulness of everyone that we have met in Romania. For one there were the staff and friends of Kismet Dao who went out of their way to help us get Carol back on the road. There were the mechanics in Brasov who fixed her up and all the lovely people we met during our 5 day stint at the hostel. We caught up with Josh, an acquaintance who previously worked at the hostel here, and who we met on just one occasion back in 2007. He is now living in Brasov, living the Romanian dream!? and has encouraged us on a number of occasions now to have 'just one more drink'! He has been great company and if anyone ever visits Brasov call him up as he has a strong knowledge of the main train station as well as a very Romanian apartment that is worth a visit!

It has been quite comfortable for us here in Brasov and it is a bit daunting getting back on the road after 5 days. However, we know it is time to move on and with only one more Country left to travel through in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are really feeling a lot closer now.