Travel diary part one

This time I will not call it an article, but a diary of my journey. I will never forget this experience I had while I was a high school student. In the diary I write daily I try to write down every moment of my life, every pleasant and less pleasant experience.

I thought I would split this diary of my trip into two parts: actually the two days I had on the trip.

Romania is not only a beautiful country from a geographical, cultural or historical point of view, it is also rich from a religious point of view, with religious cults: monasteries and churches built after the fall of communism.

Here I want to tell you more about my experiences after visiting several monasteries from that period. This trip I made in the summer of 2001, on June 19/20 with my classmates and the Justian Teculă Christian Cultural Association, I took on the road to the monasteries. Two days in nature and quiet. There were more children than adults on this trip, they were the class leaders.

The initial start was from Brașov. We were supposed to see each other at 9 o'clock in the morning at the bus station next to the railway station. We all met at 8 o'clock in the morning at the Railway Station in Sfântul Gheorghe, to see each other to buy tickets to Brașov. This trip made us happy to drop out of school a bit. So we can rest. Let's see other beautiful places.

2 days before leaving on this wonderful trip, we were announced by the headmistress to prepare emotionally, emotionally and with the money and luggage that we will have 2 unforgettable days.

 First day: On Saturday morning I packed my bags to go on an unforgettable trip, I took my essentials, thick clothes, money for the necessary expenses, food, water and much more that I needed. I was very happy. I announced to my parents that I would go on a beautiful trip with the class and the teacher.

They let me go. They told me to take care of myself. I was happy. At 8 o'clock I was already at the Railway Station with luggage and an indescribable emotional state. Already the conductor and a few people were at the station waiting for me to come to buy tickets to Brasov. Emotions and agitation were at their peak.

I had the train to Brașov at 8:15. We had time to buy tickets and buy some more to feel good. I heard the train in the distance, the emotions growing louder as the train approached the platform.

We waited for the passengers to get off the train and we got on. I hoped that no event would happen on this trip, but why did so much happen and I will tell you what. They were the most memorable moments of my life. I arrived in Brașov around 8:40. We got off the train and ran to get out of CFR, to go directly to the bus that was waiting for us. In the distance I saw the buses and the crowd around them. They were waiting for us.

There were two buses with children and adults watching us during our trip. Later we found out that this trip of ours was organized by the Justian Tecula Cultural Association from Sfântul Gheorghe. But the buses were from Brasov. We enjoyed this two-day trip. We chose the places by the window to admire the beauty outside.

Our guide introduced himself and explained our route that we had during the two days of the trip.

Unfortunately, I didn't even remember all their names because I went there for the first time.

After visiting the whole route planned by the guide and the teachers who were with us, I wrote them down in my diary so as not to forget them. Now I will tell you the most important monasteries I visited in the 2 days. Frasinei Monastery, Cozia Monastery, Turnu Monastery, Curtea de Argeș Monastery, Cornetu-Brezoi Monastery, Govora Monastery, Bistrița Monastery, Horezu Monastery, Dintr un Lemn Monastery, I have only a few views of Surpat Monastery.

I wanted to write down my impressions of the places I visited, so as not to forget any details. We left Brașov, in front of us were opening some very beautiful and lively places, landscapes that I have never seen before. Mountains, vast forests, plains, and especially villages and small towns. I took the direction of Râmnicul Vâlcea.

At the exit from Câmpulung Muscel, on the right side were Bughea de Jos and Ciocanu Monastery. Our guide told us about the beauty of this place detached from stories. From here, I looked to the east, where there was a very beautiful panorama: mountain peaks, under them high hills, and at the foot of the hills a chain of villages.

We didn't know anything about this monastery before, because no one told us about it. Luckily we had a guide who told us something about the monastery.

The monasteries are surrounded by peace and offer the faithful who arrive there on pilgrimage the possibility of a spiritual reunion and a wonderful place of prayer. I will tell you one by one about each place I visited. Worth talking about if you want to visit them. You have something to see.

We went in the direction of Râmnicul Vâlcea, leaving Curtea de Argeș on the left side for the next day.

The first monastery we visited was the Hurezu Monastery, from the entrance to the monastery we were greeted by the smell of incense and the peace there. You could recharge with positive energy while you were at the monastery. Each monastery I visited conveyed a special energy, peace, tranquility and positivity.

The guide told us the story of that wonderful place. We listened intently to everything our guide told us. What I remember is that the Horezu Monastery (Hurezi) was founded by Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1690-1697. Among the historical monasteries, Hurezi is considered to be the most representative architectural complex defining the "Brancoveanu style". The church of the monastery was meant to become the necropolis of the Brâncovean family and the nation. There is also a legend from which the name of the monastery is derived. Legend has it that for fear of the Turks, the craftsmen worked only at night when the Huhures sang, hence the name of the monastery.

Hureza Monastery has two premises. In the first, exterior, delimited by strong brick walls, there is the first enclosure gate and a building with a floor on the right. The second enclosure has a rectangular shape, closed on three sides with buildings, with ground floor and first floor. The east side ends with a high wall, as in many enclosed monasteries.

Through all these historical testimonies and artistic beauty, the monastery of Huruza is one of the most convincing works of the multisecular spiritual creation that the great historian Nicolae Iorga called with a happy formulation in the work "Byzantium by Byzantium", continuation of Roman civilization, whose heirs in Eastern Europe are the Romans.

Next I leave it to you to discover for yourself this rare beauty of Horezu Monasteries you have something to see and discover.

The road was full of laughter and games. We weren't bored at all. He was happy along the way to his destination. The road was easy and intriguing without any unpleasant incidents.

When leaving the monastery, on the right side you can see the Olteț Gorges and the Polovragi Cave, they make up a protected area of ​​national interest, located in Oltenia, on the territory of Gorj County. Our guide told us many interesting things about these places, but unfortunately we did not have time to visit them, because we had other locations waiting for us to see them.

Our next destination is Bistrița Monastery and Arnota Monastery, both monasteries are a short distance from each other, impossible not to pass and not to visit both.

Bistrița Monastery, founded by the Craiova boyars (Barbu, Banul Craioviști and his brothers, Pârvu vornicul, Danciu armașul and Radu postelnicul), was built between 1492-1494. It is located in the village of Bistrița belonging to the commune of Costești in Vâlcea county, on the valley of the river of the same name.

After 1989, the monastic life acquired new valences. Since 1999, the monastery took over the leadership of Arnota Monastery by transforming it from a monastery of monks into a monastery of nuns.

I'd better let you discover for yourself this wonder left to the greatest founders of our nation for us.

A legend says about Arnota Monastery, that Matei Basarab, being pursued by the Turks, took refuge on a mountain plateau where there was a mountain lake with a lot of reeds, due to the fact that the place was on the southern slope enjoying a lot of sun. There were ruins of some churches near the lake, and Matei Basarab decided that if he escaped, he would found a monastery.

Each monastery has a beautiful and interesting history, about which there is much to tell and tell. I'd better let you make a foray into the history of these wonderful places I'm telling you about.

The impressions are big and beautiful, hard to tell, but it's great to visit. After that we took it to the Pătrunsa Hermitage and the Pahome Hermitage and another Bradul Gurguiata-Vâlcea hermitage, which was on our way. I said it's a shame we didn't pass by and see these hermitages.

The Pătrunsa hermitage was built in 1740 by Bishop Climent of Râmnicu in memory of the fact that here he was born by his mother Paraschiva Modoran from Pietrarii de Jos, fleeing over the mountain for fear of a Turkish invasion, taking refuge at the foot of Buila mountain, instead called Pătrunsa today. The hermitage was destroyed after the fall of a rock, being rebuilt in the second half of the eighteenth century, by the postman Dumitru, the archpriest Pietraru and the postman Ion Bărbătescu, probably descendants of Bishop Climent.

The hermitage is still in good condition today and is declared a historical monument.

The next hermitage I visited is the Pahomei Hermitage, which is located on the territory of Băile Olănești, in Vâlcea County, this monastic settlement, passes on a practicable and accessible forest road and by car, to Izvorul Frumos, which springs from under the rock cliff almost 50 meters long, on which the hermitage church is built, dedicated to "The Holy Prophet Ile Tesviteanul".

From the current inscription of the hermitage it results that the founders are Pahomei the monk and Sava Haiducul in 1950, justifying the name of the Hermitage from Izvor Frumos.

The church built under a large rock (on which is the image of the Lord), with a waterfall of mountain water nearby, cold as ice, awaits its visitors in silence and prayer.

And about the Bradul Hermitage, I will tell you briefly some information that was told to me by the guide. I don't even know what to tell you, there is a lot to tell. But I will try to tell something interesting and useful.

Bradu Hermitage is an Orthodox hermitage located in Gurguiata, less than ten kilometers from Băile Olănești resort, in Vâlcea County. Located at a distance of about 25 kilometers from the town of Râmnicul Vâlcea, the hermitage is located in the middle of the forest, in a very secluded area. The last three kilometers cannot be traveled by car, pilgrims have to walk this distance.

The Bradu hermitage was built on the foundation of an older hermitage, called "The hermitage under Râpa Bradului", also dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, which already existed in 1737. The old hermitage, built of wood, was erected by the hermits of the place, before dated July 15, 1737, when it is mentioned by a document of the time.

After visiting the hermitage we went to the bus to continue our journey to Căciulată. We still have some interesting locations to travel.

On the way I found out from the teacher that Băile Olănești, the locality is also called the golden springs, a name due to the iodized mineral springs brominated, sodium, calcium, sulfurous and chlorinated, hypotonic or isotonic. We passed through Olănești, then through Valea Cheii in front of us, on the right side, the Sărăcinești Monastery is visible in the distance.

Unfortunately, our plan was not to visit this monastery, but someone wanted to stop by to visit it, but in a hurry that time was pressing on us all. I had a lot to see.

I didn't know much about the monastery, I just found out something interesting from the internet. What can I say in a few words about her, she is beautiful and the view was indescribable.

Here, at the confluence of the Olănești river with the Cheia river, in the middle of Valea Cheii village, which until 1964 was called Saracinești as the inscription has been, for almost 300 years, in the wind and storms, the Church of the former Sărăcinești Monastery.

Our guide told us that it was a convent of nuns until around 1860, after that it was a monastery of monks until 1873. From 1873 to 1913 the church was a branch of Cheia parish and the houses housed the primary school in that students came from the neighboring villages: Păusești, Olănești and Cheia.

And from 1913 to 1960 it was a nunnery, when it was abusively abolished. Currently, the church serves believers from Valea Cheii village and the houses have been transformed into a home for the elderly. The property of the monastery (church and precinct) was not returned even today despite the steps taken.

After visiting this beautiful monastery, we passed the Ocnele Mari Salt Mine, the conductor told us very little about this location. I did not go down, only in passing as the Răureni Chemical Platform. In passing, he told us about the two objects that were in our direction.

Our direction Govora Monastery which was planned a long time ago. Govora Monastery, the last location was Cozia Monastery, Căciulata which was the final destination. The nunnery, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Govora Monastery is located at the foot of Cosul Mare hill, within the commune of Mihaiești in Vâlcea county, 6 km from Băile Govora and 18 km from Râmnicul Vâlcea, on the former Hinta estate.

The fact by which Govora effectively contributed to the promotion of the Romanian nation's culture and for which it would forever be registered among the monasteries of culture in the country was the establishment of the printing house inside it. This was done at the command and expense of the wise voivode Matei Basarab and with the effort of the abbot Meletie the Macedonian, who had brought it from Kiev, given to him by Petru Movila.

Govora Monastery remains in the history of the nation as the host of the first printing in Romanian from Govora after Coresi's Transylvanian printing. The rooms where the old printing house operated still exist today.

At Govora, a place of prayer, meditation and culture, you meet at every step the history of the homeland. It's as if you see the shadow of the old voivodes, who stood guard defending the country's old borders and the right faith.

This establishment awaits its visitors in the specific atmosphere of peace and quiet.

After visiting the Govora Monastery, our next destination was the Cornetul Hermitage, former hermitage of monks, today the Cornetul Monastery dedicated to "The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist", was founded by the ruler Mareș Băjescu and his wife Maria, in 1666. The altar of was painted in 1741. In 1808 it was destroyed by fire, being rebuilt and painted in 1835. In 1898 the railway was built and the tunnel that passes under the gates in front of the church being necessary to demolish the cells. All that remains of the old buildings is a leaflet, the walls and the defense tower to the north and east of the church.

The dome and part of the altar were demolished in 1916-1918 and rebuilt between 1923-1925. The last restoration of this historical monument was made in 160 by the Directorate of Historical Monuments. The painting is worked in fresco, the altar being painted in 1761 by the painters Radu, Mihail and Iordache, and the nave and the narthex in 1835 by the abbot Irinarh.

After that we went to the Frasina Monastery, the Church of the Frasina Monastery, also called the Great Church, dedicated to the Assumption, with the whole building, in the shape of a fortress, is the foundation of St. Calinic of Cernica, the bishop of Râmnicu, who built -between 1860-1863, the year in which he consecrated it. Painting, made in Avachian oil. This church is a historical monument.

I leave it to you, my dear readers, to discover it for yourself through its inner and outer beauty by visiting it.

We went to Căciulata, it was already late. This was the final destination that day. We stayed at a hotel.

We rested a bit, had dinner together. After that we walked around the city. It was cool, cloudy weather outside. But it didn't rain. We started walking to Cozia Monastery, located 3 km from the spa resort Călimănești Căciulata on the right bank of the Olt and 20 km north of Râmnicul Vâlcea, the monastery complex from Cozia, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, at the beginning was known as the Nucet Monastery, only later receiving the name of Cozia, after the nearby mountain.

In the narthex are the tombs of the voivode Mircea and the nun Teofana, the mother of Mihai Viteazul, the nun after the death of her son, who died in 1605. The tombstone of the bedroom is a copy of the original and dates from 1938.

I was very impressed by the church painting. I later found out from a nun, the painting of the church was done in fresco, in 1390-1931. It was kept in the narthex. In the nave and altar the painting was also worked in fresco, in 1707, on the occasion of the repair works made in the monastic ensemble from the time of the diligent Șerban Contacuzino. It was rebuilt by Preda the painter and his sons, Ianache and Mihail. In 1984-1986 the entire mural was restored.

The entire monastic settlement is located in a quiet natural setting, surrounded by tempting natural beauties. Monarchs lead a very austere life, services are held at night, and food is without meat.

We walked through the Căciulata Central Park, for moments of relaxation in the vicinity of the Olt River cliff, we admired the surrounding landscape, we accessed the pier for boat rides, or we took a short walk on the Olt Promenade, the cliff that connects the park to spas.

After leaving the park we took the spa route that connects Călimănești to Căciulata, through a 2.3 km pedestrian alley, arranged through the forest, which can be covered in about 40 minutes. The alley starts from Călimănești, behind spring 7 and ends behind the Trăian Căciulata Hotel.

We quickly arrived at the hotel where we were staying, because it was already getting dark. Nothing could be seen. Only the silence of the evening and the chirping of the birds already preparing for bed. The teacher came and asked us who wanted to go to the evening service at Cozia Monastery. The distance between the hotel and the monastery was about 1 km, you could walk in 25 minutes.

We went with her some colleagues to the evening service, outside she was of wonderful beauty. There was a ringing of the bell, announcing that the service was beginning. It was cool outside, there was the smell of incense from afar.

The service was beautiful, the peace and quiet that the nuns transmitted vibrated your whole body and soul. He was charged with positive energy and optimism for the rest of his life.

The headmistress informed us that we would leave at around 8 in the morning. He told us to wake up around 7 in the morning and get ready to leave. The road would be long and tiring. I still had to visit a few monasteries in the region and there are many. We had to see them all. They were planned since leaving Brasov.

Continuing this journey I will tell you in the second part of the diary, and what happened during our trip.

                      To be continued! 

                                                         Written by Boguș Elena

Jurnal de călătorie partea întâi

De data aceasta nu o să-l mai numesc articol, ci jurnal al călătoriei mele. Această experiență pe care am avut-o în perioada cât am fost elevă la liceu nu o voi uita niciodată.  În jurnalul pe care îl scriu zilnic încerc să notez fiecare moment din viața mea, fiecare experiență plăcută și mai puțin plăcută.

M-am gândit că voi despărți acest jurnal al călătoriei mele în două părți: de fapt cele două zile pe care le-am avut în excursie.

România nu numai este o țară frumoasă din punct de vedere geografic, cultural sau istoric, este bogată și din punct de vedere  religios, cu culte religioase: mănăstiri și biserici construite după câderea comunismului.

Aici vreau să vă povestesc mai pe larg despre experiențele mele după ce am vizitat câteva mănăstiri din acea perioadă.  Această excursie pe care am făcut-o în vara anului 2001, pe data de 19 / 20 iunie cu colegii de clasă și Asociația Culturală Creștină Justian Teculă am luat-o pe drumul mănăstirilor. Două zile în natură și liniște. În acestă călătorie au fost mai mulți copii decât adulți, au fost diriginții de clasă.

Pornirea inițială era din Brașov. Trebuia să ne vedem la ora 9 dimineața la Gara auto de lângă Gara Feroviară.  Cu toții ne-am întâlnit la ora 8 dimineața la Gara feroviară din Sfântul Gheorghe, să ne vedem ca să cumpărăm bilete către Brașov.  Această călătorie ne-a bucurat să mai scăpăm de școală nițel. Să ne putem odihni. Să mai vedem și alte locuri frumoase.

Cu 2 zile înainte de-a pleca în această minunată călătorie, am fost anunțați de către dirigintă să ne pregătim emoțional, sufletește și cu banii și băgaj că vom avea 2 zile de neuitat.

 Prima zi : Sâmbătă dis-dimineață mi-am făcut bagajul pentru a pleca într-o călătorie de neuitat, mi-am luat strictul necesar, haine groase, banii pentru cheltuielile necesare, mâncare, apă și multe altele de care aveam nevoie. M-am bucurat enorm de mult. Mi-am anunțat părinți că voi pleca într-o călătorie frumoasă cu clasa și diriginta.

Mi-au permis să plec.  Mi-au spus să am grijă de mine. Eu m-am bucurat.  La ora 8 deja eram la Gara Feroviară cu bagaje cu tot și o stare emoțională de nedescris. Deja diriginta și câteva persoane erau la gară mă așteptau să vin ca să cumpărăm bilete de plecare la Brașov. Emoțiile și agitația erau la cote maxime.

Trenul către Brașov l-am avut la ora 8:15. Am avut timp să ne cumpărăm bilete și să ne mai cumpărăm câte ceva pentru a ne simți bine. Am auzit din depărtare trenul, emoțiile creșteau din ce în ce mai tare când trenul se apropia de peron.

Am așteptat să iasă pasagerii din tren și să urcăm noi. Am sperat că nici un eveniment nu se va  întâmpla în această călătorie, dar de unde că s-a întâmplat multe și am să vă povestesc ce anume. Au fost cele mai memorabile momente din viața mea. Am ajuns la Brașov aproape de ora 8:40.  Am coborât năvălă din tren și fuga să ieșim din CFR, că să ne ducem direct la  autobuzul care ne aștepta. Din  depărtare am văzut autobuzele și mulțimea din jurul lor. Ne așteptau pe noi.

Erau două autobuze cu copii și adulți care ne supravegheau pe parcursul călătoriei noastre. Mai târziu am aflat că această călătorie a noastră a fost organizată de Asociația Culturală Justian Tecula din Sfântul Gheorghe. Dar autobuzele erau din Brașov. Ne-am bucurat pentru această excursie de două zile. Ne-am ales locurile de lângă geam ca să admirăm frumusețea de afară.

Ghidul nostru ni s-a prezentat și ne-a explicat traseul nostru pe care l-am avut pe parcusul celor două zile în excursie.

Din păcate nu am reținut chiar toate numele lor pentru că am mers acolo pentru prima dată.

După ce am vizitat tot traseul plănuit de ghid și de profesoarele care erau cu noi, le-am notat în agenda mea ca să nu le uit. Acum am să vă povestesc cele mai importante mănăstiri care le-am vizitat în cele 2 zile. Mănăstirea Frasinei, Mănăstirea Cozia, Mănăstirea Turnu, Mănăstirea Curtea de Argeș, Mănăstirea Cornetu-Brezoi, Mănăstirea Govora, Mănăstirea Bistrița, Mănăstirea Horezu, Mănăstirea Dintr-un Lemn, Mănăstirea Surpatele, sunt doar câteva pe care le-am vizitat.

Vroiam să-mi notez impresiile mele despre locurile pe care le-am vizitat, ca să nu uit nici un detaliu. Am plecat din Brașov, în fața noastră se deschidea niște locuri foarte frumoase și vii, peisaje pe care nu le-am văzut niciodată până acum. Munții, pădurile întinse, șese, și în special sate și orășele mici. Am luat în direcția Râmnicul Vâlcea.

La ieșirea din orașul Câmpulung Muscel, pe partea dreaptă era Bughea de Jos și Mănăstirea Ciocanu. Ghidul nostru ne-a povestit despre frumusețea acestui loc desprins din povești. De aici, am privit spre răsărit, unde se înfățișa o panoramă deosebit de frumoasă: culmi muntoase, sub ele dealuri înalte, iar la poalele dealurilor un lanț de sate.

Înainte nu știam nimic despre această mănăstire, pentru că nu ne-a spus nimeni despre ea. Noroc că am avut un ghid care ne-a povestit câte ceva despre mănăstire.

Mănăstirile sunt înconjurate de liniște și oferă credincioșilor care ajung acolo în pelerinaj posibilitatea unei regăsiri spirituale și un minunat loc de rugăciune. Am să vă povestesc pe rând despre fiecare loc pe care l-am vizitat. Merită de vorbit despre ele dacă vreți să le vizitați. Aveți ce vedea.

Am mers în direcția Râmnicul Vâlcea, lăsând în partea stângă Curtea de Argeș pentru a doua zi. 

Prima mănăstire care am vizitat-o a fost Mănăstirea Hurezu, încă de la intrarea în mănăstire ne-a întâmpinat mirosul de tămâie și liniștea de acolo. Te puteai încărca cu energie pozitivă cât erai la mănăstire. Fiecare mănăstire pe care am vizitat-o, transmitea o energie aparte, liniște, pace și pozitivitate.

Ghidul ne-a povestit istoria acelui loc minunat.  Am ascultat cu mare atenție fiecare lucru care ne povestea ghidul nostru. Ce am reținut este că Mănăstirea Horezu( Hurezi) a fost ctitorită de Constantin Brâncoveanu în anul 1690-1697. Printre mănăstirile istorice Hurezi este considerată ca fiind cel mai reprezentativ complex de arhitectură definitoriu pentru „stilul brâncovenesc”. Biserica mănăstirii avea menirea să devină necropola familiei Brâncoveanului și neamului. Mai este și o legendă de unde se trage numele mănăstirii.  Legenda spune că de teama turcilor, meșterii lucrau numai noaptea când cântau huhurezii, de aici se trage și numele mănăstirii.

Mănăstirea Hurezei are două incinte. În cea dintâi, exterioară, delimitată de ziduri puternice de cărămide, se află prima poartă de incintă și o clădire cu etaj pe dreapta. A doua incintă are forma dreptunghiulară, închisă pe trei laturi cu clădiri, având parter și etaj. Latura de răsărit se încheie cu un zid înalt, ca la multe mănăstiri cu incintă.

Prin toate aceste mărturii istorice și frumuseții artistice, mănăstirea Huruzei este una dintre cele mai convingătoare opere ale creației spirituale multiseculare pe care marele istoric Nicolae Iorga a numit-o printr-o fericită fromulare în lucrarea „Bizanț după Bizanț”, continuatoare a civilizației romane, ale cărei moștenitori în Europa de Răsări sunt romanii.

Mai departe vă las pe voi să descoperiți singuri această frumusețe rară a Mănăstiri Horezu aveți ce vedea și să descoperiți.

Drumul era plin de râsete și jocuri. Nu ne-am plictisit deloc. A fost vesel pe parcusul drumului până la distinație. Drumul a fost ușor și intrigant fără nici un incident neplăcut.

La plecare de la mănăstire, pe partea dreaptă se vedea Cheile Oltețului și Peștera Polovragi, alcătuiesc o arie protejată de interes național, situată în Oltenia, pe teritoriul județului Gorj. Ghidul nostru ne-a spus multe lucruri interesante despre aceste locuri, dar din păcate nu am avut timp să le vizităm, pentru că am avut alte locații care ne așteptau să le vedem.

Următoarea  noastră este destinație, Mănăstirea Bistrița și Mănăstirea Arnota, ambele mînăstiri se află la distanță mică una de altă, imposibil să nu treci și să nu le vizitezi pe ambele.

Mănăstirea Bistrița, ctitorie a boierilor Craiovești (Barbu, Banul Craioviști și frații săi, Pârvu vornicul, Danciu armașul și Radu postelnicul), a fost zidită între anii 1492-1494. Ea se află în satul Bistrița aparținând de comuna Costești din județul Vâlcea, pe valea râului cu același nume.

După anul 1989,  viața monahală a capătat noi valențe. Din anul 1999, stăreția mănăstirii a luat sub conducerea ei și Mănăstirea Arnota prin transformarea acesteia din mănăstire de călugări în mănăstire de maici.

Mai bine vă las să o descoperiți singuri această minunăție lăsată decătre mai mari ctitori ai neamului nostru pentru noi.

O legendă spune despre Mănăstirea Arnota, că Matei Basarab, fiind urmărit de turci, se refugia pe un platou al muntelui unde se afla un lac montan cu mult stufăriș, datorat și faptului că locul se afla pe versantul de sud beneficiind de mult soare. În preajma lacului existau ruine ale unor biserici, iar Matei Basarab a hotărât că dacă va scăpa, va ctitori o mănăstire.

Fiecare mănăstire are o istorie frumoasă și interesantă, despre  care este mult de povestit și de relatat. Mai bine vă las pe voi să faceți o incursiune în istorie a acestor locuri minunate despre care vă povestesc. 

Impresiile sunt mari și frumoase greu de relatat, dar este minunat să le vizitezi.  După aceea am luat-o către Schitul Pătrunsa și Schitul Pahome și un alt schit Bradul Gurguiata-Vâlcea, care ne era în drum. Am zis păcat să nu trecem și să nu  vedem aceste schituri.

Schitul Pătrunsa a fost construit în 1740 de către Episcopul Climent al Râmnicului în amintirea faptul că aici a fost născut de mama sa Paraschiva Modoran din Pietrarii de Jos, fugară peste munte de frica unei invazii turcești, adapostindu-se la poalele muntelui Buila, în locul numit astăzi Pătrunsa. Schitul este distrus în urma căderii unei stânci, fiind refăcut în a doua jumătate a secolului al XVIII-lea, de postelnicul Dumitru, protopopul Pietraru și postelnicul Ion Bărbătescu, probabil urmași ai episcopului Climent.

Schitul se păstrează și astăzi în stare bună și este declarat monument istoric.

Următorul schit pe la care l-am vizitat este Schitul Pahomei care, este situat pe teritoriul localității Băile Olănești, din județul Vâlcea, această așezare monahală, trece pe un drum foriestier practicabil și accesibil și cu mijoace auto, până la Izvorul Frumos, care țîșnește de sub steiul de stâncă lung de aproape 50 de metri, pe care este clădită biserica schitul, având hramul „Sfântul Prooroc Ile Tesviteanul”.

Din pisania actuală a schitului rezultă ca întemietori sunt Pahomei monahul și Sava Haiducul în anul 1950, justificându-se numele de Schitul de la Izvor Frumos.

Biserica construită sub o mare stâncă (pe care se află chipul Domnului), având în apropiere o cascadă cu apă de munte, rece ca gheața, își așteaptă în liniște și rugăciune vizitatorii.

Iar despre Schitul Bradul am să vă povestesc pe scurt câteva informații care mi-au fost relatate de către ghidul. Nici nu știu ce să vă povestesc că sunt multe de povestit. Dar am să încerc să povestesc ceva interesant și util.

Schitul Bradu este un schit ortodox aflat în localitatea Gurguiata, la mai puțin de zece kilometri de stațiunea Băile Olănești, în județul Vâlcea. Aflat la o distanță de aproximativ 25 de kilometri de orașul Râmnicul Vâlcea, schitul este așezat în mijlocul pădurii, într-o zonă foarte retrasă. Ultimii trei kilometri nu pot fi parcurși cu mașina, pelerinii trebuind să meargă pe jos această distanță.

Schitul Bradu a fost construit pe temelia unui schit mai vechi, numit "Schitul de sub Râpa Bradului",închinat tot Sfântului Ioan Botezătorul, care exista deja în anul 1737. Schitul cel vechi, construit din lemn, a fost înălțat de pustnicii locului, înainte date de 15 iulie 1737, când este menționat de un document al vremii.

După ce am terminat de vizitat schitul ne-am dus către autocar ca să continuăm călătoria noastră până la Căciulată. Mai avem de parcurs câteva locații interesante.

Pe drum am aflat de la dirigintă că Băile Olănești, localitatea mai este supranumită și izvoarele de aur, nume datorat izvoarelor minerale iodurate bromurate, sodice, calcice, sufluroase și clorurate, hipotone sau izotone. Am trecut prin Olănești, apoi prin Valea Cheii în fața noastră în partea dreapta ni se arata în zare Mănăstirea Sărăcinești. 

 Din păcate planul nostru nu a fost să vizităm această mănăstire, dar cineva a dorit să trecem pe la ea să o vizităm, dar în grabă că timpul ne presa pe toți. Aveam multe de văzut.

Nu  prea am știut de mănăstire mai nimic, doar m-am informat de pe internet câte ceva interesant. Ce pot să zic în câteva cuvinte despre ea, este frumoasă și priveliștea era de nedescris.

Aici, la confluența râului Olănești cu râul Cheia, în mijlocul satului Valea Cheii care până în anul 1964 s-a numit Saracinești așa cum glăsuiește pisania, de aproape 300 de ani, în bătaia vânturilor și vijeliilor Biserica fostei Mănăstiri Sărăcinești.

Ghidul nostru ne-a zis că a fost o mănăstire de călăgurițe până în jurul anului 1860, după aceea a fost o mănăstire de călugări până în 1873. Din 1873 până în 1913 biserica a fost filială a parohiei Cheia iar casele au adăpostit școala primară la care veneau elevi din satele vecine: Păusești, Olănești și Cheia.

Iar din 1913 până în 1960 a fost mănăstire de călugărițe, când a fost desființată în mod abuziv. În prezent biserica deservește credincioși din satul Valea Cheii iar casele au fost transformate în cămin pentru bătrâni. Proprietatea mănăstirii ( biserică și incinta) nu a fost retrocedată nici astăzi în ciuda demersurilor făcute.

După ce am vizitat această frumoasă mănăstire, am trecut pe lângă  Salina Ocnele Mari, diriginta ne-a povestit foarte puțin despre această locație. Nu am coborât, doar în trecere ca și Platforma Chimică Răureni. În trecere ne-a povestit despre cele două obiecte care se aflau în direcția noastră.

Direcția noastră Mănăstire Govora care era plănuită demult. Mănăstirea Govora, ultima locație era Mănăstirea Cozia, Căciulata care era destinația finală. Mănăstirea de maici, cu Hramul Adormirea Maicii Domnului, Mănăstirea Govora este amplasată la poalele dealului Cosul Mare, pe raza comunei Mihaiești din județul Vâlcea la 6 km de Băile Govora și la 18 km de Râmnicul Vâlcea, pe fosta moșiei Hinta.

Faptul prin care Govora a contribuit efectiv la promovarea culturii neamului românesc și pentru care avea să se înscrie pentru totdeauna între mănăstirile de cultură din țară a fost întemeierea tipografiei în incinta ei. Aceasta s-a făcut cu porunca și cu cheltuiala înțeleptului voievoid Matei Basarab și cu osteneala egumenului Meletie Macedoneanul, care o adusese de la Kiev, dăruită fiind de Petru Movilă.

Mănăstirea Govora rămâne în istoria neamului ca fiind gazda primei tipărituri în limba română de la Govora după tipăriturile din Ardeal ale lui Coresi. Încăperile în care a funcționat vechea tipografie mai există și astăzi.

La Govora, loc de rugăciune, de meditație și de cultură, întâlnești la fiecare pas istoria patriei. Parcă vezi umbra vechilor voievoizi, care  au stat de strajă apărând bătrânele hotare ale țării și dreapta credință.

Acest așezământ își așteaptă vizitatorii în atmosfera specifică de liniște și pace.

După ce am vizitat Mănăstirea Govora, următoare noastră destinație era Schitul Cornetul, fost schit de călugări, azi Mănăstirea Cornetul cu hramul "Tăierea Capului Sfântului Ioan Botezător", a fost ctitorit de vornicul Mareș Băjescu și soția sa Maria, în anul 1666. Altarul a fost pictat în 1741. În anul 1808 a fost distrus de un incediu, fiind refăcut și zugrăvit în 1835. În anul 1898 s-a construit calea ferată și tunelul care trece pe sub porțile din fața bisericii fiind necesară demolarea chiliilor. Din vechile clădiri a rămas numai un foioșir, zidurile și turnul de apărare de la nord și est de biserică.

Cupola și o parte din altar au fost dărămate în 1916-1918 și refăcute între anii 1923-1925. Ultima restaurare a acestui monument istoric s-a făcut în anul 160 de către Direcția Monumentelor Istorice. Pictura este lucrată în fresca, altarul fiind pictat în 1761 de pictorii Radu, Mihail și Iordache, iar naosul și pronaosul în 1835 de starețul Irinarh.

După aceea ne-am îndreptat către Mănăstirea Frăsinei, Biserica Mănăstirii Frăsinei, zisă și Biserica Mare, având hramul Adormirea Maicii Domnului, cu întreg ansamblul de clădirii, în forma de cetate, este ctitoria Sfântului Calinic de la Cernica, episcopul Râmnicului, care a construit-o între 1860-1863, an în care o sfințește. Pictura, făcută în ulei de Avachian. Această biserică este monument istoric.

Vă las pe voi dragii mei cititori să o descoperiți singuri prin frumusețea ei interioară și exterioară vizitând-o.

Ne-am dus la Căciulata, deja se făcuse târziu. Aceasta era destinația finală pe ziua aceea. Ne-am cazat la un hotel.

Ne-am odihnit nițel, am luat cina împreună. După aceea ne-am plimbat prin oraș. Afară era o vreme răcoroasă și noroasă. Dar nu a plouat. Ne-am pornit pe jos la Mănăstirea Cozia, situat la 3 km de stațiunea balneo-climaterică Călimănești Căciulata pe malul drept al Oltului și la 20 km nord de Râmnicul Vâlcea, ansamblul mănăstiresc de la Cozia, cu hramul Sfânta Treime, la început a fost cunoscut de Mănăstirea Nucet, abia mai târziu primind numele de Cozia, după muntele din vecinătate.

În pronaos se găsesc mormintele voievodului Mircea și al monahei Teofana, mama lui Mihai Viteazul, călugărița după moartea fiului ei, decedată în 1605. Piatra funerară a dormitorului este o copie a celei originale și datează din 1938.

M-a impresionat pictura bisericii foarte mult. Am aflat mai târziu de la o măicuță, pictura bisericii a fost făcută în frească, în 1390-1931. Aceasta s-a păstrat în pronaos. În naos și altar pictura a fost lucrată tot în frească, în 1707, cu prilejul lucrărilor de reparații făcute în ansamblul monahal de pe vremea harnicului Șerban Contacuzino. A fost refăcută de Preda zugravul și de fii săi, Ianache și Mihail. În 1984-1986 a fost restaurat întreg ansamblul mural.

Întregul așezământ monahal se află într-un cadru natural liniștit, încojurat de frumuseți naturale ispititoare. Monarhii duc o viață foarte austeră, slujbele se țin noaptea, iar hrana este fără carne.

Ne-am plimbat prin Parcul Central Căciulata, pentru momentele de relaxare în vecinătatea falezei Râului Olt, am admirat piesajul din împrejurimi, am accesat debarcaderul pentru plimbări cu vaporașul, sau am întreprins o scurtă pe Promenada Oltului, faleza care leagă parcul de complexele balneare.

După ce am ieșit din parc am luat traseul de cură balneară ce unește Călimănești de Căciulata, printr-o alee pietonală de 2,3 km, amenajată prin pădure, care poate fi parcursă în aproximativ 40 de minute. Aleea pornește din Călimănești, din spatele izvorului 7 și se termină în spatele Hotelului Trăian Căciulata.

Am venit repede la hotelul unde am fost cazați, pentru că deja se înoptaseră de-a binelea. Nu se putea vedea nimic. Doar liniștea serii și ciripitul păsărilor ce pregătea deja de culcare.  A venit diriginta și ne-a întrebat cine vrea să meargă la slujba de seară la Mănăstirea Cozia. Distanța dintre hotel și mănăstirea era de un 1 km, puteai să parcurgi în 25 de minute. 

Ne-am dus cu ea câțiva colegi la slujba de seară, afară era de o frumusețe minunată. Se auzea bătăile clopotului, anunța că slujba se începe. Afară era răcoare, s-a simțit miros de tâmâie de la îndepărtare. 

Slujba era frumoasă, liniștea și pacea care o transmiteau măicuțele îți vibra tot corpul și sufletul. S-a încărcat cu o energie pozitivă și cu un optimism pentru restul vieții. 

Diriginta ne-a anunțat că v-om pleca mai departe pe la ora 8 dimineața. Ne-a anunțat să ne trezim pe la ora 7 dimineața și să ne pregătim de plecare. Drumul avea să fie lung și obositor. Mai aveam de vizitat câteva Mănăstiri din regiune și sunt multe la număr. Trebuia să le vedem pe toate. Erau planificate încă de la plecarea din Brașov.

Continuarea acestei călătorii vă voi povesti în a doua parte a jurnalui, și ce s-a întâmplat pe parcusul excursiei noastre.

                                 Va continua! Scrisă de Boguș Elena    

Continuing my journey

 I will continue to recount the continuation of my travels during my time as a high school student. I had an inter

esting time while I was in high school. I traveled with the teacher and my parents through beautiful and interesting areas.

In these interesting trips, we learned and got to know about our country, history, traditions and culture.

In the summer of 2000, my chemistry teacher announced to the whole class that we were going on a trip with our geography teacher. Who wants to go and let her know, who wants to go. Not everyone wanted to go on a trip, some in our class and some in his class. It seemed to me that this trip was opportune to get to know us better and spend time together.

The teacher informed us the day before that we were leaving, to have food with us, money, water and change of clothes, that we had plans to bathe in Lake Sfânta Ana.

Our first location was the volcanic mountains of Racoș and the second location was Lake Sfânta Ana. Romania is a beautiful country, with splendid areas and new discoveries. I realized that I had not discovered all of Romania. There is much more to see. It takes time and finances.

He told us to all be at the Railway Station at 8 in the morning, to buy tickets, and whoever is late only goes with us. My sister Alex went with us on this interesting and adventurous journey that would later happen to me and a colleague of mine.

The long-awaited day of June 3, 2000, was approaching. My sister and I were happy to go on this trip with my classmates and the geography teacher.

We woke up around 7 in the morning, ate breakfast, dressed in sports clothes, took some food and water with us, and train money and other expenses.

We hurried to my train station with my sister so we wouldn't be late. By the time we got there, several colleagues and the headmistress were waiting for us. A few of my colleagues and the geography teacher hadn't come yet. There was still time. I arrived early.

Meanwhile, the other colleagues and the geography teacher arrived. I bought train tickets to Sfântul Gheorghe-Brașov-Racoș. I changed 2 trains. I arrived in Racoș at 10:30.

 The CFR station from Racoș is right on the bank of the Olt. Before leaving the station on the road that passes through the village, we crossed the railway lines to admire the Olt River.

We return to the station and enter the village. I looked perpendicular to the road I came to, we can see, a few hundred meters up, tailings dumps from the quarries that were there. We headed for that area. We turn left about 200 meters, until the intersection from where we turn right, uphill, on a recently paved road.

We were thirsty for water, we took a colleague of mine and went to the store in the village. It was not far from where we were going to the Racoș Geological Complex. We couldn't announce that everyone was already in front of us. We are left behind.

We crossed the street and ran to the store to buy water. We started joking and laughing about them, what they would say when we were absent from our group.

I don't know how we got lost, we took the wrong path. We were a little scared. It had been 15 minutes since the offense. And we went back to the store we started from. We asked someone where the Complex is, he showed us the direction we came from.

From a distance I saw a few pillars and a yellow stripe mark appeared. We climbed these paved roads a few hundred meters until we reached the vicinity of the quarries that can be seen somewhere to our right. We left the asphalt and we deviate on the first road on the right that appears in the direction of the ascent.

In the distance I see the teacher, the geography teacher and our colleagues were waiting for us, they were very worried. When they saw us, their faces lit up, he took care of both of us. It kept my and my colleague's morale up.

We tried to explain the situation to him. We couldn't let her know. That they were far from us.

We continued on the asphalt directly to the volcanic crater. But I preferred the route I did because this area still hides many interesting parts. We also passed a disused building, on the wall of which we noticed from the marking and from the intersection that we turn left on the first road we noticed. We enter the former basalt quarry. I immediately noticed somewhere in the left some basalt columns left untouched.

Suddenly two of my colleagues disappeared from the conductor's sights. The headmistress called them by name. But they did not answer her call. Suddenly two voices were heard from above, when my two colleagues were there. They were upstairs. The teacher and the geography teacher were scared not to fall from above.

He shouted at them to come down. A few of my colleagues followed in their footsteps. The headmistress shouted at them to stop so that nothing would happen. My colleagues were just upstairs, downstairs. A few more mishaps followed during our trips.

The headmistress shouted at them not to climb so that something would not happen. After all our tricks we did, our teacher started to tell us something about the Racoș de Jos Geological Complex, it is a protected natural area.

The Racoș Geological Complex represents an important geological area with an area of ​​95.2 ha and is integrated in the Natura 2000 Site. Homoroadelor Hills since 2007. Today the protected area preserves the Quaternary volcanic manifestations visible in the three quarries.

Racoș Geological Complex includes the following tourist attractions: Nature Monument Basalt Columns from Racoș (MTTC Quarry); Emerald Lake (Brazi Quarry); Stins Volcano (Dealul Hegheș Basalt Slag Quarry). Their visit is made only on the marked road or a guide approved by the custodians of the area.

We traveled very little and after overcoming an isolated column, we reach the part that declared the Basalt Nature Reserve from Racoș.

Columns about 15 meters high, as if forming a natural organ. We bend under these columns to admire them closely.

We turn for the first time on the path indicated by the red arrow, descending between two small walls. The wall to our left, in the direction of the descent, has a beautiful brown color and looks like a high calcareous rock. Very little is left of the lake with crystal clear water. I was on the Brazi quarry site. The lake has an unnatural green color and was located in a huge crater. Steep walls, made of colored stones form the shores of the lake. We walked along the lake, admired the walls mirrored in the water, we reached his tail. Stones of interesting size and shape are scattered everywhere. Somewhere, I came across a porous stone.

After leisurely admiring the lake, I returned and followed the path given by the yellow arrow, approximately on the contour line. I immediately reached above the basalt columns and noticed the access road to them as well as the lone column. A little further on we left this road that leads to the final part of our route, to the volcanic crater and we moved away, in a gentle ascent, towards some telephone antennas and a reddish peak that was observed somewhere above. We reached the edge of the volcanic crater from where we admired, over a huge abyss, a reddish tower of wild beauty.

Somewhere to the right, huge walls complete a unique landscape; I was on the top edge of the crater of a volcanic that tens of thousands of years ago was probably nervous and throwing lava. I also photographed to the left, to the normal access road to the crater.

Everything is reddish. From here the slag was exploited for many years. We moved to the right in the direction of the ascent until here we found a place where you can go down to the crater, next to a wall made of black slag.

A detail of this wall is presented by interesting lava flows have petrified in the geological eras, which generally have the layers that we could admire. I reached the crater without difficulty. The landscape is reddish and if in many other arid places in the country, we tended to say that we have a selenarian landscape then here we will tell you that we have a Martian landscape.

At the base of huge slag walls I noticed areas of gravel. I noticed that in some places a beautiful carpet of green moss appears. Compared to the direction of descent to the base of the volcano, we turned to the right and found that we were actually on a step to reach a huge wall, and we were at its top.

We returned through the crater and climbed a visible path, on the rubble, to reach the normal access road in this perimeter. We then descended that road, impressed by the black walls of the volcanic crater. Large slopes, black rubble made of slag complete the landscape.

Here you can see the traces of human intervention but the charm of the huge walls is unique. Somewhere, huge cannons seemed to have detached from the edge of the crater and were sliding slowly down the valley. It is very difficult to break away from this place, but we make our way back, this time following the access road to the crater. Right at the entrance I found that this road is blocked by some huge stones, probably in order not to enter by car.

After leaving the area of the volcanic crater, we descended the slope of a hill. The green meadows stretch towards the valley.

We didn't need any guidance because we had our geography teacher who knows everything about this wonderful place. We still learned from our teacher that Racoș Volcano is the oldest volcano in the region and seems to be inactive.

On the way back we took the same route we came. We arrived at CFR Racoș Train Station, we left for another beautiful destination, Sfânta Ana Lake. I took the train to Brașov, then to Tg Secuiesc. We got off at the station in Bixad village from there we walked through the forest and through Bixad village. It was 1:00 p.m. No cloud in the sky. It was beautiful and warm. Good for bathing in cold, crystal clear water.

Lake Sfânta Ana is considered a place of adventures, but also of tourist relaxation, they come from all over the country here for nature, but also for bathing in crystal clear and cold water.

It's a great place in Romania that you have to visit, whether you do it on foot or in the comfort of your personal car.

We got off the train at the station in the village of Bixad, passed through the village and then walked to the lake. The route we took lasted about 2 hours, is of medium difficulty, and we went through the village and the forest, and the views are beautiful.

Wherever I went there were long-beaten paths. I followed the course of the paths. The view was indescribable, beautiful full of mystery. You could easily get lost if you didn't follow the path you came. You had to hold on to him. Suddenly two colleagues went into the woods because they needed to, they got lost.

I waited for them to come out, I shouted at them but they did not answer. Then, so as not to waste time, we followed them. I shouted and followed them. In the end I went out into a clearing and tracked them down. They were scared, waiting for us to come and save them. From there we went in the direction of St. Anne's Lake. It wasn't far from where we were. As we descended the valley we saw in front of me the chapel of St. Anne. But unfortunately you couldn't go inside because it was closed, but you could see what was inside.

We went down to the valley and reached the lake. We sat down to rest and decide what to do. We made the decision to eat and then bathe.

Our geography teacher told us about Lake St. Anne as we ate lunch. It was 15:00. Then we changed our clothes and splashed in the water. The water was cold and crystal clear, I could see my feet in the water.

Only the sun warmed you quickly when I went outside. While we sat on the blanket we spread out to warm ourselves in the sun. Our teacher told us more about Lake St. Anne. He told us many interesting things that we had never heard before.

I want to share with you what our teacher told us. There are interesting stories about the lake. I didn't know about that either. I was speechless at their story.

That's why I thought I'd share with you what I heard from our geography teacher. I did not know that Lake Sfânta Ana is located in one of the extinct volcanic craters in the Ciomatu massif, in the Mohoș nature reserve. Instead of the other volcanic crater is Tinovul Mohoș.

The teacher told us about the legends of the place and how the name of this place appeared. Then he went on to tell us about the lake in general.

The most interesting story is that there are some legends about Lake St. Anne. And one of these legends says: That long ago there were two young men who had to get married, the girl named Ana, who was to become a wife, did not want this because her parents forced her to marry only to seize the young man's fortune. , which was quite rough in the groom's. On the evening of the wedding, the bride ran and threw herself into this lake, her lifeless body not being found even today. That's why the lake is named after that girl.

Another legend says: Once upon a time, two tyrants who were brothers lived in those places. One ruled a fortress on the nearby Puciosul peak, the other, a fortress located on the site of the current lake. the lord of the fortress on Pucios had a wonderful chariot, won by the dice, which aroused the envy of his brother, who said that the next day he would come to visit with an even bigger chariot.

To win the rest, the tyrant has eight of the most beautiful girls in the vicinity harnessed to his chariot. The carriage being very heavy, they could not urn it, which unleashed the wrath of the master, who began to whip them. One of the girls, named Ana, cursed her vile master. The curse of the girl was fulfilled immediately, a terrible storm started, with lightning and thunder, earthquakes formed a blue and quiet lake, named after the one who threw the curse, Lake St. Anne.

The bed of Sfânta Ana Lake compared to the regular conical shapes of volcanic lakes, formed on a fast loading stage is characterized by a relatively small inclination over large areas. At the same time, as a consequence of the rapid formation of the lake, the average and maximum water depth was reduced, respectively the surface and the perimeter of the lake.

Lake Sfânta Ana is located at an attitude of 946 m. ​​Almost circular in shape, similar to a painter's palette, it has a length of 620 m and a maximum width of 460 m, an area of ​​19.50 ha and a maximum depth of 7 meters. The lake completes its waters only with precipitation, having no springs. The purity of the water is close to that of distilled water, with only 0.0029 ml of minerals, having no springs. The reduced trophic capacity of the lake water is also due to the mofelic emanations through the bottom of the lake and through the crater walls.

Lake Sfânta Ana is a complex natural, geological, floristic and faunal reservation, being connected to Băile Tușnad by tourist trails.

The day passed quickly, it was already 19:00, on the way back I used the race bus to Tg Secuiesc, from there I took the train to Sfântul Gheorghe.

It was a beautiful and tiring day but we were charged with positive energy and a lot of knowledge about the places we were. It was the most beautiful memory I had but also friends for life.

        I will continue.

                                 Written by Elena Bogus