![Heading east from Maramures -lush green fields](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0350-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Borga Pass Road](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0347-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Entrance gate to Moldovita](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0354-Medium-195x130.jpg)
The long and winding road from Moldova through Transylvania to Walachia (north to south)
![Easter decorated egg competition between many of the villages](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0357-Medium-e1472818878115-87x130.jpg)
From our rural retreat in Maramures we headed east to Moldova crossing the Carpathians by the Borgo pass road enroute to Bucovina. Egg painting is a competition among the villages at Easter time.
![Roadside Mici BBq](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0431-Medium-195x130.jpg)
Lunch today was Mici, a rectangular meat pattie cooked on a BBQ and served with mustard sauce.
![Entrance gate at Monastery at Moldovita - beautiful rose gardens](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0364-Medium-1-e1472818823762-87x130.jpg)
![Monastery at Moldovita](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0362-Medium-e1472818847450-87x130.jpg)
![Frescoes on southern wall Moldovita monastery](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0366-Medium-195x130.jpg)
Visited two painted monasteries (orthodox). The first was for the local community (Moldovita) and used as a refuge in times of siege. Note the wall and the strong wooden gate.
![Monastery at Sucevita for the priests](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0384-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Frescoes showing the challenges priests faced in trying to get to heaven](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0376-Medium-195x130.jpg)
The second was for the clergy (Sucevita). The outside walls of the church was decorated, one illustrating the difficult path in getting into heaven. Inside, the frescoes showed various methods of torture and head lopping. Again a walled garden and plenty of room for the local community to shelter in times of siege.
![One sad and lonely bear at the game park for big animals found in Romania](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0395-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![One sad and lonely bear at the game park for big animals found in Romania](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0394-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Bison](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0403-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![One of several varieties of deer](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0406-Medium-195x130.jpg)
Next highlight of the road was the animal reservation with animals native to the area. One sad and lonely bear, a small herd of buffalo and several different species of deer.
![Bicaz Gorge](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0428-Medium-e1472818775330-87x130.jpg)
![Bicaz Gorge 2](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0430-Medium-e1472818754696-87x130.jpg)
![Green walnut jam](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC08441-Medium-173x130.jpg)
We drove through the Bicaz gorge (river running down the side). Sampled some green nut jam. Walnuts cooked in a syrup halfway between golden syrup and malt extract. An acquired taste.
![Lake Rosu](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0420-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Lake Rosu](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0421-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![More pretty villages along the way](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0422-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Horse and cart - effective mode of transport in rural areas](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0423-Medium-1-195x130.jpg)
Our route took us past Lake Rosu, really a dam and then onto Brasov.
![Black Lutheran church on Brasov](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0452-Medium-e1472818718413-87x130.jpg)
![Johannes Honter introduced Lutherism to Brasov - pointing at this school](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0455-Medium-e1472818699984-87x130.jpg)
![Johannes Honter school in Brasov](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0453-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Brasov city square](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0451-Medium-1-195x130.jpg)
Brasov is also fortified. City square with Lutheran church – aka Black Church due to a fire. Johannes Honterus was
responsible for setting up the Lutheran church and the building of the first school (directly across from the church). The original school was wooden but suffered the same fate as the church and was rebuilt in stone.
![Late night shopping and family time in Brasov](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0463-Medium-195x130.jpg)
It has been particularly pleasant having an evening stroll through the many pedestrian malls in our travels.
![Fortification on the hill outside Brasov](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0483-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Archery target practice at fortification on the hill outside Brasov](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0485-Medium-1-195x130.jpg)
![Spectacular view from fortification on the hill outside Brasov](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0487-Medium-195x130.jpg)
Fort on the hill outside Brasov. Spectacular view of the surrounding country.
![Bran castle - summer resience of Queen Mary of Bulgaria](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0475-Medium-e1472818673680-87x130.jpg)
![The scales of justice - not very just](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0530-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Scales of justice - basically you needed to way less than whatever you were weighed against to prove you were not a bad person](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0531-Medium-e1472820655914-87x130.jpg)
Bran castle – summer residence of Queen Mary of Romania. No vampires in site. Apparently Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was have seen it on his way through. The most interesting artifact was the scales of justice. Based on a person’s size and height, if they weighed less than expected they were considered apprentices of Satan and torture would commence. Hopefully you can read the information in the photo.
![Peles castle at Sinaia](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0537-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Peles castle at Sinaia with extensive gardens](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0538-Medium-e1472818631498-87x130.jpg)
![Frescoes inside courtyard at Peles castle](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0542-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Wax seal on castle door - security business card?](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0541-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![More of the Peles gardens](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0545-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Pelisor Castle built for a king's relative](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0548-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Pelisor castle- very Tudor like in style](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0547-Medium-195x130.jpg)
![Pelisor Castle 2](https://ardf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0549-Medium-e1472818585333-87x130.jpg)
The most elaborate building in Transylvania is Peles Castle. Unfortunately only outside views, but obviously prime real estate.
Hi Jenelle and Ewen,
Great photos; the scenery in these Eastern European countries is fantastic. Enjoy but make sure you bring the foxhunt trophies home!!
John and Sue