Time’s up. Well, not quite. Like a couple of kids we’re out playing. Having lots of fun. It’s past dusk. We’re making the most of it. Yet dreading that call. “Time to come in”.
Romania – what a surprise. We love everything about it. One week of passing through definitely not enough. Think we’ll do an Arnie.
Only one more planned two-nighter on the agenda – Budapest. So we stay on the alert. On the lookout for anything that remotely grabs our attention. Time to start milking it. Go deaf. Ignore that call.
Our approach into Fagaras obliges. St John the Baptist Cathedral proudly pouts. Its golden domes of dominion reflect over all who pass by. We bounce Beastie unceremoniously up a steep gutter. Find him an unlikely dozing space between a couple of kerbside trees. Leave him to his own devices. We go and gander.
We get a double helping. Its fabulous Fagaras fortress. Its defending days long gone. Now houses the County Museum. One section dedicated to the resistance fighters. WWII we presume. But no. The resistance struggle against the communist regime. Personal stories and tragedies shared. Unfortunately non in English. Romanian people refer to these times as the ‘sad days’.
We’re warmly welcomed onto Camping Poarta Oilor, Gârbova Village by Fritz. One half of a Dutch Christian couple. A number of years ago they retired. Sold their old people’s home in Holland. Wondered what do do with their money. Decided to help their now out of a job Romanian au-pair. She wanted to go back to Gârbova, a very depressed village. There was no work. Fritz and his wife had a house built for her. A B&B guest house!
The Word quickly got around the village. Many came looking for work. So Fritz expanded the original property. Put more and more into employ. Put his money where his heart is. Re-ignited the Gospel in the locals’ hearts. Reinvigorated the dying village community. Gave them a new reason ‘to be’.
The mainstay of their current operation is based around facilitating World Youth summer camps. Around 800 arrive each summer.
Fritz proudly tells me that a barn he bought that was once owned by communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu, is used as their Christian outreach during inclement weather.
