Home > Cristesti > travel reports > spring 2001
This morning we went with our Dutch group to visit the nearby city Tirgu Mures. The weather was perfectly. A cloudless sky with full sun and a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius.
Jan drove to the city. It was a pleasure to see the increasing quality of
the road. Every year the streets become better and better. Even the
cubs in Tirgu Mures seems to drive more easily. We were surprised to see
that partly the road is asphalted, whereas workers are being busy on other
parts.
We were glad Kees knew a parking place for free, near the center of the
city. On parking we noticed a fine on the wind shield of a previous
car. Last time we were here, it was not a parking zone. Obviously now it is.
After consultation we decided to keep the car here; nobody knew a better
place.
First we went to a bank for getting ourself the required Romanian lei from
an ATM. Then we continued to the historical center of the town. We saw
fantastic buildings, as the culture palace with its beautiful concert hall
and unique pipe organ. Officially the concert hall was closed, but for us
being foreigners, an exception was made easily.
We also visited the orthodox church, arriving in the middle of a service.
Behind some closed gates we heard the singing and prayers of priests,
while the people viewed and listened from a distance. After some time a
priest, clothed in a blue habit and with a smoking pot, entered. Probably to
bless us. In our group, only Aart was blessed, as he stood in front of us.
Then we visited the castle surrounded with a characteristic wall. Inside
a reformed church is situated. Unfortunately it was closed. In between
it was time for a cup of coffee, after which we bought ourselves some
presents and did some shopping.
Unfortunately...
When returning at our car we saw we also received a fine. After asking
around, we figured out it was not a fine from the police. Since some time,
the parking facilities is being maintained by a public company. After
visiting the office of this company, Kees seemed to have impressed the
female secretaries, as they .. him the fine.
In the afternoon we gathered ourselves at the vicarage. Here we were
divided into four groups. Every group, accompanied with a translator, went
to visit ill congregation members.
When now showing the poignant sorrow with your own eyes, one is not able to
imagine it. Due to the poor social services in the country. life for these
illnesses is extremely heavy. We read some verses from the Bible with them
and prayed together. Also the greetings from Ede were conveyed. We noticed
how our our visits were appreciated.
After returning at the vicar's house, we ended the afternoon together and
went back to our host families.
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