The Medieval Town of Sighisoara

We hit the road again about 3:00 p.m. for our trip to Sighisoara, a world heritage UNESCO site. There were no pictures or descriptions of the fortified medieval town or citadel which came close to describing what we experienced as we approached and then entered the town through a gate which landed us right into Citadel Square. There was so much to take in. Everything was covered in snow and was glistening. It looked and felt like it was time for the Christmas market not the coming of spring.

Entering Citadel Square from Tailor's Tower.

Around the corner from the square was the Burg Hostel where we would spend the night. It was charming. We had a chance to unload the bus and put on warm clothes and then Sebi led us on a great tour of the town. We took it all in, knowing that on Saturday morning, we would start the day with a Treasure Hunt throughout town.

We moved into our rooms and then headed out for a tour of Sighisoara.

Standing right in the middle of Citadel Square, we took in the Clock Tower, ready to chime the hour. The Clock Tower (one of 9 towers) has guarded the main entrance of the citadel for centuries. The 14th-century structure is 64 meters tall and built to withstand any attack. Right above us was the antlered head of stag (probably where they got the name Stag House) sticking out of the side of a building. The renovated building shows the mural of a stag's body. We walked up a small hill until we got to a tunnel. It turns out that we were looking at Scholars' Stair. Sebi told us we'd experience that walk first-hand tomorrow. He had them try to envision what the daily walk was like for a student who lived outside the citadel, in the lower town. It was quite a walk, to say the least.

The Clock Tower in the background.

Stag House

Scholars' Stair. We'll see tomorrow just what kind of walk it is.

Making Connections

What a shock it was to wake up on Friday morning in Bran. There were many inches of fresh snow blanketing the area. The whole town of Bran slept late, as snow plows emerged about 8:00. We were scheduled to leave at 8:00, but the breakfast team had not yet arrived (despite having left their homes at 6:00 to get to work). The only problem with extra minutes of sleeping in the rooms was that our arrival in Medias would be delayed.

Bran Castle under a blanket of fresh snow.

Bran slowly waking up after 6 fresh inches of snow fell overnight.

In the breakfast room, the skeleton crew staff was playing Christmas music. Everyone got a little chuckle out of that. They had more snow since spring began than they did at Christmas time. We could all appreciate the humor in it.  It was a winter wonderland, as long as you don’t have plans to drive anywhere.

By the time we finished breakfast, the roads were passable and we headed to Medias. On the way, we learned a little about the Romanian gypsies. They work primarily in copper. They have their own “laws” that are enforced by the “chief” of the gypsies (except if a civil law is broken). They are in the habit of showing their wealth by building enormous houses out of brick. Here’s the catch, until the house is “finished”, meaning the walls are plastered, they don’t pay taxes on their home. So, there are rows of huge houses, unfinished, just so that they can display their wealth. They actually live in a small “shack” either at the back of their property or in another area. It’s all for show. It appeared to be a waste of beautiful homes.

We arrived in Medias at noon. We were to spend the afternoon with students from the school which Luciana attended. We received a warm welcome and were treated like celebrities. As the girls heard again, they were the first Americans that the students had met. They had been talking about our arrival all week. The students had several small presentations for the ASH girls, but one of the highlights was folk dancing, in which everyone had to participate.  Madame’s mom came to join us at school. One of her former teachers also came to meet us. There was a celebratory feel to the school.

Madame showed everyone the classroom in which she studied. And she was able to see rooms like the chemistry lab had been renovated.

Madame chatting with HER English teacher when she was a student at Liceul Axente Sever.

The ASH students with the Head of School

The introduction to Folk Dancing!  All Hands on Deck!

An excercise in role-playing in English and in Romanian

We had a pizza lunch and everyone continued to make small talk. As the afternoon wore it, it became time for us to leave. We would be getting a historic tour of Medias. We invited everyone, students, and teachers, to join us. Despite the weather (big, wet snowflakes continued to fall out of the sky), we found that most of the students and several of the teachers joined us for the walk. The walk ended in a little café, where everyone could warm up.

The main square in downtown Medias

The ASH students and some of their student and faculty hosts from the high school

The conversations continued over cups of hot chocolate and lattes.

Madame Jeler and her hairdresser at "home". We invaded his boutique.

It was difficult to leave Medias - our new friends and Madame’s family -  but it was time to head to Sighisoara for our stay within the walls of the medieval city.