And I think that "beginning" is the right word for the process that the country is undergoing. You can see the land being worked again and new constructions rising everywhere around you, and people are smiling again.
...But let's go chronologically about it.
We entered the country after a relatively short ferry trip on the Danube, from Vidin to Calafat. And I must confess that it was quite some trip.
First of all, there's no set schedule for the ferry to be found anywhere; and, tipically in this part of the world, the only answer you get when reaching the border is: "the ferry leaves when full". So, trust me, that can be frustrating.
I had spent almost an hour days before that trip, trying to find a ferry schedule on the internet. No such thing. From that point of view I think the Vidin-Calafat ferry traffic gets a thumb down. It's just messy. Then comes the fee. Supposedly it's 3 euros (we crossed as passangers, with no cars), but if you get lucky it's less; and, more often than not, you don't even get a receipt in exchange for the money. It's like a "deal" between you and the ferry people. And don't get me wrong, this isn't just a bulgarian or just a romanian thing; on the ferry we came with, the crew was from both countries.
But anyways, enough about that... Calafat was a nice view compared to what I had expected. Of course, it's like any decent village on the Danube, but it really surprised me in a nice way the fact that the houses looked well maintained and the fields had been worked. People had gotten back to work and the place seemed to have thrived as a result. And this was something that we saw along our way to my home town in Caras Severin.
I must confess that it brushed away my nervousness regarding what I was gonna find when returning to the country I had left almost four years before.
The trip to Orsova, along the Danube, was just as I remembered ... filled with amazing views. I simply loved that part of our journey. I just wish that one day we'll take some time and go on a cruise along the Danube; I'm sure that the inspiring views will be worth it.
The night set just as we were passing by Orsova and therefore any other place we passed after that did not leave much of an impression; which does not mean that they lacked the appeal, on the contrary.
I felt sorry we did not get to see Herculane during the day. I can't say much about it's present state (as we didn't have the chance to go there on this trip), but there are so many things that really must be seen and experienced there.
Herculane, a place that I hope to revisit on my next trip to Romania, is a thermal water resort and it has existed ever since the Roman times. Which can give you a hint of the atmosphere of the place. (Look it up, if curious. :) )
And this brings me to Resita, my hometown. Oooups, I forgot to mention Caransebes, which is the last city we passed through on the european road before turning on the national road that took us to Resita.
Resita is your average (former industrial) town, striving to make an impression on the first time visitors.
The town is somewhat aware that they mainly transit the streets in order to get to the attractions on the hills and mountain surrounding it: Secu Lake, Crivaia, Garana, Trei Ape, Semenic ... most of which having become vacation villages for people from the region, the rest of the country and even from western Europe.
So the town of Resita is not usually the biggest attraction. But in our case it was. I wanted to rediscover it, to see it with fresh eyes, to see why I had kept it with me as a treasured memory for all these years.
To me it's still special.
Nowadays it has changed as well, maybe to keep in sync with the rest of the country... people seem happier and more content with themselves; new buildings have emerged (hotels, banks and residential and industrial buildings) and old ones have put on new facades and have undergone interior reconstruction(the swimming pool complex in Govandari).
The place has changed a lot, but still has managed to keep the same 'small town' feeling; which I personally enjoy and hope that it won't go away.
As for the surrounding travel destinations, Garana just outstages everything else for me. It's just this small and peaceful village that puts you in a special place where you forget your worries and find your inner peace. It's were my soul's "home" is and it's the place that I would recommend to anyone looking for relaxation and stress relief.
It's not a place where you find luxury, although the inns and restaurants of the village will give you their best, but you shouldn't come here if material things are your only concern.
P.S. I will add some trip photos to my website's photo gallery soon. Check them out.
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