Back home, after my journey of self discovery, I took a hot lavender-scented bath. It was so good! I could not wash myself in the hostel in Cluj. The bathrooms there was to… shared for my taste. Then I took my time to process the impressions.
About Cluj
On the first day I felt hostility from people. Either they heard my southern accent, or they saw the Bucharest ID, their face immediately changed and I felt a wall falling between the person in question and me. At first I felt offended, irritated, even discriminated against. But it was a good lesson for me. I understood that if I respond with hostility too, or irritation, or “let me show them who I am”, I will continue to receive the same treatment and no one will gain from it.
So I continued to be…me. I smiled, made a little joke, honestly praised the local products (that chocolate is worth millions), and the saleswoman from the small shop where I bought several times, after the first time she snorted irritatedly at me, the second time she wished me “a good day”, and the same happened with all the people from Cluj with whom I interacted the next day. Hats off to Cluj for the order, cleanliness and respect for the rules applied there. The only illegally parked car I came across had a Bucharest number plate.
About Alba Iulia
Do you know how you feel in grandma’s house? Where everything envelops you with warmth, you feel pampered and protected, and where would you never want to go? This is what I felt about Alba Iulia. Before I left, I found a hill with a small wooden church on top, from where half the city could be seen, and “grandmother” Alba Iulia gave me apples for the road, warmed me in the sun and pampered me with chirping birds. I wouldn’t want to go away never. And The Citadel is unique.
About Sighisoara
I only stayed for a few hours, I could not form a clear opinion. It seemed to me that the exploitation of the Citadel was a good business. Clean, well organized, picturesque.
That’s how I felt about each city.
