Summer vacation is probably the happiest period in a student’s life. How amazing can it get when you are travelling together with forty people from all around Europe, discovering Transylvania (Romania)?
Cluj-Napoca was where our journey began. This beautiful, ancient, and vibrant city made us fall in love with it from the very first sight. On our first day we had several workshops, such as an AEGEE Course, a European Parliament Elections workshop, and an Intercultural Communication Session (the Romanian language is fun!). It was a good way to get to know each other and the differences between us and our countries.
We discovered the city of Cluj-Napoca under the moonlight. We did a pub crawl and went to the most surprising bars and clubs in town. We rediscovered it at daylight with a treasure hunt (where we also found out how hot it can be in Romania!). We visited the breathtaking Turda Salt Mines and were very impressed by the huge theme park there. There was even a Ferris wheel inside the mine! Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice walk,accompanied by a calm river, in the mountains of Turda’s Gorges.
In the next days we had a packed programme. We literally did not stop! We visited Targu Mures, Reghin, a tomato eco-farm, a furniture factory and outlet, and then we left to Danes. Oh Danes, Danes! A small village in the middle of the countryside in Transylvania. Full of surprises… starting with getting lost on the way there in the middle of nowhere and without having running water the first night! Nevertheless, this situation did not affect our mood at all! We laughed and kept carrying on, enjoying our pyjama party and the Initiation Rite.
Three very intense days were still ahead of us. A village workout, visiting a farm zoo, horse riding, a water fight (“NOT ON THE STAAAAAIRS!!!” by our beloved Main Organizer, Ioana), brain-teaser games, travelling by trailer full of hay, meeting Romanian shepherds, milking their sheep and cows, and enjoying dinner with them!
Wait…for…it, because there is still much more…! Visiting an eco-vegetable garden, where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast with home-made jam and cakes. One day in Sighisoara was more than enough to be amazed by such a beautiful medieval style town. The next day,we were trekking uphill through a wonderful forest and (after getting lost again!) we reached the ruins of the Saschiz castle! Afterwards, we were the audience of a dance performance: typical Romanian dances, with our stomachs full of yummy-yummy Romanian dishes! To top it off, the European Night was the best way to get to know typical food and drinks from various countries. There was cultural exchange, dances, songs, laughter, craziness and a lot of fun!
The next stop was Brasov: the pearl of Transylvania, and all of its castles! We went to Rupea Cetatea and admired the most beautiful view of Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains! Then, Peles Castle and Bran Castle – Dracula´s home! – and Rasnov. To end up on the very top of Romania, Transfagarasan in the astonishing Carpathian mountains. Last but not least, we went to Sibiu and made a quick visit of the city of Alba Julia and its citadel!
We spent two weeks of enjoying, discovering and falling in love with the beautiful Transylvania, which was much better than I ever expected. On the last night we all knew this fantastic time was going to end. Lots of laughter, tears, hugs and goodbyes to all the good friends we just made.
A huge thank you to all of our organizers for being energetic, inspiring, cheerful, friendly, to show us their beautiful country, and, to sum up, for this unforgettable TSU!
Written by Alba Laguna, AEGEE-Oviedo