Taking a train journey through snow, between Bucharest and medieval Sighisoara, in Romania, was an exciting and magical experience. Fresh snow blanketed the fields and the hills, while the trees were frozen in winter as the train approached the Carpathian Mountains.
Snow is each new day’s promise for a new beginning. Everything is fresh, unspoiled, and the possibilities are endless. What shall it be today? Footprints? A snowball fight? A snowman? An icy fort?
I bet the coniferous trees wait patiently all year round, till it’s winter time again. Then only do they begin to loose their patience. ‘Is she here yet, the snow?’
The first promise of a colorful town awaiting at our destination:
It snowed some more by the time we took the train journey back.
Winter hangs in the air.
Like an artist after laying the first layer of paint, then stepping back to take in his creation, winter took a breather before going back to work.
Sometimes, when you look in the distance snow seems to protect her own secrets…
…secrets she is ready to share with you. Dare you step off the train and listen to her?
Go ahead, go and listen. It’s not like you’re in Siberia. This isn’t Doctor Zhivago either, it’s just the Romanian plains where winter has only just began.
And pretty soon the sun smiles at us, on our train journey through snow and through Romania.
I was happy to count two trees atop this hill. I like to think they keep each other company. Do trees wish one another Merry Christmas? Perhaps they do.
An unusual, yet still typical sight for rural Romania, a cart pulled by a horse.
A beautiful sight for fans of all things train-related, an old steam engine, a narrow-railed one.
All train stations we’ve been through in Romania have this train map that shows you exactly where to wait on the platform, depending on your wagon number. Believe me, it is extremely useful if you board a train before dawn or if you travel with children.
A sight for the brave ones:
Until next time 🙂
Who knows, we might even travel to Sighisoara together…
It falls, slides with joy
A dream? Longed for, urged, wished, hoped!
Winter’s first present.
From my Christmas Haiku book.
What a beautiful train journey. It does remind me of Dr Zhivago – one of my all time favourite movies.
It was a beautiful journey, Brigid. Just enough snow to turn it into a winter wonderland without causing any delays – by train it can take anything between 6 and 9hrs and that’s being on a schedule.