Y'all Come On In The Door's Open: The Black Sea Only It's Blue

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

The Black Sea Only It's Blue

Our concluding destination while in Eastern Europe was the Black Sea, only it was blue. Stone and I were up early this morning, on our way to the port town of Constana, Romania. As we drove, we passed many fascinating things. Gypsies for instance, selling live chickens along the road. I don't think I had every seen that before. There were so many sunflower fields that I lost count. Actually this was all over Eastern Europe, yellow as far as the eye could see. This was absolutely breathtaking. There were pastures of sheep and goats, with their shepherd standing watch while the animals grazed. In East Tennessee there are many roadside stands selling boiled peanuts. All over Romania there are roadside stands selling honey. I would purchase the honey over boiled peanuts any day. I bought a jar of rose honey, and I can't wait to try it with some buttermilk biscuits. There where so many storks, much more on this drive to Constana than what we've seen. I was told it was because of the rivers and lakes are close by, and they feed on fish and frogs. Interesting fact, the storks usually build their nest on top of electrical poles or on chimneys. They leave for Africa in the winter and return to the same nest in the spring. We were told that Romanians would build a new chimney before they would tear down a nest. We passed over the first bridge, Constantine's Bridge, that crossed the Danube. It was built and open July 5, 328, and remained in use for no more than four decades. We passed windmills used for producing electricity. Fields of grapes for producing French Wines. Yes, you read that correct, since the early 1900's they have been producing grapes for French Wines.
Arriving in Constana, we go immediately to wander around the Old City, where it was heavily bombed during the war. First stop was at the Ovidiu Plaze to tour a stunning building, the Archaeology Museum where it houses rare art, sculptures, and jewelry. It even had a grave, with real remains that shows their burial traditions. Finally making our way to the beach area of the Black Sea we grabbed a bite to inhale, then a quick walk along the shore. The beach was packed, this being high season. People from the city come here in the summer as soon as school is out and stay until school starts back up.
The time has come to begin our journey home, our trip coming to an end. It's been good. We visited five countries. Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania, but as someone one once told me, "all good things come to an end." And besides we miss Lucy.