I boarded the train at Cluj station bound for Oradea, where it left on time at 8:03 am. It was a very slow journey, stopping many times. As 9:45 am approached I decided to make my way to the front of the carriage so I wouldn't miss my stop, (as Romanian trains don't seem to stop for very long!) The train did actually stop at Bucea, but I decided to stay on board and wait for Piatra Craiului station to appear. After a further ten minutes I began to think I'd missed my stop, when the ticket guard appeared who first informed me I hadn't only to change her mind later to say I had! After some deliberation I decided to stay on the train as far as Șuncuiuș where I jumped off, somewhat a little annoyed with myself!
After arriving in Șuncuiuș I decided to walk around for a while and have a look around the place. However I soon decided I should really head back to Piatra Craiului. I headed back to the train station where I met the delightful station master who spoke very good English. She confirmed the next train back to Piatra Craiului would be at 12 noon. I had plenty of time to visit the café opposite for a coffee, (with three very aggressive dogs hanging about outside!)
On arrival I headed left from the train station on what was quite a busy road. I was soon approached by a man who spoke very good English, he asked me where I was heading. He told me it wasn't really worth heading as far as Stana de Vale this time of the year and suggested I should just head as far as Leșu where I could stay the night, and in the morning I could head back along Devil's Valley. He also informed me there weren't any buses heading in this direction, however he did point me to the nearby T-junction where I should be able to hitch a lift. I thanked him and headed off.
As I approached the T-junction I spotted an elderly couple just being picked up. As I waited by the road side (under the tree), plenty of traffic passed by, but nearly all of the drivers just pointed their finger to the ground, which I soon realised meant they were only travelling up the road! An old lady soon joined me, but she soon carried on walking, I assumed I was a hindrance to her chance of being picked up! By about 2 pm I did begin to wonder if I would be picked up at all, and I was also conscious of it becoming dark in a few hours. However another couple arrived and shortly after this a large white minibus stopped to pick them up and so I asked the driver if he was heading to Leșu. I was in luck, and it was a great relief to jump on board!
The minibus was full of men who were all electricians returning home from working in Cluj. One of the men who spoke a little English seemed to think I wouldn't find any accommodation in Leșu and suggested I would be better staying the night in Remeti. As we arrived in Remeţi everybody jumped off and it was apparent the driver was heading off in the direction of Lunca Vişagului so I jumped off as well. I began to walk through Remeţi with the man who spoke a little English. Before he turned off to his home, he pointed me in the direction of some accommodation further along the road. I soon reached the Pension Andreea, but sadly I was informed by the owner it was closed for the winter. I also visited the Pension Casa Gornieului nearby, but again I was informed they were closed for the winter. I decided to keep walking in the direction of Leșu.
As I was walking in the direction of Leșu a car stopped next to me with two men inside, and I soon realised they had been in the minibus with me earlier! I explained I was hoping to find accommodation in Leșu. I jumped in the car and a little further up the road the passenger jumped out and headed off to his home, (I assumed). The driver continued for a little longer before arriving at a shop where we stopped and he said I could stay the night here. (We did stop outside the Pension Carpathia where he suggested I could stay the night but I thought it looked a little expensive!) We both got out of the car and entered the shop where we were greeted by a lady. The driver obviously explained to the lady I needed a room for the night, and she seemed more than happy to oblige and subsequently showed me my room above the shop. It was fine and she clearly had other rooms which I assumed she rented out to hikers during the summer months.
Back downstairs in the shop the driver was having a beer and so I joined him. He informed me the Leșu hotel was only a few minutes further along the road but was closed down for the winter. (It was then I'd realised I was actually in Leșu!) After we'd finished our beers he left and I thanked him for his kindness.
As there was about an hour's daylight left I decided to go for a walk and check out Lake Leșu. On arrival at the hotel I was hugely disappointed as it looked as if it had been derelict for some years! The surrounding area including the lake looked totally uninspiring. I slowly made my way back to the shop whilst taking some photographs of the surrounding countryside. On arrival at the shop I bought a drink and watched the TV for a while before heading to my room. I heated up some of my noodles for my supper. I was grateful the lady had clearly cranked up the heating in my room as it was clearly going to be another cold night!
After arriving in Șuncuiuș I decided to walk around for a while and have a look around the place. However I soon decided I should really head back to Piatra Craiului. I headed back to the train station where I met the delightful station master who spoke very good English. She confirmed the next train back to Piatra Craiului would be at 12 noon. I had plenty of time to visit the café opposite for a coffee, (with three very aggressive dogs hanging about outside!)
Șuncuiuș
Șuncuiuș
I caught the train on time back to Piatra Craiului, as it departed I waved goodbye to the very helpful station master! I presented my original ticket to the ticket guard on the train and he just smiled, I wasn't asked to pay any extra! Two stops later I finally arrived at Piatra Craiului!
Șuncuiuș Train Station
On arrival I headed left from the train station on what was quite a busy road. I was soon approached by a man who spoke very good English, he asked me where I was heading. He told me it wasn't really worth heading as far as Stana de Vale this time of the year and suggested I should just head as far as Leșu where I could stay the night, and in the morning I could head back along Devil's Valley. He also informed me there weren't any buses heading in this direction, however he did point me to the nearby T-junction where I should be able to hitch a lift. I thanked him and headed off.
As I approached the T-junction I spotted an elderly couple just being picked up. As I waited by the road side (under the tree), plenty of traffic passed by, but nearly all of the drivers just pointed their finger to the ground, which I soon realised meant they were only travelling up the road! An old lady soon joined me, but she soon carried on walking, I assumed I was a hindrance to her chance of being picked up! By about 2 pm I did begin to wonder if I would be picked up at all, and I was also conscious of it becoming dark in a few hours. However another couple arrived and shortly after this a large white minibus stopped to pick them up and so I asked the driver if he was heading to Leșu. I was in luck, and it was a great relief to jump on board!
The minibus was full of men who were all electricians returning home from working in Cluj. One of the men who spoke a little English seemed to think I wouldn't find any accommodation in Leșu and suggested I would be better staying the night in Remeti. As we arrived in Remeţi everybody jumped off and it was apparent the driver was heading off in the direction of Lunca Vişagului so I jumped off as well. I began to walk through Remeţi with the man who spoke a little English. Before he turned off to his home, he pointed me in the direction of some accommodation further along the road. I soon reached the Pension Andreea, but sadly I was informed by the owner it was closed for the winter. I also visited the Pension Casa Gornieului nearby, but again I was informed they were closed for the winter. I decided to keep walking in the direction of Leșu.
As I was walking in the direction of Leșu a car stopped next to me with two men inside, and I soon realised they had been in the minibus with me earlier! I explained I was hoping to find accommodation in Leșu. I jumped in the car and a little further up the road the passenger jumped out and headed off to his home, (I assumed). The driver continued for a little longer before arriving at a shop where we stopped and he said I could stay the night here. (We did stop outside the Pension Carpathia where he suggested I could stay the night but I thought it looked a little expensive!) We both got out of the car and entered the shop where we were greeted by a lady. The driver obviously explained to the lady I needed a room for the night, and she seemed more than happy to oblige and subsequently showed me my room above the shop. It was fine and she clearly had other rooms which I assumed she rented out to hikers during the summer months.
Leșu (My accommodation)
The shop in Leșu
As there was about an hour's daylight left I decided to go for a walk and check out Lake Leșu. On arrival at the hotel I was hugely disappointed as it looked as if it had been derelict for some years! The surrounding area including the lake looked totally uninspiring. I slowly made my way back to the shop whilst taking some photographs of the surrounding countryside. On arrival at the shop I bought a drink and watched the TV for a while before heading to my room. I heated up some of my noodles for my supper. I was grateful the lady had clearly cranked up the heating in my room as it was clearly going to be another cold night!
Leșu
Leșu
No comments:
Post a Comment