Riga, Latvia; The One with the Buildings Part 4
April 24, 2024
Cluj-Napoca; Unchartered Territory Part 2
May 22, 2024Located in the North-West of Romania, Cluj-Napoca was nicknamed the ‘Treasure City’ in the late 16th century due to the wealth amassed by residents.
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca, an exotic sounding city in Romania, presented itself to me on Ryanair as a cheap flight (£25.99 out, £14.99 return). Resistance being futile, I booked the ticket and told work afterwards. Whoops. I’ve seen many places in Romania thanks to a previous Interrail adventure, but Cluj-Napoca had been bypassed. It was about time I rectified that.
Also, I decided this would be the time to check out the Airport Lounge at Stansted, where I most certainly made my money back (a whole £34.99, pre-booked). Not seen here is the hot chocolate with Baileys, the coffee with Baileys and the 2nd glass of wine. I made my merry way to the plan when boarding was called…
After touch down, and with only a minor questioning from the border officer (apparently my passport has a lot of stamps), I headed out of the airport, straight to the bus stop. The ticket machines were easy enough to figure out, but they do have an option to switch the language.
Once on the bus, I set up Google maps to follow the route and work out which bus stop I needed to confidently exit at. Waze can be a great alternative if Google maps is sending you in circles.
Gallery
The First Stop
Leaving the bus a stop early, I took a slow walk through to get a taste of the area. The range of architecture on display was wonderful. Approaching my apartment, I found the Muzeul Farmaciei costing 30 lei for entry (£5.18), this museum showcased many pharmaceutical artefacts and provided a great insight in to medical advancements. Fascinating stuff, I found myself engrossed in the exhibits.
Reaching my apartment, I was pleasantly surprised to find it in a fantastic location right in the heart of the old town. Just across the square was Biserica Franciscană, an old church built between 1260-1290, then over the road was the Muzeul Național de Istorie a Transilvaniei. From this spot multiple attractions and ample restaurants were just a few minutes’ walk away, I was spoilt for choice. The only thing that bothered me initially was the “Gentleman’s Club” sign above the entryway to this apartment, though I never had any issues and was none the wiser as to whether or not it was an old sign or still in business.
Wandering around in the rain, the Old Town still looked stunning. I’d been recommended a restaurant called Roata, and walking down a side street, I never would’ve guessed it was there (see the pink arrow). The food really hit the spot, but the staff made the visit. The shot of berry liquor was lovely, and the local sweet beer warranted a second glass.
Baciu
Having heard many a rumour about a haunted forest with eerie trees and alien visits, I had to add Hoia Baciu Forest to my list of must-sees. I walked from Cluj-Napoca to Baciu. Walking through the industrial estate, a lorry driver offered me a ride – once he realised that I wasn’t a lady of the night, he was confused as to why a young woman was alone in such an area. Not understanding English, I managed to explain poorly to him in Romanian that I was heading to the forest. This was my first experience of hitchhiking and with the state of the lorry, I’m glad we didn’t travel far or at highspeed – the door bounced open about an inch on every bump. If you ever decide to hitchhike, trust your gut instinct. While I know some people love it, it is no something I wish to do regularly.
The driver dropped me off just by the forest and I continued my walk. For the first hour, it was fine. However, I reached a small clearing, heard some weird breathing that I couldn’t locate, and freaked myself out. Needless to say, I turned on my heel and left, sharpish. Something or nothing? I shall never know and I’m not sure I want to find out! If I ever revisit, I’ll be going with a guide.
Ladies, side note – if you ever feel like you get no attention, just try a different country. I was catcalled by 5 different drivers in the space of less than 1km in Baciu. Not sure if it was an ego boost or an absolute embarrassment... But I’ll take it as a compliment!
Part 2, up next.
