Cluj-Napoca; Unchartered Territory Part 1
May 20, 2024
Cluj-Napoca; Unchartered Territory Part 3
May 24, 2024Cluj-Napoca was known as ‘Napoca’ 2000 years ago when it was a Roman citadel. They’d conquered the Dacians and settled in what is now the city centre. Napoca was one of the most important cities in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire.
The Second Stop
Salina Turda has been on my bucket list for years, so I made sure I allocated a day to this on this trip. I’d read online that there was a minibus that collects you from a corner opposite the Cluj Opera House. This place is a work of art, Baroque design standing proud amongst the busy streets.
Admiring the scenery for 90minutes, I confess, I gave up trying to find the bus route. Having never seen the Turda minibus either, I booked a Bolt ride for women. A wonderful lady picked me up promptly and our journey consisted of us discussing local sights and the best restaurants. She dropped me off at the Intrare Salina dinspre oras (Old Entrance). A welcoming café greets you before the long walk down the tunnel into the mines. Prices were reasonable; 50 lei - £8.64, for entry, whilst the coffee and a KitKat cost 13 lei - £2.25.
Gallery
After what felt like a never-ending walk, I eventually reached the main part of the mine. A labyrinth of tunnels, it's thankfully easy to navigate though be prepared for long lift queues or copious amounts of stairs.
Being the fitness fanatic I am, I chose stairs every time. Made for great views and photo opportunities but it wasn’t the easiest way to get around! There are options to rent a boat at the bottom and ride a Ferris wheel. There’s a large stand offering souvenirs, too.
Milling around on my own, I admired what was there but didn’t stay long. Worth a visit for the sheer scale and interesting nature, I don’t deem a return visit necessary – unless a spa visit is being booked!
Escaping
Once again, I found myself at a loss when looking at the buses on offer. From what I could see, they only had local buses heading out of the mine. I approached a group of women and asked if they could help me. Not being locals, they were unable to advise but were intrigued by my accent. Striking up a conversation they were genuinely surprised to find I was alone. Shortly after I was beckoned back over, the driver insisted on giving me a lift to the next town where I could easily catch a direct bus back to Cluj. Forever grateful for the hospitality of everyone I met in Romania. Only I could score a free ride on the school coach - thanks again you beautiful souls, you know who you are!
After walking some, I picked up a short trip with another Bolt driver, and practised a little more conversational Romanian (he complimented me on my pronunciations, made my day). As we passed, he suggested visiting the Botanical Gardens. Cue an emergency stop to bundle me out the door as I said "why not?!" We bid each other farewell and laughed as I practically fell out of the car.
The Sights
Bounding in to the Botanical Gardens, I was greeted by a museum, grounds, greenhouses, and even a water tower to climb. Roman remains and a Japanese garden also featured. After a couple of hours here, I bought an ice cream and headed back to the Old Town.
Finding myself with more time to spare, I entered Turnul Pompierilor and scaled the stairs to see far across the city from the top. There were various art exhibits on the way up showcasing local talent, too. With a combination of traditional embroidery and modern art it was an interesting way to break up the climb.
Side Note;
Most of my walks involved me stopping every five minutes to take more random pictures of features on buildings. I'll intersperse them through these blog posts so it's not just one giant post of 'stuff'...
Part 3 incoming!
