Journey to Cheia

Tuesday, Aug. 6

Our destination for English Camp is Cheia (pronounced KEY-ah), in southeastern Transylvania, near Ciucas (pronounced CHEW-kahs) Mountain, in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.  It’s bigger than a village, but smaller than a town;  it's called a “comunei".

Our journey takes us through the city of Ploiesti.  Our first stop (well, actually, it was our 3^rd stop, but first the first two places were closed for renovation) was Zamfira Monastery.   The children gathered inside while a nun told them about the history and the art of the monastery.  

The artist painted this monastery when he was only 17 years old.  Incredibly, it took him only 1 ½ years, even though he would paint only on days of complete fasting.   I noticed immediately that the icons looked different than the ones I had seen previously.  The artist broke with traditional Byzantine style, and painted faces of ordinary people in his icons.   This was the first monastery where I was allowed to take pictures, so you finally get to see what I’ve been talking about.

Zamfira Monastery

Zamfira Monastery

Before we leave, we're served a delicious lunch of soup, fish, and bread.  Wait.  Is that popcorn I smell?  Yes, indeed.  Bowls of popcorn are put on the table for dessert.

Our second stop was the Unirea Salt Mine.  It is the largest salt mine in Europe.  It was mined furiously between 1943-1970.  As the bus unloaded, the teachers and kids took out their volleyballs and badminton rackets.  What?  Why are they taking those?  Once again, I don’t understand what we’re doing.

Our gang in Unirea Salt Mine

We descended 220 meters in a small, single, very crowded, unstable looking elevator.  (I flashback to the Tower of Terror).   But we make it down safely, and step out into a cool, dim, empty, cavernous, playground.   Who would have thought to turn the remains of  an exhausted salt mine into a playground?  It’s brilliant!  The kids run around and play ball.  At one end, there are table tennis, billiards, and a race track.   The kids had a blast!  The adults had hot chocolate.

Near the playground is a statue of the national poet.  I thought this was an odd location for a statue of a poet, and asked why it was here.  The answer:  because he is our national poet.  OK.

Unirea Salt Mine

Unirea Salt Mine, statue of Mihai Eminescu

The salt mine has also been used as a sanatorium for respiratory disease.  The purity of the air is supposedly good for respiratory illnesses.  What I found most fascinating, is that it was also used as a prison during Communist time.  Prisoners would be used as forced labor to mine salt.  When they sent salt up, food was sent down.  There was no way to escape.  After a few years, they just died down there from constantly breathing in the salt.  I guess the air is healthy for respiratory disease (in short visits), but lethal as a steady dose.

Our last stop before reaching Cheia was Suzana Monastery, another beautiful national treasure.  

Suzana Monastery

Suzana Monasery, with Razvan and Daniel

We finally arrived in Cheia.  I was pleasantly surprised to find we are staying in a charming resort.  All the small houses you see in the picture are the campground where families can come and stay.  We stayed in one of the villas.  I'm delighted to have my own room with everything I need for personal comfort.

We arrive at Cabana Ciucas, in Cheia

Our villa

We gathered for dinner, and then settled in for the night.  Tomorrow is our first day of English Camp.

Our rooms at Cabana Ciucas