Vama, Romania

The cool cloudy weather continues, but at least it's not raining. We have been in Vama near Suceava since we left Bucharest. It's a small village of about 6000 people, so it hasn't taken too long to explore most of it. Many of the houses, gardens, barns are lovely. There are zinnias, marigolds, and flocks, and vegetable gardens with yellow pole beans, potatoes, beets, and tomatoes. Pumpkins for the animals have been harvested and are lined up. Just about everyone seems to have an apple tree. People burn wood in their homes so there are huge neat piles of split wood. As you pass by homes on the narrow muddy or gravel roads away from the main highway through town, one hears dogs barking constantly. Everyone has at least one dog in the yard or wandering about. Stray dogs are a huge problem, especially in Bucharest, I'm told.

Monday was the first day of school and it is the custom that children bring flowers to their teachers. The 10 year old girl here goes to school from noon to 5. Her older brother goes to school in the morning. He is 15 years old and speaks quite good English. The middle-aged people learned Russian and French in school. The revolution here was in 1989 when they got rid of Ceausescu, so many changes have occurred since then. People used to line up for food in the state-owned shops.

Bulgaria also became a member of the EU this year. Moldova, the small country to the northeast of Romania is still more or less Russian controlled, although many people there are Romanian.

Yesterday we climbed the hills here, very green with grass for the animals and lots of pines at the lower levels. Although it was wet and muddy, it didn't rain. There were sheep, goats, cows and shepherds and their huts on the hillsides. We had to cross a river on a suspension bridge which was rather exciting. On the way home we collected 5 different kinds of mushrooms, and then for lunch we were served polenta (the best I've ever tasted) and a creamy mushroom sauce. We continue to eat very well. This morning cheese donuts were whipped up. Yesterday we watched as the milk from the cow was separated from the cream, thick and wonderful.

We're doing well - will be picked up this afternoon and will move on.