Took a day trip out to see the ScÄriÅoara Ice Cave. Enroute, we visited the Turda Salt Mine as well.
The passageway entering the salt mine
The walls are glistening, wet and smooth from moisture from the air, and check out the salt deposits!
Interesting lines formed on the salt walls. Here, you could play a game of echo counting. Our guide's record was 18 or something? Can't remember...
Old machinery that helped transport salt to various parts of the mine
This part of the mine has become a mini art gallery too!
This part of the mine is like over 10 storeys high!
Salt stalactites!
Yes, all these walls are solid blocks of salt!
Salt encrusted wooden beams of the stairs
Check out the thickness of the salt accumulated over the years!
Pure salt!
Interestingly, we saw a number of old ladies walking in the mines as well. They are not here for sightseeing, but instead, it is believed that breathing the salt air here is healthy for their lungs!
We also passed by some really old monastery. Romania is also known for their painted monasteries. I think the frescoes here have been repainted though
The interior of the monastery. Really beautiful paintings!
Thats our guide, Radu.
The local monk
A typical entrance to the monastery compound
The road into the Apuseni mountains, where we will begin a trek to get to the ice cave
The country is really beautiful, esp with the autumn colours! We keep stopping for photos!!
These haystacks are a typical feature of the countryside
The locals going about their daily lives
Trekking in this region is really enjoyable!!
Their lifestyles have been untouched for many many years!
Storing the potatoes that have been harvested
The stairs that will lead down to the underground ScÄriÅoara Ice Cave
It was pretty steep though!
The ice cavern. Unfortunately, did not see as many stalactite/stalagmite as I hoped to see, as most of them have melted during summer. In winter, the cave would be really pretty.
This part of the cave is known as The Church. The ice here (the whole cave) dates back to the Ice Age!
While you can see the greenery or the autumn foliage outside, the temperature inside the cave is about 1 deg C, and easily goes into the negative during winter
Dragus, our young host! :)
Had our meal in a real country setting, with most of the food all home grown and home made. In particular, we had the best tuica here!
The Romanian potatoes are a class of its own, and the meats are just oh-so-tasty!!
Adrianna, Dragus's sister
Mother and her 2 children. She gave Radu, our guide, some food to bring back home as Radu brought some cough medicine for Dragus! A reminder that country living has its difficulties, like access to medical facilities
Still, her place is really lovely, and given the chance, would wanna stay here for a couple of days!
We took so much time taking photos, we did not have time to go back via another route. So we had to go back via the same way we came.
One of the best day trips one can have, even though by the time we reach our vehicle, it was pitch dark!
