Bucarest

15 October 2012

I believe you create your own luck and experiences.

I believe your attitude to life and your perspective shapes how you experience and interpret your daily interactions. I am therefore, aware that today was one of those days when I was not on top form! A sleepless night on a bus, entering Europe and facing the realities of nearing the end of my trip......I'm sure these were all contributing factors.

Things just appeared depressing today; the journey seemed long and tedious with the changes from bus to train and back again demanding buckets of tolerance.

The journey from Istanbul to Bucarest passed through Bulgarian and Romanian villages and towns of which many seemed to have an air of desolation about them. People appeared tired and down trodden, dressed in dark colors and expressionless. Throughout the hills covered in autumnal foliage, there were delapidated farms, empty concrete buildings and piles of rubbish thrown down river banks. Everywhere seemed to possess an air of destitution and touch of resignation.

Often at stations,  packs of stray dogs ran to the train eager for scraps. At one, a desperate British traveller called out for help. He was covered in bruises and visibly shaken after loosing all his valuables in a drunken fight. I tried in vain to get any assistance for him and left him boarding a train to where he knew a local who might be able to help.

During the journey I spent time with two other backpackers. This helped to lift the heavy energy of the day which seemed to waft in through the train windows. We parted company at Bucarest station and I headed off to find a hotel.

Later that evening, I witnessed a fight at a fast food stall. There was lots of yelling followed by guy jumping onto the serving hatch brandishing a chair to throw at the manager.

So this was the general impression I formed on this section of the journey; heavily ladened with generalizations and a focus on the drab. I know tomorrow will look very different.