Rosia Montana
People and places
Even though Rosia Montana is only a little mountain town with almost irreversible environmental damage, it was able to keep Dave's interest for 3 days. He met many interesting people and viewed (still) beautiful places.
Well, here it is Sunday and another wonderful time yesterday and today.
Spent Saturday at the local "Fest". It's a mini-Woodstock here, in Rosia Montana. It's a steep hard climb (walking) to get up there but was well worth it.
The "Fest" is called FanFest (Will open a new window). Well, a little bit difficult to explain because I'm not sure the Romanian special character "â" will work. You can take it in English as Fan Festival. And you can take it in Romanian, written a bit different (see the picture) as the Festival of Hay (Fân).
Today I spent the morning talking with "Claudia", then went for a walk to a local mining museum where I took a tour of a 2000 year old Roman mine that was about 100 feet underground.
- The elderly woman I am staying with. Speaks no English. All of her people (parents, siblings, husband, children) are buried here.
- Joscha Remus. Joscha = Joska (in Hungarian) or Iosca (in Romanian) A 49 year old Hemmingway-esque ruggedly good looking "Citizen of the World". Author, journalist, multi-lingual, world traveler. Here to write a story about the Rosia Montana "Gabriel Mine" controversy.
- Stephanie Roth. Swiss National. 40-ish. A legend in her own time around here. Full of passion, energy in her fight to keep "The Company" (Gabriel, a Canadian Mining firm) from starting up and operating a gold mine here.
- Irena. A 30ish cynical but enjoyable RO (RO is Dave's continuing short hand for Romanian) woman. Spent the last 3 years in Hawaii doing post graduate work.
- (another) Christian. 30. Bucharest lawyer. Well read. Fun guy.
- Claudia. A 30ish soft-spoken RO woman who is as dedicated to stopping "The Company" as Stephanie but in a much more controlled softer manner.
So yesterday I got up, went out to the square. Somehow or another I met and hooked up with Joscha. We made the climb up to the Fest. There Joscha tracked down Stephanie for an interview. What fun that was to listen to this little "firecracker" tell us about her efforts to stop "The Company". Waaay too much info to relate here but so interesting.
Then Joscha and I met Irena and Christian. Everyone is very educated, articulate, and interesting. How is it that I keep stumbling into these situations? I love it.
You deserve what you get. Or you get what you deserve (?)
When Joscha and I were returning to the village from the Fest we met Claudia and briefly talked. One could tell right away she was well educated and informed. (She is an architect by training).
When I got up this morning I wandered down to the square and there she was again. We were having a great and interesting conversation when Joscha walked up. Said he was going to go try and interview someone at "The Company" and act as if he had no agenda. He disappeared into their building and when I left to go to the museum he had still not emerged so his interview must have been successful.
"The Company" seems to have a lot of power here. There are no hotels or cafes. Not easy for tourists. But this could be a tourist Mecca! Too bad.
Was planning on leaving tomorrow but it is supposed to rain. We will see. Have not had a meal now for 3 days. Living off what I can purchase at the Magazin's (store).
I will sign off now and try and sent a few photos in another mail. I'm at an Internet Cafe here in Rosia Montana. FREE! Why? "The company" provides it for the local young people to come and play games and such. Hmmm.
Below, is the presentation of Dave's selection of pics (not only from Rosia Montana).
I want you to know some details about the music. It's Romanian folk music. The player, Dumitru Farcas, is a well known international artist. He plays "taragot", which is a Romanian blowing instrument from the clarinet family.
More about Dave's biking in Romania trip after his next update.
Check out the next report.
Read the previous report.
Back to Biking in Romania page.
