Every time I saw a haystack in Romania, I was reminded of Vlad the Impaler. The Romanian farmers stack their hay around a single vertical, sharpened post that is held vertical by putting it in a hole in the ground. If you know anything about Vlad, you understand why I was reminded of him.
Harvey DuChene From: DirtDoc [mailto:dirt...@comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2014 5:39 PM To: texascavers@texascavers.com; ca...@caver.net; Larry E. Matthews Subject: Apusini Mountains, Romania Part 2 24 September 2014 Another post to the group The Ghejar Karst Plateau is another part of the Western Apusini Mountains of central Romania. Underlain by slightly metamorphosed limestone and complexity faulted, it is topographically relatively high. Summits over 1,800 meters and close to tree line. To get there we climbed over Vartop pass and discovered a mini-Ruidoso(NM). Two ski lifts and a bunch of winter sports chalets. In the town of Garda de Sus we made contact with Ciubo, the local G. P. at the clinic. A life-long caver and photographer, he had made arrangements for us to stay at the Pensiunea next to the ice cave, 500 meters above the town. Scarisoara Ice Cave contains a thick accumulation of ice that has been cored and recently dated beyond 10,500 BP. The cave is situated in the middle of spectacular karstland with multiple sinking streams and a confusing subterranean drainage. Bogan Onac has played an important role in figuring it out before coming to the USA. Ciubo is a joyful great bear of a man who enthusiasticly explained it all ------- The next day we left the karst and went to Turda, where a visit to the salt mine is a must. The salt has been intruded and is a salt dome,so the exposed walls are scenic and interesting. Other than that, It's a bit hard to describe. Google it. Mined for 2000 years, it finally became noncommercial and is now a fascinating underground mine tour crossed with Disney land. They held a big wedding there last weekend. On to Sighisoara, Brasov (and the Real Dracula's Castle), Sibiu, and more eastern European history. I can report seeing NO Vlad-cicles. (Rhymes with popsicles). If that doesn't make sense, read up on Vlad The Impailer. Onward------- Dirt Doc Sent from Samsung tablet
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