Day 3 – Romanian Adventure

The one with the tour, the disco bus, the icy tunnel and the chalet birthday chaos

Location: Sibiu & Bâlea Lake

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Summary

Today had everything. A beautiful wander around Sibiu’s cobbled squares… a full-on disco bus moment (yes, YMCA at 11am)… a cable car ride into the snowy mountains… palinka shots for a chalet owner’s birthday… an icy tunnel adventure with torches… and an unexpected mountain cabin with a roaring fire and some very “local” delicacies. We ended with games, dancing, wind whipping around the chalets… and me slightly wondering if we’d be snowed in by morning. Proper adventure. The kind you can’t script.

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9am – Tour of Sibiu

Sibiu is quietly stunning. Pastel buildings, big open squares, towers rising up behind rooftops, and those famous “eyes” in the roofs watching you as you wander by. We strolled, listened, took photos, and just enjoyed being there.  

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11am – Disco Bus!!

And then… chaos. The good kind. Lights. Music. YMCA. There is something wonderfully ridiculous about a group of grown adults singing YMCA on a Romanian bus mid-morning. Would I change it? Absolutely not.

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12.30pm – Cable Car to Bâlea Lake

Up we went into thick snow and mountain silence. The higher we climbed, the more magical it felt. At 1.30pm we reached the chalet at Bâlea Lake… and were immediately handed palinka shots because it was the owner’s birthday. So of course we sang. When in Romania…

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4pm – Through the Tunnel…

This is where it turned into a proper story. We headed through the mountain tunnel on foot. It’s icy. Dark. Slippery. Torches out. Careful steps. Slightly scary if I’m honest. Then, like something out of a film… a cabin appears in the middle of nowhere. Not just any cabin. A roaring fire. A bar. Climbers warming up inside. One climber had hurt his knee and Alun (our resident chiropractor) was straight in to help. Their leader was so grateful he shared Slănină with us (pig skin in lard). Let’s just say… the faces around the table said everything. I politely declined. We also had Tuică Fiartă – strong, peppery, and definitely warming.

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6pm – Back Through the Tunnel

Darkness was falling. Snow underfoot. Back through the icy tunnel we went.

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Games Night & Birthday Dinner

Back at the chalet it was magnets, Bumfuzzle, and lots of laughter. Dinner was slightly chaotic because the birthday celebrations were still in full swing and the music was very loud. Ordering food involved some enthusiastic hand gestures. Dragos negotiated the volume down (hero) and all was well again. Some hit the dance floor. I remembered my age and went to bed. The wind was howling between the chalets, snow flying sideways, and I did have a tiny moment of wondering whether the cable car would even run tomorrow. But… I can’t control the weather. So I chose sleep. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

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Thanks for following along with our Romanian adventure ✨