The Long-Winded Version ☕

🌅 6:45am On the bus

Packed breakfast in hand (the cold boiled eggs were apparently a hit… not for me!). The sunrise was absolutely glorious — pink skies over frosty fields. Behind me, Stephanie starts singing Purple Rain. Properly singing it. Who knew she was a secret Prince fan? It made me smile. That’s what I love about group trips, you always discover something new about people.

❄️ 9:00am Into the mountains for husky sledding

High up in the snow-covered mountains of Romania, wrapped in layers, breath visible in the crisp air. The first thing that hits you is the sound: dozens of huskies howling and yelping with pure excitement. Not aggression. Not chaos. Just sheer eagerness. They live for this.

Then yes… the smell. Let’s not romanticise it too much.

But once you set off? Oh my goodness. The sled glides forward and suddenly everything softens. Snow muffles the world. The dogs go quiet. Pine trees heavy with white. Sunlight flickering through branches. The only sounds are the runners slicing through snow and the steady rhythm of paws pulling you deeper into the forest.

It felt wild and peaceful at the same time. Proper winter magic. The kind that makes you go quiet without even realising it.

🛷 10:30am Surprise bobsleigh adventure

Back on the bus, Dragos casually says to me, “Do you think people would like a bobsleigh ride?” Thirty minutes later… we’re there.

Think Kool Runnin’ meets a mouse rollercoaster and you’ve got the idea. We all rode solo and controlled our own speed (which obviously meant some people were much braver than others!).

I loved it. Absolute adrenaline joy.

Although… slight gasp moment when we saw a young girl hurtling down the ski slope at warp speed and straight through a barrier
because she couldn’t stop. She was okay, thankfully — but it was a sharp reminder that skiing is not for the faint-hearted!

🤢 12:00 noon The bus floor

By this point I’ve claimed my now-favourite position on the bus floor where I don’t feel sick. Life lesson: sometimes leadership looks glamorous… sometimes it looks like sitting cross-legged on the floor trying not to throw up.

Once the nausea passed, I was back in the chat and laughing again. Adventure is never dull.

🏰 1:45pm Sighișoara

We arrived in Sighișoara, one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It dates back to the 12th century and is famously the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (yes… that Dracula inspiration). Cobblestone streets. Pastel houses. Proper fairy-tale vibes.

We had lunch in the sunshine, after climbing the iconic Clock Tower, originally built in the 14th century to defend the main gate of the citadel. The views over the terracotta rooftops were worth every step.

🏨 5:45pm Sibiu & The Council Hotel

We rolled into Sibiu and checked into The Council Hotel. The rooms are enormous. Emma and Julie basically have a ballroom. Most rooms feel like mini apartments.

Mine and Lou’s? Three floors. Three! Quite cool, actually. See video.

🗺 6:20pm Me time

While everyone settled in, I slipped out for a short geocaching wander around the old town. Found four hidden caches tucked around the historic centre. There’s something quietly satisfying about that little treasure-hunt feeling. A quick FaceTime with Rachel ❤️ then off on a hunt for Louise (who had the key to our room!). Eventually located the gang in The Music Bar, very Cavern Club vibes. Lively, warm, good tunes.

🍝 Evening Dinner & deep chats

Italian restaurant. I had possibly the best salmon I’ve ever eaten. Conversations drifted from religion to childhood stories (Paula had us in hysterics) and then into beautiful, emotional Camino memories. There’s something about travel that makes people open up. It creates space.

Some headed off to karaoke. I headed for bed. Sensible choice.

Final Thoughts 💛