Counting the times I've seen Christo Floating Piers on Lake Iseo in the only 16 days when they were in place, I add up to three. Actually, four – as I was also able to see them from the plane when I was returning from Poland days before the inauguration, although this very first time the piers were not covered yet with the yellow fabric finish.
I hadn't seen much through the minibus window of what must have been a lovely journey across the mountains. At Brașov it was still snowing lightly at 7 pm, and it felt too cold to walk to the hostel. In spots ice sheet made the pavement rather slippery. Minus eight, displayed a red led thermometer in the street.
It was foggy all over Krakow and a sprinkle of snow created a very wintery scene. I had seen no sun during the whole day and sunset had surprisingly started at the early hour of 3.30 pm. The Christmas atmosphere was really strong: horse-drawn carriages waiting near the tall tree, the church steeples losing themselves in the mist, the Christmas market and plenty of decorations everywhere.
I admit. With only few days at my disposal it would have made more sense to skip Curtea de Argeș altogether: the attractions in town are not mind-blowing, and the fortress ruins lie at a certain distance into the Carpatians. However I had a hotel reservation which I couldn't change, which allowed me to enjoy some surprises.
The elderly couple were fit enough to have climbed up to the mountain hut, but who knows at what speed. They were sprawling in the sun after eating a sandwich and a banana, and it was a bad omen that I should sit on its skin. They seemed to be familiar with the area when I enquired about the path I meant to take but the startled expression they put on was not reassuring. They wondered between themselves if I'd make it by nightfall.