June 15th- Sibiu, Romania

We wake up like any other day but Katelyn has received a text from her not-too-happy dad about our trip to Istanbul. He is really concerned about the beheadings that have been taking place in Iraq and our proximity to both Iraq and Syria. We aren't going anywhere in Turkey besides Istanbul and that really is a far stretch from either border. Still, after a lengthy FaceTime call with Katelyn's parents, we agree to looking into changing travel plans. Time to pull out all the stops. While Katelyn was on FaceTime I was reading articles on the situation in Turkey regarding the unrest in its bordering countries. Reportedly there was no violence in the area where we would be traveling and very minimal protesting and rioting. To date there hasn't been any travel warnings issued for Turkey. With this information Michelle and I still wanted to go. I think our side of the story was that we hadn't read anything about danger for travelers and that we would be losing a ton of money. $650 on the nonrefundable hotel booking which had been paid in full in May; over $400 in paid nonrefunable flights; plus the cost of a new flight; the cost of accomodations; and the stress of having to change 4 days of plans in 4 hours. But still, we agreed to look into it. The prices were outrageous and as college kids (sort of.... sad face) we weren't funded for the extra expenditures. We are already skipping meals for beer people. Back to the original plan for the time being. But wait! I remember that my dear friend Rachele Struthers and her family have literally just returned from Istanbul. So I reach out to her to ask about the situation and whether she felt safe in the city, noticed protests or danger, or anything that would cause us not to travel there. She assured me that there was no unrest and that the city is great to visit and that there was no reason to cut it from our itinerary. One opinion isn't enough though so we forged ahead and reached out to Michelle's contact in Istanbul. Kaan Hakaan again assured us that Istanbul was perfectly safe and that we absolutely must visit. The conversation really was more technical than this but I cannot recall the back and forth at this time. I do know that Kaan was funny funny and offered to have his fourth wife assist us if anything came up during out visit. That was the joke... he doesn't have four wives you silly people. He was basically disproving all of the silly stereotypes we have about the Turkish people. I appreciated this because one of the friends I have met during my travel is constantly ragging on me about American stereotypes. He is funny though and most of them are true.... So Kaan proceeded to share sooooo much information with us about Turkey: where to go, what to see, average prices, what not to miss, what can go unseen, safe areas, paces to avoid, how to get a deal, and so much more. Much love to you Kaan. Our nerves are really settled at this point but we are waiting for 2 things before we make the final judgement call. Katelyn's parents are going to talk to their friend Doug at church and get his opinion, and my parents are going to talk to Mr. Impastato (former Secret Service) at church and get his opinion. 

Does it sound like this took a long time? North of two hours. So we are looking noon in the eye and we want to go to Balea Lake. Its a glacier lake about 2 hours away and we were going to rent a car. Wahoo! We go to reception (remember it is like 15 minutes away) and ask about renting a car but for today it is pretty late. No one has any cars available until tomorrow morning. Really bummed about this for two reasons. I want to go to Belea Lake more than anything else we have done in Romania. It was one of the first attractions I set my sights on here and a top contender in my reasoning that Romania would be a favorite. Two: I WANT TO DRIVE A CAR AND LISTEN TO MUSIC ON FULL BLAST AND SING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN AND TH MOUNTAINS IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR. The things you miss... am I right?

We ate lunch and went back to the apartment because we have already walked around the whole town and we are just lazy and sad now. But what if we rent a movie?? Okay I like it. But guys, guys! What if we rent Mamma Mia??? Okay? You like? Honestly they weren't all over it like me but it was the only rentable contender out of all of our preferences. I have been in the mood for Mamma Mia for like 4 days now. When this happens, I kid you not, I can't move on until its satisfied. Like I will think about it everyday until I get it. Take Surin's chicken curry, Thai noodle, Pad Thai, or Surin Noodle for example. I have been craving it since the day I left Birmingham. It is a panic mechanism I think. I know I can't have it so to ensure I don't forget what it is like I dream about it everyday until I can literally taste it in my mouth. I am crazy yall. So anyway, I finally get to watch Mamma Mia. It takes a second to download so while we are waiting, we give Michelle a hairwrap. Why not? We have time, we have (some) energy- it's time to initiate her. 

The movie is great. I am literally inches from the screen with this stupid grin on my face. I am singing the words and dancing and literally just loving sitting down for a second a watching a movie in English. The first time I saw Mamma Mia was in theaters with mom and Nana. Good times guys. There are definitely a few racy topics- racy for Nana and mom to share with me at the young age of like 15 I am sure. Anyway, I just remember all the women in the theater (mom included) getting up at the end of the film and dancing in the isles. Talk about silly. I was doing that now. In the apartment. Sans pants (as it should be). Just wishing mom and Nana were here watching the movie and dancing with me. 

Nap time. 

At 6 we leave the apartment and do festival things, eat festival food, lick festival ice cream, watch festival shows. 

Time for the music. What we have all been waiting for. This message comes over the speaker and its all cussy and in English (amazingly enough) and this group comes on in a flash of light to some techy music. There are 6 guys I think and they look like Taxis. They are wearing yellow and black with like a checkered pattern and spiked hair, etc. Its a Bosnian group- what? Anyway they must be a big deal here because these people know the words to most of the songs and are jumping up and down all around us. We are like third row so right up there with the true fans. There is a fan so true a few meters (call me European) away from us that he has taken off his clothes. Not kidding. He is really feeling the music and keeps looking around for other die hards. There are none. I have never seen a kid jumping up and down so passionately while drinking a beer. No spills yall. He did it. He did the impossible. I am tempted to try at this point but, without a beer, it will have to wait. I am really trying to hone in on my talents as I enter the job market. So far I know that I can do hairwraps really well. Adding something like this could be monumental though. 

Then it happens. A song like no other. "Take Me to America." I will share some lyrics with you because I could hardly type them fast enough. 

I'm from Romania, take me to America

Take me to United States, take me to the Golden Gate

I will assimilate

...One day you will understand

One day when you reach the end

Take me to the motherland

I'm from Bosnia, take me to America

I want to see Statue of Liberty.

That is lyrical genius right now. If you can work the word assimilate into your music you should be praised. Consider this my praise. 

P.S. The men here look like vampires. No lie, they have sharp teeth and striking blue eyes. They are tanned (perhaps uncharacteristic of vampires) and quite attractive with this really severe look about them. Were the characteristics of vampires written about them or are they strangely coincidental?? I don't know guys but I don't want to test the theory.