Muntii Bucegi

It's weekend and on weekend hard working people from Bucarest leave the city and go up into the mountains (at least some...) So did I. This time Muntii Bucegi. The morning train (quite comfortable, incomparable to the polish ones) took me and dozens of other hikers to Busteni, a popular touristic village 35km south from Brasov.

Buildings in Busteni

Buildings in Busteni

I didn't have time for a closer look at this elegant and quite prestigious resort, as I had a long way ahead.

The planned route: Busteni - C. Caraiman - Babele - Crucea Eroilor - Omul - Bran. Later I changed Bran for Busteni.

The route started behind the cable car station. First it was 2,5h of a very steep way up. From the beginning there were parts with chains and railings mounted. It was very tiring, but entertaining too. After that 2,5h I got to the first mountain hostel, Cabana Caraiman. From there it took 30 min to get to the upper cable car station on the famous rock formations - "Babele" and "Sfinksul". This area is crowded with hundreds of families, children and grandpas, taking photos with the rocks in the background. All thanks to the cable car. But actually these rocks are nothing in comparison with the panoramas. Pure beauty....

The way up

Cabana Caraiman...

... and the staff there.

 

Views from the upper station of cable car.

"Cioban" on right is talking on the phone. Probably selling stock or buying Swiss franc.

In the mountains there are as many dogs as on the streets of Bucharest.

After a longer break I continue towards Crucea Eroilor, where once again I was rewarded with beautiful views. In this place there is a huge metal cross located at the peak, illuminated during the night, in memory of heroes. The only thing is that I couldn't find out in memory of which heroes and from which side.....

Some tourists there warned me that some football team made a reservation in the mountain hostel at the peak of Omul and there are no places left. Omul was my destination that day, so it forced me to change my plans. Unhappy, I had to go back to Cabana Caraiman and spend a night there.

The following day I set out towards Omul once again (i was already bored going along the same path for the 3rd time) and after 2,5h I got there. Omul turned out to be... little spectacular. Only the hostel, a simple wooden barn, was lovely glued to the giant rock. Or maybe after 24h I just got used to the beauty of Muntii Bucegi and I was not so much impressed anymore?

The hostel at the peak of Omul 2507 m asl.

After a break I went down to Busteni, which took me about 4h, where luckily I caught a car straight to Bucarest. 

At the foot of Muntii Bucegi there are 3 villages: famous Sinaia, Busteni and Azuga. Azuga is also a litlle known Romanian brand of beer. Litlle known but in my opinion one of the best. And it has a heartbreaking label:

That's not the one I saw on the bottle, but at least similar to that. I will update it If i find it one day in the archives...