Sibiu (Hermannstadt) - the heart of Transylvania region
This is the city of my childhood. I spent many summer and winter vacations walking the hills, the streets, riding the vintage trains, climbing the trees, working the fields of my relatives, taking the cows out to eat until their bellies were full, playing with frogs and bugs. And the first kiss. Fun memories!
Sibiu has a personal flair to many but especially to me; my ancestors lived in this region, and I was pleasantly surprised to find them in the archives of the city. My boss called it "the city with houses that have eyes"; indeed, the architecture is gorgeous, making people believe that there is an ubiquitous eye watching them.
These days the pandemic restrictions killed the spirit of the city but slowly, events organized out in the open air, brought out of the house families and kids, to listen to traditional music offered by the local City Hall. Bonding with others through culture and language cannot be expressed in words; only those who understand the history of each creation, can feel the patriotism of the ancestors. The Romanian language is so rich, and so diverse, but the Transylvanians (also called "Ardeleni") are known to be the only ones who can make a full sentence with eight words of two letters each: "No, ni, tu ma la el ce be!" (paraphrased as "Well, look at him how he drinks!").
Come visit! You'll love Sibiu.

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