I caught the maxitaxi to Busteni, and, from there (after a k's walk), the teleferic up to Babeme on the plateau. Rural transportation in Romania is often by maxitaxi, Sprinter-sized vehicles, apparently privately owned, that can seat 18 or 20. Hey, it works. 3 lei. (1$). The communist-era teleferic to the top and back was 58 lei, about $19. From Busteni, the Bucegi mountains are spectacular peaks and spires. None very high, but still quite sceneic. Atop them is a long plateau where hiking trails abound. I chose the one to Omu peak and Cabana Omu.
The World War Memorial Cross; the Bucegis, from Busteni, are all craggy peaks like this |
The teleferic takes you from way down in the valley up onto the high plateau |
Alas, much of what there is to look at along the trail is this immense 1960s sort of radio tower |
Follow the Yellow-Striped Road; all the trails are conveniently color-coded; and well-marked |
The whole plateau/ridge is conglomerate rock--one of the world's major deposits, and erosion has created many unusual forms; this, a sort of sphinx, from where I sat eating a banana |
Although the day had started clear, by mid-morning clouds were roiling, up the canyons, to the plateau, then back down the canyons; here's the space needle a couple miles away |
Finally, at the summit of Omu, looking north, with a break in the clouds |
All trails lead to Omu |
This is not my idea of a cabana; I am from the Caribbean, remember...sort of... |
Conglomerate |
Occasionally, the light pierced the clouds and some glorious mountain scenery was there |
This will do for signage: traditional route, left, traseu varia, right; I always go for the traseu varia |
Cave-dwelling sheep |
The Sphinx (the real one) |
Other formations |
Yes, bears; the Carpathian Alps in Romania are home to some 6,000 black and brown bears; I saw none; nor did I see anyone mounting his or her tent |
I did see plenty of garbage throwing away; it was the most trashed trail I have ever seen |
And the exciting ride back down to Bucenti; and another maxitaxi (I am so going native); and a nice Romanian poulet roti dinner, with frites; 25,000 steps on my pedometer; 13 miles; I earned it |
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