Merry, Merry, Cemetery

Our first goal was Sapanta, in the Marmures, and its "Merry Cemetery."

It's a small village, no campground, no supermarket parking

lot, nothing...so we just parked next to the church and the

cemetery; obviously, the church is being renovated, and I

 figured it would be quiet...

The night was very quiet

But, to our surprise, the church was still in

use, bells pealing Sunday morning, and

amplifiers broadcasting the 2 hour+ morning

Orthodox mass

But we got to see the "Merry Cemetery" where one of the

locals years ago began the tradition of carving and painting

the grave markers, wittily, and always happily; the

tradition continues with his apprentices

The Creatorul, Stan loan Patras, directly

opposite the church entrance

The tire guy, with whom we could relate...

The school teacher

A writer?

And the most intriguing--and photgraphed--

of all

And the mass went on, and on, and on... (mostly to the

 tune of "Car 54, where are you?")

Most of the faithful outside

Patiently