Sighisoara, via Turzi canyon

Romania doesn't have all that many roads. We travelled for some hours, and took literally the only turning off the road, which led up a dirt track into the hills. The lack of roads means that you pass through every settlement, and sometimes it seems that there is only one continuous village. The road into the hills led up to a section which appeared to be the entrance to a secret military installation, complete with multiple verbose signs in Romanian. Of course we just ignored the signs and carried on. Unfortunately, it was not a secret army base, but a campsite so remote and hidden that we couldn't see how it got any custom. It didn't get any more custom from us either, as we just used it as a truck park whilst we all trooped off into the surrounding hills.

The main feature of the hills was a stunning gorge with forest at the bottom, and a path which we took. This helped to illustrate something slightly unusual about Romania's inhabitants: they throw their litter everywhere and anywhere. Even this magnificent place with rubbish bins at strategic intervals had trash spread around all over the place. I am beginning to think that disdain is a national personality trait here, which extends to many aspects of life: the environment; other road users; the unfinished houses that line the roads. Perhaps it is a hangover from the communist era when it was always someone else's responsibility.

Our first bushcamp went well, and ended even better since I am writing this sitting in a hotel room in Sighisoara, having spent about £4 on a huge pizza and having had a great shower. I think that all tents should have ensuites.