DAY 89 - What's This? Rich Steals the Romanian Bride?

June 16 - An All-Night Wedding in Romania

The day began with Teia again hosting Rich & I for breakfast. Mihai, a nice young man from Curtea de Arges was our taxi! He actually spoke pretty good English. The ladies, except for Carmen, didn't speak as well, but we still managed to communicate good enough to have a very nice time.

She had lots of vegetables, cheeses, and different kinds of breads.

Of course scones are always a hit.

Veronica told me, “I think you feed your soul with singing....I hear you singing all the time.” I told her I didn't even realize that I was singing. All these ladies were so wonderful as they did an amazing job with helping at the wedding and the decorations EVERYTHING!

Rich and I walked around the town watching the people after the breakfast.  The ladies all went to help Christina to get ready for her wedding day.   The day began at 5 a.m. with the stray dogs all howling. (There are many in Curtes de Arges). The people were out and about at 6 a.m. It was Sunday, but the town came alive with people going to the market early, some going to church, some just sitting on park benches.

We visited the "St. Nicholas Princely Feudal Pile" originally built in the 13th century

 The residence included a ground floor built over large cellars, a deep porch, two rooms, and out-buildings.

The ruins included some frescoes

We went through a beautiful cemetery up on top of the hill of the town

We stopped in at the local Farmers market

 The whole city closed down, however at 1 p.m.  It was quite crazy!  I guess it gets very hot in the summer so this is what they are used to doing.

Beautiful Sunday afternoon before the BIG wedding.

THE WEDDING!

3:00 – Mihai picked us up at the restaurant (our room was upstairs) He took us to his aunt's house again (Teia) and we waited til the girls finished getting ready.

4:00 – We arrived in Christine's village at her parent's house....beautiful with many rooms. People were all over in the gardens waiting for Christine to make her appearance.

Communicating with the language barrier to Christina's aunt

Christina's mother helping Brock with his flower

Carmen and other guests

 4:30 – Christine's dad came out of the house with a razor and took Brock upstairs to give him a shave. It is customary for the groom be to clean shaven, but both Brock and Christine liked his beard. Turns out they were just teasing him!

4:45 – There was food spread out at a table for everyone to nibble on. Chocolate cake, cheese, vegetables, and more. Christine makes her entrance and then there are pictures.

5:00 – We all get in cars and go to the church. The ceremony begins; I get the task of video-taping the 75 minute ceremony which most everyone stands as there is very little seating. It's a very unique experience seeing and hearing the singing, chanting, and speaking from 6 priests/singers.

A Romanian Orthodox Ceremony that lasts 75 minutes - everyone stands the whole time

6:15 – Photos outside the church

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Albin

The Wedding Party

Drinking from the same cup from and OLD well by the church

The cutest little girls

6:45 – Mihai and Carmen say we must go for a ride with them to the mountains, through several villages, to see Vidraru Lake Dam and the beautiful Fagaras Mountains as well as and Poenari Castle (the "real" Dracula's Castle). Why not?  We're only here once! Most believe Dracula comes from Bran Castle, which we will visit tomorrow.

This is as close as we got to it.  It's quite a steep hike to it.

Another photo of the Castle off the internet

 The drive is fantastic.  Mihai drives FAST, so it's hard to take pictures.  It's about a 45 minute drive and we want to get back for the wedding dinner and celebration, so Z-O-O-M we go.

We'll cross that bridge and then UP UP we go to the top of the dam

Mihai, Carmen, and I at the top

It's a gorgeous view with the Argus River below

Hundreds of men lost their lives while building this gigantic wall and the road up to the dam

The metal statue of Prometheus holding lightning bolts

The dam took over 5 years to build and was completed in 1966.  It produces hydroelecticity.

8:15 – We arrive back to the city of Curtes de Arges at a restaurant for the festivities.  The tables are decorated and are laden with nuts, candies, sodas, wine, water, fruit bowls, and rolls.  The live band intertwines Romanian folk music, American pop, and more throughout the evening.

1st Course - meats, cheeses, and veggies

 2nd course was soup, but I forgot to take a picture.  There is about an hour in-between each course.  Everyone dances, especially during the group folk dances.  You just can't believe how well everyone dances and they hold tight to their traditional dances - old and young alike do it.

3rd course - Sausages, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes

4th course -  Fish and Vegetables

5th Course - Grilled chicken and Pork & Potato Wedges

8:30 – 2:00 a.m. - Dining, dancing, singing, talking, laughing – SO FUN!!

Brock & Christina's mother

Christina and her Father

Christina's Grandmother & Brock

About 1 a.m., Teia's husband decided that Rich should help kidnap Christina.  This is a long Romanian tradition where a few friends of the newlywed stake the bride while the groom is not paying attention and take her somewhere else, usually to a club. The groom is then forced to negotiate the bride's price and to redeem it, but not until the "criminals" show evidence of having the bride ( a shoe, her necklace, etc.). Usually, the "thieves" ask for beverage. They then take the bride back to the wedding.  Rich got an orange soda pop and returned her unharmed.  It was all very much in fun!

LAST Course - the wedding cake (5 layers with raspberry jam, chocolate mousse, pudding, and more)

The bride had made everyone at the wedding a personalized greeting card with her own artwork as a gift.  Romanian weddings are tradionally a two-day affair, but because of several reason, theirs was only one day.  I can't even imagine.  We went home early - around 2:30 a.m. as we were leaving early the next day for our next destination.  Wonderful day and fantastic memories!  thank-you Brock and Christina!