Day 17: Timisoara Romania and Debrecen Hungary

Since Romania is one hour ahead of Hungary and central Europe, we decided to meet our hosts Mihai and Lydia at 10:00AM in the lobby.  After introductions, we set out for a walking tour of downtown Timisoara.  Timisoara has a history that dates back to the Turks in the 16th century.  When the Austrians drove out the Turks in the 17th century they built stone bastions to defend the city.  Lydia showed us one of the remaining parts that has been converted into a artist studios and restaurants.

Lydia shows the group the city walls made by the Turks

Arches inside the city wall stored supplies and weapons

Plaques above the shop doors show city bastions

A monument shows how the bastions looked before the Austrians drove out the Turks

Next, we visited Union Square which has been renovated.  This square shows the diversity in Timisoara's history.  On opposite sides of the square are a Serbian Orthodox and Catholic Church.

Union square

Fountain in Union Square

Art showing Eve and the Serpent

Mihai and Lydia explain the square that held the Turkish baths

Square with Cathedral

Local dancers perform in front of Cathedral

Carl admiring his graffiti just before his arrest

After a late breakfast at a cafe, we continued touring the recently renovated areas.  In the last two years the city has banned cars in the renovated sections and restaurants and shops have sprung up like mushrooms.

To see the rest of this city of 300,000 people we rode the circle line tram.  The neighbourhoods are a blend of new and old, dingy and renovated.  As architects, Mihai and Lydia will have plenty of work as the renovations continue over the next decade.  

The newly completed Business Center complex discovered water control dams built by the Austrians when digging the foundations.  The architects incorporated the lumber and stones into an exhibit in the courtyard.

Explanation of Austrian waterworks at Business Center

Original brickwork of Austrian water controls

Timisoara Business Center

For lunch, Mihai generously hosted us at a new Italian Bistro and toasted our health with a round of Tuica, a local liquor made from plums.  It was strong but smooth.  After lunch, we toured the university and the square outside the Metropolitan cathedral.  

Italian Cafe where we enjoyed lunch

Dwight's salad and empty Tuica glasses

When it began to rain, we decided to depart.  After thanking Mihai and Lydia for their generosity with some Ice Wine and inviting them to come to Canada, the travelling group left in our separate ways.  Richard, Cheryl and Warren set off for Budapest for their flight home the next day and Marilyn, Carl and Dwight set off for Debrecen.

Both groups had a long drive reaching their destinations after dark.  Rick and Cheryl's GPS failed them but Cheryls' map reading skills saved them, and their headlights needed to be pointed to be effective.  Our drive went through eastern Hungary along many isolated small roads.  Carls' calm driving skills and Dwight's navigation got them to Debrecen safely.  The Villa Hotel in Debrecen changed their entrance since my GPS map was made so we had to drive across a tram track, through a park and into the parking lot after moving a bicycle rack!  It was shades of the Black Forest adventure again!