Please Reed: Bits of Timi

Last Winter I met my Assistant Director's children at a cabin. We frolicked with the deer and had some good times. After the long day his daughter, Réka, told me. "Too bad I don't live in Udvarhely, we could have been friends." Well, she does live in Timisoara, which I have come to find is a beautiful city. I promised to visit in the Spring to preserve our friendship, and that I did.

The journey got off to a rocky start with some night trains across Romania. I was accompanied by Kelly, praise the Lord, because we had some... interesting encounters on the night trains. Let me just advise you: when a not-so-sober man offers you a slice of apple, you take it. Especially when said man has a knife in his hand. In that case, also take the onion, garlic spinach mix he offers you. Take it all. Maybe also don't stay in the Arad train station between the hours of 2:00 am and 4:00 am. We arrived in Timisoara VERY early, and in our delirium we could not find the hostel. Once found, things started looking up.

As promised, I met up with Réka for a smoothie (WHAT?! A SMOOTHIE?!?!), and after we took a walk along the river. While we were walking, who should call? Jóskabacsi/Joe! I answered the phone to his surprise, and said to the nervous fellow, "Hello, Joe! It's Meg, and here's Réka!" He, I am sure, was calling "randomly" to tell Réka all the places she should take me and all the things we should do while I am in town. That man has captured my heart.

I have realized that this trip was one of indulgence (mostly in the food arena). When I travel to larger cities, I indulge. And, let me tell you, simple indulgences for others are phantasmagorical experiences for us volunteers. So let me take this time to describe a sandwich I had in Timisoara. It was a simple sandwich really, but it was made with ciabatta bread. Between the warm sliced ciabatta were thin slices of pastrami lying under a bed of fresh basil and mozzarella. So simple, yet so delicious that we went back and got the equivalent of a "foot long" the next day. I never wanted that sandwich to end. I still think about it... clearly. Just the fact that there was a sandwich shop that didn't just microwave the plastic wrapped piept de pui was magical to me. But fresh basil? Such goodness. Because of that sandwich, the fresh lemonade, the coffee, ice cream, Chinese food, and the baked goodies I can say I really enjoyed Timisoara. Keep my belly happy, and I will love you forever.

Here are some pics!