I walk the narrow old streets of the City Center, passing by loudly colorful pubs and evening frenzy. Somehow I end up on Lipscani . I take a sit at a table in a bar and I light my cigar. I order a beer, I inhale thesmoke. The feeling of smoking a 100% Cuban cigar is familiar: I am not by myself; I am accompanied by my friend, good old Cuban aroma.
I raise my head and I see … something coming through the door: a standing backpack … At the table in front of me the backpack is lowered tothe floor, permittingme to notice a man so thin that I could not distinguish him from the backpack until he put it down. It sits at the table facing me. I can read a sense of sadness on his eyes interrupted occasionally by a faint smile, quickly disguised: the kind of smile you get when you remember something you liked. The audience struggles not to stare. The waitress serves him a bit reluctant. He takes a bent cigarette from his pocket,light it up and starts smoking. I decide to start a conversation:
– Where are you coming from? He slowly raises his eyes, measures me and responds slowly:
– From Gura Râului.
– Nice, you have been up the mountains! What did you do there?
– Eh … I went until Curmăturaand back. His reticent aboutchatting: clearlythis man wants a quiet time. Still I continued:
– Alone?
– Nah, with some mad characters, says smiling.
– Which ones?
– The Christian Adventure mountain guides School. Why, you heard of them?
– Moreover. I was with them on the trips they have organized in 22 and 23 November 2014.
– We are the 28 Novembergroup.
– How was up the mountain. Everything ok?
– Very cool! And where the path is flat and short we stopped for fun. Unbelievable how nature changes you! Winter also amplifies the feeling that you are there to give your best.
– Have you also been to theRetezat mountain?
– The first series climbed the pick Negoiu and the Parângu ‘ Mare trough heavy snow. Retezat greeted us with winds of 120 miles per hour.
– O..oo! Good, good, we did not pass through these! Aren’t you tired?
– Yes, of course, but I told the others that I am coming to thepub before going home. Now that I am here I will also upload the pictures on Facebook, for the others to see that it can be done. If you do not show them, no one believes you!
– Well, where is the rest of the group?
– They said they would come, but changed their mind once we reached Bucharest. It is like I’m the only rebel in a group of high school students or employees. Either the mom is screaming or the boss… They all went home.
“I’m back where I live … in a city that I want to run away from after being alone with nature”
A man nearbyturned towards us. He wore expensive cloths,slightly raising his nose in disgust. He was no more than 45 year’s old, fat, obviously dying his hair, the natural color having disappeared for some time. Beside him, his wife seemed extremely bothered by my new friend intrusion in the bon ton pub etiquette. It was more than obvious that these people had no idea what a mountain trial is or exercising.
– Well yes, mountain equipment and a cold beer on Lipscani pubs are not fit after a 2 days trip in the wild, you do need a shower first …He looks around curious. Many of those present in the pub could not even reach Dihamby car without sweating blood and spit their lungs.
– Well, why come by yourself if everybody went home?
– The next trip is in 3 weeks. Until then I want to keep today alive as much as I can! 3 more weeks in this city without the chance of running off, so I get some rest and rewind my recent experiences first.
– They have put you through GuraRâlui morning exercise?
– Oh yeah, who can forget GuraRâului!
– I understand, I said. I look at him through the smoke. He stares at the empty pint. I inhale again and the smoke burns my throat –it is time to go home. I pay the bill and get up.
– I have to go: University tomorrow at 08.00 am…
– Me too, but I’ll skip the morning lecture, I am going directly to the seminar. I want to sleep. We raise both simultaneously.
– Sorry, do you have another cigarette? I am staying … the mountain is still in my mind.
2 days on the mountain with an organized group. Mileage fighting with myself to put one step in front of the other. A nature which leaves you speechless and happy.And a school of mountain guides whose instructors will not let you quit. This is a good way to spend the winter. And did I tell you it was my first time up the mountains? Best experience yet…
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