On July 12, another week full of shared experiences began for the Jászság 1 and Szentes groups. Our joint camp took us to Transylvania this time. Our first stop was Arad, where tour guide István Magyari Vass joined us, with whom we visited the Statue of Liberty in Arad, which we learned was removed after World War I and reinstalled later. Hunedoara was the next stop, where we visited the castle of the Hunyadi family, whose renovation was recently completed, so we are already among the lucky ones who could admire not only the drawbridge and the crenellated bastions from the outside, but while listening to the castle’s history, we could see the former knights’ hall, the ballroom, the chapel, the kitchen, or the dungeon. Many more historical sites await us this week. Such as the ancient historical capital of Transylvania, Lake Red, the Bicaz Gorge, the Mini Transylvania Park, we will visit the land of the Csángós of Ghimeș, the “country of mountains and valleys,” and we will see the former border of historical Hungary.
On Monday morning, we departed for Alba Iulia, the ancient historical capital of Transylvania. Together, we visited the Roman Catholic Cathedral, where the burial sites of John Hunyadi and Gabriel Bethlen are located, and afterward, we could explore the city independently. After lunch, we bused again to Sighișoara, where our walk first led to the statue of Sándor Petőfi, and then a little further away, we heard interesting facts about Dracula (Vlad Tepes). Here, too, we were given the opportunity to explore the city independently. Only a few of us went up the Scholars’ Stairs, which currently has only 172-178 steps instead of the original 300 steps. This leads up to the Citadel Hill, from where the view is very beautiful. By evening, we arrived in Căpâlnița, which was our accommodation for the rest of the time. At the guesthouse, we were welcomed not only with many kind words but also with a very delicious and hearty dinner. After occupying the rooms, only relaxation awaited us so that we could take on the next day with renewed strength.
Márk Máté Kaptás, Zoltán Baráth – Jászság group 1
On Tuesday, we started the day in Gheorgheni, where we visited an extremely exciting demonstration cheese workshop. Within the framework of an interactive presentation, we could freshen up our biological knowledge; we got acquainted in detail with the cow’s anatomy and digestive system, and then we moved on to the process of cheesemaking. We learned why rennet is important and what beneficial effects dairy products have on us. The highlight of the program was the tasting, where we could taste 3 different cheeses and yogurt, which were truly delicious. Cheeses of such quality that our lactose-intolerant companions could also safely eat them. Following the tasting, we continued our journey toward the Bicaz Gorge, which we reached via a winding road. The high rock walls towered toward the sky on both sides and offered a beautiful sight, so we were able to enjoy this natural wonder during a very pleasant walk. We finally closed our day with Lake Red. This lake was formed as a result of a landslide and remains an outstanding attraction for visitors to this day. Although the weather did not always favor us, even the rain could not wash away our good mood.
Tétény Madarasi – J2 mentor assistant
On Wednesday, we threw ourselves into the programs with renewed strength and excitement. During the morning, we visited Szejkefürdő, which is rightfully famous for its row of Székely gates. As we walked under the gates, we could learn so much interesting information from the tour guide about the structure of the Székely gate, as well as the use of symbolism. Through this, we learned what meaning the use of the sun, moon, and heart carries. Almost a stone’s throw from here, we headed toward the Mini Transylvania Park. In this wonderful park, we could see the most beautiful and outstanding castles, churches, and châteaux of Transylvania in miniature version, in the form of scale models. Our afternoon was spent in the spirit of a culinary experience, because traveling to Corund, we split into 2 groups and threw ourselves into baking chimney cake and flatbread. This experiential program was spent in a very good atmosphere, and of course, at the end, we shared our homemade delicacies with each other. As a closing to the day, we visited Lupeni, where we paid our respects at the Áron Tamási memorial site.
Anna Horváth – J1 mentor assistant
On Thursday, we had an adventure that wasn’t even included in the program schedule. We traveled to Székelyvarság, where we planned to continue our journey by tractor, but due to an unexpected breakdown, this ultimately could not happen. Although the situation surprised everyone at first, it quickly became clear that the change did not ruin our day at all; we continued our journey on foot to the Csorgókő Waterfall. Due to the pleasant walk and the beautiful surroundings, this little detour turned out to be a particularly great experience. The sight of the waterfall amazed everyone while we enjoyed the peace and beauty of nature. After the hike, we were able to continue our journey in the beds of off-road vehicles toward the Varság lookout tower, which was a new experience for many of us. The panorama unfolding before us from the lookout tower made the day even more special, as the places we had already discovered during the week were clearly visible. After the eventful day and the unexpected situations, we traveled to yet another “station”: the Székelyvarság bobsled track. The great atmosphere did not falter here either; plenty of laughter and excitement accompanied the rides down. Just when we thought everything would go according to plan from then on, another surprise awaited us. The road had been shaped by previous storms, and due to its restoration, it was closed, so we had to travel a section on foot once again. The initial surprise was quickly replaced by laughter, as by then we had gotten used to the fact that anything could happen on this day. At the end of the day, free time awaited the team in Odorheiu Secuiesc, so everyone could spend the evening as they pleased. Although today did not turn out exactly as we had planned, in the end, it was precisely these unexpected twists that made it truly memorable. We laughed a lot, adapted to the situations, and meanwhile, were able to spend another day full of experiences in a wonderful environment.
Kamilla Hajnalka Bihari – Szentes group 2
We started the day of our final trip in the mountains, where we learned about the lives and traditions of the Csángó people. It was very interesting for us to see how they live and what they do. During the program, we also got to roast bacon and sausages, which was a truly delightful experience.
Additionally, we gained insight into the process of cheesemaking. We learned that the Csángó people farm with horses, cows, and sheep, and they produce cheese, cottage cheese, and other dairy products from the animals’ milk.
Afterward, we visited the thousand-year-old border, where we heard even more interesting information about the history, culture, and traditions of the Csángó and Székely people. We concluded the day with a visit to Rákóczi Castle, where we also learned many fascinating facts. This day gave us a wealth of new experiences and was a worthy ending to our camp.
On Saturday morning, our one-week joint adventure in Transylvania came to an end; the bus departed with us toward Szentes and Jászberény.
Ádám Molnár, Ákos Molnár, Dávid Rickert, Fanni Sebesi Szt1.
