Day 10 or the beginning of mask 3

It was so hot last night… sorry to all who aren't but it did make sleep a little restless.
Woke early to the lady, either upstairs or next door watering the small garden out front. She has a plastic cup that she dips into a water filled container and empties over the plants so carefully, delicately.
Made salad for lunch and then the usual shower to refresh myself.
Off to the pink house for around 10, found the girls already hard at work finishing off their masks.
I only had the ears to make and attach before the 2nd mask was done.

Megan modeling mask

Then straight into mask number 3.

beginnings

whizzing eyes

I am really enjoying making this one (not that I didn't on the others), I think because I understand the technique now. I did also get a little help from Anna who sewed up my eyes before I stuffed them.
Lunch over and back in there.
Today Anna let us see Youtube clips of the traditional dances, costumes and masks. (technicalities by her son).
It did make me understand the use of the masks more which I feel helps when fabricating them.

Here it is at the end of the sewing day, the hair isn't actually fixed properly but you get the idea.

Then it was a short walk home and we decided to head off to the veg market for supplies. 5pm but it was really too hot for me, although we arrived back arms about dropping off. Fridge filled and time to relax.

Day 9 or the start of week 2

Monday again, and we're all quite eager to get on with the masks. Here is mine towards the end of the morning.

The next job was deciding what type of hair or hat I wanted. Attaching the hair was one of the longest jobs so far. So much of it, all curly and difficult to sew on, but I persevered and quite pleased with the result.









It was a quiet day but we did plenty sewing.

The energy began to wain in the afternoon so we decided to check out the art shop near the Piata Mara.
A lovely stroll into town and Kyna dropped her broken sandal off at the cobblers.

This fountain intrigued me as it is very Charles Rennie Macintosh in design, quite lovely.

A wee walk to the stairs passage and the art shop we did find, some lovely colours but I have all I need at the moment.
After that it was time for a bite to eat, in the shade outside a hotel/restaurant in the square.
As before,  a great place to watch life going by while relaxing and absorbing the atmosphere.
One of the high spots for me was watching the kids playing in the fountain.

They were at it for ages, almost wished I'd gone and joined in, maybe next time.
We decided to stay in town and eat out at Pardon Cafe and Bistro…. very fine foods and gorgeous lemonade (with other fruits added).
A leisurely stroll back and readied ourselves for Tuesday.

Day 8

We've now been here over a week and I feel there is a settling into a kind of routine.
Every Sunday in Sibiu there is a flea market, basically a large car boot sale without the cars. I ended up going on my own because one of us decided to stay at home, and the others missed the bus I got. (If I'd had my phone I'd have met them later but, oops, left it behind)
So, a wee adventure on my own which I really enjoyed. Wasn't really in the mood for buying but wanted to see it. A lot of tat. A lot of 2nd hand clothes which if I could try stuff on and had room in my suitcase would be fantastic. I did buy a new leather belt and managed to haggle a little.
The gypsy women are so colourful, those dressed traditionally but many are also wearing western style clothes.

Decided to walk back, partly because I wasn't sure where the stop was for my bus.
Lovely walk and quite peaceful, a few interesting buildings, the eyes again.

Back towards the Piata Mara (Big Square) by way of the Piata Mica (Small Square) and the Pasajul Scarilor (Stairs Passage).

Heading up

Looking down

Got to Piata Mara and decided it was time to chill and eat, salad and chips with a lovely Romanian beer, a little sketch while I was sitting enjoying people watching. A mother walked past holding hands with her two daughters… the daughters were at least in their late twenties. Very lovely.
Off to see the Salvador Dali exhibition at the Bruckenthal Museum. It consisted of his prints, from the Purgatory, Inferno and Paradise series.

Day 7

Today is a very quiet day because after our cultural experiences of the week we decided (why I don't know) to go for a wee drink in the local bar, called Naf Naf.

They do cocktails….. enough said.

Day 6 and it's a Friday

We all agreed to begin later today as 9am is too early so 10am it is. Down to the pink house to carry on with my hairy face.

This is how he's looking a little after lunchtime.

Our studio: 

working away

Anna in full teaching mode

Only half a day doing masks as we were taken to meet Ioana at the school where she has pupils who were taking part in a competition of icon painting at the Astra park museum. Lots of youngsters from maybe 7/8 years to around 17years were all taking part, giving presentations of their skill at traditional crafts. Weaving, masks, icon painting on glass and wood, corn dolly making and cross stitch. Really interesting and quite amazing work being produced by them all.

Pupil and tutor

Unfortunately it was raining the whole time. We did walk around the lake to give the students time to prepare themselves and start work. Too many incredible things to see! The park is an outdoor museum of traditional buildings from around Romania. Certain buildings were chosen and then dismantled, transported to the museum and reassembled exactly. All furniture, tools and suchlike were also brought.

As we were mainly there to see the presentations there was not enough time to take  a look at the buildings properly so we are going back to spend the day.

Here are two of the sculptures that dot around the place:

This is one of the many water wheels and the strange wooden contraption out front is a washing machine.

smoking area

I didn't say before, but all the youngsters and adults were in the traditional dress of the areas they came from. It looked amazing.

Anna in traditional garb

Day 5

Today was another early rise… comparatively speaking and off to make more masks. Our 5^th colleague had her first experience of the masks although she is still recovering from the journey here. 

So the day was short and we were off home before 3pm. Walking in the heat of the day again though – I reckon we’ll get our timings sorted by the time we leave.

I finished my first mask and started another. Here are the two sides, 1st is front. It has been padded.

The next image is where I've just played around with the jawline, not sure what's happening but wasn't wanting a square jaw.

The girls finished their masks, they're looking brilliant. We have worked hard.

A stroll home in the baking sun, a wee siesta and then out for a wander in the main square. Where we saw kids playing with the water jets in the middle of the square, they shoot up then disappear so it's chance a soaking crossing through. A guy cycling up and down outside the cafe talking at everyone (no-one in particular) in Romanian so didn't have a clue what was being said although when he tried to do a wheelie and failed miserably (probably due to his bike being a very old and heavy one) I got the feeling he may have been drinking a little. 

Day 4

Today was a holiday due to it being a Saint's day, because of this a day trip was organised.
Walked to Ioana's house and there to rail station. Very glad we had someone who could speak Romanian because it was all a little confusing and I certainly would not have known which train to take.

 There was no platform as such so we had to wait until the train had gone to cross over.

So, off to Sibiul which was a half hour away and as the journey progressed we got more into the hills and country. From there a longish walk (there is a lot of walking in Romania), the weather was pleasant and had become slightly cooler near the hills but there was a dark cloud in the direction we were headed. Lots of land for sale.
The village came into view and we were welcomed by a famous fella.

Arrived at the museum of glass icon painting. Quite an amazing place, it houses the largest collection of icon paintings.

This is us all after we'd been inside the museum, and after the dark skies, thunder and rain. Off on a wander and it was so lovely to be out in the country. Most of the roads in the village are just stone inset in the ground, not shaped or in any pattern, but lumpy and bumpy. Definitely have to have good springs on your car. At one point an artic truck passed us with not a massive amount of room on either side and the road was getting narrower.

Stork's nest on top of telegraph pole, The underneath of the nest looks man-made so I'm assuming it was made for this purpose as it is in other countries. 

A walk around with a little rain which in actual fact was very pleasant, lots of photos and then a visit to Cafe Elena for a beer and some food.