15-VII-1968.

The long way to Romania. We started rather early in the morning, with Janči being exactly on time, the pedant. The nearest crossing was at Vatin, which would be about 100km straight, but there was no paved road, so we had to drive almost to Belgrade... anyway, after about 200km we arrived at Timişoara... which is 100km straight. I guess we traded some on the local flea market, acquiring the necessary amount of lei in exchange for whichever chewing gum, vegeta, cigarettes and nylon stockings we brought along.

Then drove to Arad, there to buy new tires (found Pirelli!) for the fića - and right on time, because one of them burst just within walking distance of the shop. That was the third or the fourth one on the trip so far. We kept the old spare as spare, because it would take just far too long to take out all the cans with luncheon meat and other spam-like stuff (including goulash and pašteta).

We ended up finding a place to sleep somewhere in Deta, in Carpati. Or almost there, can't remember, it was dark. Aranka was bored and wanted to play, probably just as I did, but we were a long way from home, in somebody's house (so we didn't raise the tents, found a lodging), under weak light of, I guess, no more than 60W in a rather large room with high ceiling.

The photo is of a coffee break somewhere between Arad and Deta, or perhaps the day after, more to the east.

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Mentions: Aranka Gnajs, fića, Janči Gnajs, pašteta, vegeta, in serbian

26-VIII-2019 - 15-I-2026