Day at the beach - Constanta

So it's about a 4-5 hour drive from my site to the beach. If I were to go by myself or with other volunteers, or friends and family from the state, we would use public transportation and it would take longer.
This is a channel that the communist Dictator had all the intellectual people manually build. His goal was to have it connect to Bucuresti (the capital of Romania) but the revolution happened, and the Dictator was held to trial and "put down" before the channel could be finished. It's pretty close to being done, but my guides told me that it's unsure when or if it ever will be "completed."

Here's a ship with the city's name. It's a landmarking item. This next picture is Not Only a landmark, but also a lighthouse for ships.

Here we are at a beach restaurant where I got a iced coffee drink and ice cream and food. My travelmate's sister works there and she's a manager.
While I was sitting there, sipping on my frap (no starbucks, but it's an iced creamy coffee flavored drink) I felt like a horrible spoiled volunteer. YES. (it's okay though, I've been back to my site for 1 month, and Life HERE all but made up for it: with the lightning and no water and no electricity and stuff). I don't know if African serving volunteers get to spend a weekend at the beach drinking fraps and sunbathing for 2 days for free. =/

On beach was more secluded, and the other is where we stayed and it's where Bush went to visit.

No such thing as "Topless Beach" in Romania because ALL beaches CAN be topless beaches. I took this for the umbrellas, but there's a picture of the thong swim suits and a person preparing to be topless. Men wear speedos a lot too.
Me being silly, I did go swimming 3 times!! The first day in the warm water! and the 2nd day I went swimming once and I found large seashells to give to my kids in the village as prizes. They cut up my feet!! But I lived, they were shallow.

Here's picture of us: my counterpart, my tour guide, and my counterpart's wife, and me =D

I tore off the pink flower after that trip.
If you're wondering: yes we do have, I think 2 or 3 volunteers stationed there.
P.S.S. If you're wondering how much this cost me, it was almost free, which worries me. Why? I think the intention is honest, but I know I'm kinda being ...bribed in a tiny way because my landlord has this son...and he lives there in that city, and I can't be mean to him or totally ignore him now can I.
We didn't see him there, he was away, but he did call me every day while we where there.

The start of CASR Tourist in Europe

What is CASR? Chinese American Speaking Romanian

So this will be me being a tourist in Europe, we'd better add an H- in front for Hot, just to be clear it's me. HCASR =)

Anyway, this was Tuesday when I went down to the city because I was leaving from the city at 9am the next day, so I thought I'd spend some time with Marie since she was leaving Romania soon (actually this week now) and spend some time with my language tutor, who also lives in the city.
I went to the Eco center (By the way, I was going on a trip with an Ecological center to visit other sites in Romania, they invited me to go with them the week before, and after the elections, the said it was still fine to go with them and they'd cover my costs if the Primaria couldn't. Sweet!!!) to drop my stuff off and There! Found out that Wednesday, was really meant JOI! Joi = Thursday!
Ergo, I learned make sure to understand times and dates in both languages and not to assume that the other person is getting all their translations right.

SO! I spent an extra day with Marie, and helped her clean her apartment before she left the country, I helped a tiny bit really.

This hot toots showed me that you can make root beer from mineral water!! I did not believe her at first, but wow!! It was like a Miracle!! Romanians don't like it though I'd heard, they think it tastes like meds. Only us Americans do.
Root beer FLOATS!!!
Ingredients: Mineral water, sugar, root beer extract, and skill.

I mentioned crazy random thunder/lightning storms here, with pouring rain. I tried to take pictures for you Katie!! They were across the sky!! But I couldn't catch ANY!! Here are a couple attempts =(

And here of course...mosquito bites. I got 11 that night in Galati, the 2nd night I was covered with repellent and got 1. Those ankle ones suck. At the moment, I get bitten quiet often and it's a good thing there's no malaria here. I could put repellent on all the time, but it's too hot to do that.

I'm alive

I didn't die or fall off the face of the planet. Instead I went on a trip from the East to Central Romania and saw all kinds of cool things and met all kinds of cool people, ate all kinds of cool things, etc... It was for "business" so I did learn things too, brain felt like a packed basket of plastic piece ideas shaking around.

So, I was tired after, and here I am at my site trying to find a niche right now, so I haven't been able to put my pictures and stuff up yet.

I will though!

I'd be excited if I were you guys. I felt like a tourist for the first time, and I'm soooo excited to see the rest of Europe now!!