June 15th Stage 55 Bechet to Turnu Magurele

June 15th  Stage 55  Bechet to Turnu Magurele  80 kms 

Back to Bechet in the car to ride the 45 kms into Corabia which was mainly remarkable for our visit to the Roman ruins of Sucidava just before we entered Corabia.  We were resting in the shade when Mr Dimitro Sapca, the curator of the site and the sixth generation descendent of a famous revolutionary Sapca insisted on showing us around.  And very interesting it was too. Not only were we captivated by Dimitro’s enthusiasm but he showed us some interesting things, but nothing perhaps more interesting than the well which we accessed through a door, down 18 metres of steps to a delicious pool of cool sweet water.  He claimed, and I am sure he is correct, that the well is unique in Europe. We went to his house to collect more fresh water from his well before continuing the ride into Corabia past the huge but utterly derelict textile factory on the outskirts into the tree lined centre of the small town which though distinctly unlively seems to us to be very friendly.

But we had to hurry because another fierce storm was brewing and I tore along the completely straight road into Turnu Magurele but not before the rain began.  Our hotel was immediately next door to the cathedral of Saint Harlambie with its curiously spiraling towers where the wedding march played at least twice;  As at Sremski Karlocva in Serbia we appeared to have hit upon the wedding centre of this part of Romania. We enjoyed sitting in the park in the early evening with all the locals en famille, and especially the children enjoying the play parks, of which these southern Romanian towns seem to be well supplied.

80 kms  270 from Tismana 4335 kms from Galway