Meeting the World

ROMANIA | Friday, 4 January 2013 | Views [459] | View Smaller Image

Moldavia is known as the most religious region of Romania because of the many monasteries and churches. Sihastria Monastery in Neamt County is located in a natural beautiful landscape surrounded by forests. The monastery administrates several hermitages that are more and more visited by pilgrims and some tourists. It was a rainy day when I visited it and the wet tiles, the sound of the rain and the religious chants coming from the cemetery introduced me into a soft atmosphere. However, the sight of clothes hanging out to dry in front of monks' houses reminded me of everyday life's necessities.

Tags: travel photography scholarship 2012

I took this photo in Durău, a town located at 780-800 m altitude in Neamţ County at the proximity of Ceahlău Massif. The location is disadvantaged because of the lack of accessibility since 2006 because the main route was closed due to landslides.
Durău counts few inhabitants that are mainly devoted to agriculture and sheep-farming. There is also a beautiful orthodox monastery founded in the XVII century, where people from all the county go to celebrate the Easter mass.
This old woman is 88 years old and still works at the farm taking care of animals. She was very kind and happy to receive some visitors. Although she didn't speak much, her eyes were very soulful. She lives with her son, a 70-year-old sheep-keeper, and his wife. Thanks to this and other encounters during the journey in Durău, I could experience the humility of a simple life lived in harmony with nature.

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Meeting the World

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