Sleeping in a mushroom in the Bucegi mountains

Dear traveler,

Mamarmot promised me that today we'll be sleeping in a mushroom. 

My imagination started to run towards the tiny mushroom houses from the Smurfs tales, this mostly because Mamarmot wanted to keep the location secret and she didn't show me any pictures. 

-"You will like it, Marmot!"

That's all I know. And what I also know is that people sleep in this mushroom when they really need it so, if there won't be any room for us, we will set up our tent next to it. What I like the most is sleeping in the tent but I couldn't say no to the opportunity of tucking in a mushroom.

We start walking slowly on the paths of Bucegi mountain, probably the only mountains I can recognize without having to ask where we are.

The landscape seems to be part of a deserted island: we pass over a creek on a wooden bridge, rocks covered in colored lichen are spread in the grass, that ram's head looks like it fell from a pirate ship. Woaaaah, what? I get closer to get a better look at it. Hmmm, I wonder why it's out here. How creepy.

We continue our walk through the pirates island.

You do understand, traveler, that the story is not about an actual island, but this is how this place makes me feel.

Maybe because no one is around here.

An abandoned sheepfold makes me think about an old shipwreck, during the times when an ocean lied in the place of these mountains.

And there's something more. The silence!

I just realized that we haven't spoke a lot since we left and this silence feels so heavy.

-"Mamarmot, tell me again the story about your lone wander on this trail."

Mamarmot has the habit to hike alone at least once a year. And this is one of the trails she walked alone a few years back.

I get into a conversation with Mamarmot and I forget about the pirates island. The trail continues to take us higher, on rocks and through mountain pines, next to a dried up waterfall and takes us next to a flock of sheep.

If earlier it was too quiet, now this problem got solved.

We also find a few big red mushrooms.

-"This is how the one we'll be sleeping in looks like?"

-"Wait and see, marmot!"

We leave the flock of sheep behind and silence surrounds us again. Even if we're talking, the words seem to disappear as soon as we speak. I am trying to scream, to see if I can hear an echo but the sound doesn't reach too far.

Reaching the crest, sights start opening up and then I see the mushroom.

Half a red and white ball, lying in the middle of a saddle covered in yellow and fluffy grass. How cool!

I enter and I already chose the top bed for tonight. Especially because it seems that we'll be the only ones around here. Or at least this is what I thought..

We are alone for a long time. From time to time, hikers pass us, continuing their hike. We enjoy a book while sitting on the grass and relaxing in the sunlight, or we explore the crests looking for interesting plants.

The sun starts to get an orangey shade when the first hiker appears, that lies next to the refuge and takes a power nap. Then another small group of hikers and before you know it, the first tent pops up.

Well, as long as no one uses the mushroom, that's where I'll sleep.
We enjoy an instant noodle soup and biscuits and the last hiker appears, with a clear direction.

-"I didn't bring a tent on purpose, so I can sleep in the refuge."

Although in the mushroom there is enough room for at least ten people, we leave the last comer to sleep there and we get our tent ready in the purple light of dusk.

It's better this way. We had the chance to take some awesome photographs of the starts. As usual, me from the tent and Mamarmot from outside.

Now let's get some sleep as tomorrow we have some walking to do.

I wake up the next day in the sound of a closing tent zipper. Mamarmot went outside to enjoy the sunrise. I can see a pinky light but I'm to lazy to go out after her. Instead, I open the zipper a bit and enjoy the sunrise view through a small crack, so small that the chilly morning air won't come in.

Before she returns from her photo session, me and dad are already up.

-"We make a coffee and we hit the road?"

-"Well, there's not much water left."

-"Oh come on, there's not much walking to do up to Omu, let's make a coffee."

Mamarmot cannot survive without coffee. I'll stay out of this, but to me, not having enough water doesn't sound right. And since she's nice , she makes more coffee and shares it with the hikers next to us.

We pack up our tent and we hit the road. It's already pretty warm outside, although it's only 8 a.m. We enter an area covered in mountain pines, where we barely see the waymarking. It's brilliant! I feel like I'm in a labyrinth!

-"So, Mamarmot, how much is there to walk up to Omu?"

-"Well Marmot, we'll be walking for some time through this labyrinth and we'll be climbing on a ridge, then we are there. At least, this is what I remember."

Well, dear traveler, I must tell you that there was not only one ridge to climb, but three. Big and wide. And tall.

Outside is hot already and my folks realize that the water we have with us will not be enough, so they leave it all for me and they take a small sip every once in a while.

I take the last sip somewhere near the Ocolit peak. But we finally got here and we refuel with cold water. And Mamarmot with another coffee, as the one with which she wasted the little water we had with us, was not enough for her.

It's the first time for me here and I gaze in the distance at the clouds, dancing around over crests I seen only from other directions. It's very beautiful here, at Omu.

The trail from here to Babele is like a walk in the park. I run and jump around and I am enjoying this beautiful adventure.

Mamarmot tells me that she did a big mistake with the water. If usually she takes around 3-4 litres with her, she doesn't know what was in her mind to take only 2 this time. Besides, she souldn't have wasted it on coffee. And since she knew the trail coming from the opposite direction, she didn't estimate well how long the trail will take.

It's ok Mamarmot, it's part of the learning process.

We reach Babele cabin, and from here, we enjoy the dancing clouds and mountain pines for a while, and without noticing, we reach our car.

On our way back home, I', daydreaming about the places I've visited. Pirates islands and labyrinths, dancing clouds and sleeping in a mushroom. Well, actually, next to the mushroom, but maybe next time I'll get lucky. And a piece of sunrise brought inside our tent.

I ask Mamarmot

-"And in which magical places we'll be sleeping next time?"

-"Marmot, I think we'll be going to a place where a lonely rock stands. "