Racing tortoises in Măcin

Dear traveler,

Let me tell you a story about Romania's oldest mountains.

We got here yesterday and we slept in our tent, probably the first time we camp this early, but here it's quite warm and clear. We actually had the chance to see a starry sky and to take some photographs.

I've been here before two years ago but I just found out now that these mountains are the oldest, while I was hiking next to Mamarmot on the trail that takes us to the highest peak of these mountains, Țuțuiatu peak. Don't expect that if they are old, they're also tall, as these are the smallest mountains from our country, a fact that actually makes me quite happy since I'm not really in the mood to climb too much today.

Mamarmot shows me the direction and it actually seems at a stone's throw away. Dad decided to climb with his bike today, so it's just the two of us with some friends on the trail. 

At least this is what I thought. But at every step I take, a lizard shows up, a bird, butterflies and many other insects. However, I'm looking for something else. I've got an eye out after tortoises, as last time I didn't see any, although I've been told that there are many out here. If I don't see one today, I won't believe anyone anymore.

At some point we take separate ways from dad, as the bike trail climbs in a different direction. We have small slopes from time to time, but nothing too serious.

As we climb, we start seeing the distant fields, which resemble with a quilt, tailored out of square patched, of all colors. It seems though that this tailor really loved green.

These mountains don't have the forests which I'm used to. Here we have many green trees, in bloom with spring flowers, raw green grass and rocks of all shapes and sizes.

At one point we see some flowers which I recognize. They look like what we planted in our yard and they are everywhere. I had no idea that they grow in the mountains.

I race with Mamarmot on a slope and tiredness kicks in. Now I really want to reach the peak. Oh wait, the peak is right a few meters away from us. I didn't even realized it. I love these small mountains!

Here, at the peak, we see the first wild peonies, unfortunately not bloomed yet. Mamarmot says that last time we did not reach at the right time to see them in their glorious bloom as well. I think it's interesting, but I'm mostly interested about the tortoises.

At the peak we find dad, who apparently saw many tortoises on his trail. Bloody hell! I should have taken my bike as well!

Our friend tells us about an interesting trail we should descend on. She promises me that we will not climb anymore. Oooook!

We say farewell to the peak and some speckled goats that probably climbed faster than we did. 

As we descend, Mamarmot shows me more and more wild peony bushes. I think it's a one of a kind show when they're all in bloom.

We descend mostly through the forest, which becomes thicker and greener, and dad lets me on his bike from time to time.

-"Shhh! I heard something crawling through the leaves. look, there!", says Mamarmot.

She turns right through the forest. I follow her. I don't know how she saw it from afar, as she has the same colors as the dry fallen leaves, but, finally, we see a tortoise. And quite a big one. Poor thing, she gets scared and she hides in her shell. I'm trying to pet her, so she'll know we are not trying to hurt her. 

We continue our hike so we won't upset her too much. The forest is more and more beautiful and wild, full of multi colored flowers. I'm playing the Poison Bottle with Mamarmot and we run around like that for a while until there's no path anymore. Looks like we'll be making our way through nettles and wild garlic as the path is not visible anymore. We reach a meadow with high weeds where we take some time for a small picnic before we continue walking towards civilization.

My folks promised me that once we return, we will stop by a cake shop and to be honest, now that I saw the tortoise, this is the only thing I'm thinking of. The path takes us out of the forest, in places with big rocks from where we can see the colorful fields, then on narrow paths and back into the forest.

But we slowly get closer to the outskirts of the forest and to the village. 

After I enjoy my well deserved cake, we continue to the camping where we spent the night. 

-"Mamarmot, where to from here?"

-"Meanwhile Marmot, we'll be riding our bikes around here tonight."