Later, since our waiter then had disappeared, Peter went looking for him. A couple entered the dining room, approached me with a camera, indicating if I would take a photo of them which I did. They thanked me in French (Merci) to which I responded Il n’est pas de qoi (you’re welcome) which surprised them and they asked if I spoke French. Unfortunately I only remember a few words and phrases from high school French so I had to say no. After finally finding the waiter and paying the bill we left by the front door. On the step conversing were 2 men, 1 older and 1 younger. It turned out they were Israelis, father and son, making their first trip back to Romania since 1969 so the father could show his son the town he grew up in (the same hometown as Peter is from). Both father and son like to hike, and joined us as we walked up to see mineral water bathing pits. There was one large open water pit surrounded by a boardwalk terrace. Further on an abandoned mofeta, which we entered with great caution, the ceiling was falling in, made our way down into the pit, checked for gas level, and stood in the gas for a short period of time. The father, 69, is a pediatrician; his son a physical therapist. Then on to a second mineral water pit, this one under roof, whitish water that you dangle your legs in which they all 3 did. It began to rain, but let up some as we walked back to our cars. I talked politics with the son, Peter hiking with the father. Peter and the father consulted hiking trail maps before we eventually parted for our drive back to Miercurea Ciuc for the night.

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