Here we go a-bear-hunting...

Did nothing but eat, drink and travel today! Gareth arrived bang on time at 730am to take us to Heathrow terminal 5 for our £50 business class reward flight to Bucharest (courtesy of an age of collecting Avios points at work!). Had to swap the rucksack for a suitcase in the end on account of the nappies and warm jumpers - I'm really not used to packing for cold conditions, but definitely excited; as David would say... "you must suffer for your art".

knackered and hungry in
Angelo airport hotel

We arrived with plenty of time to get to the lounges, although passing Ben Fogle at the scanners looking pretty knackered, we knew he would be heading for a lounge a little less crowded than ours. He is on his way to Long Islay in the Scottish Hebrides to start his "tour de landrover" - good luck to him. We are off to start our Tour de Harghita!

So what am I expecting of Transylvania? not sure really; Lush forests and high peaks, castles, fairy-tales and brightly coloured gypsy clothing. Peasant farmers, traditional ways and horse-drawn travel. I'm not expecting too much from the food or the comfort, as I know it will be basic, home-cooked and probably fairly limited - but I have stated a "no red meat" diet so we shall see. The evening meal in our airport hotel was actually quite nice - roasted vegetables with a wedge of deep-fried polenta. Serious sleep needed now though if I am to make it through the week ahead.