I have been one month in Romania now and I have already travelled to Hunedoara, Sigisoara, Deva, Arad, Alba Iulia, Abrud, Campani, Rosia Montana, Brad and Sibiu.
In Romania, my first time was hitchhiking to Abrud to Rosia Montana. It was really funny ride on a car chart with five people, two guys and three girls. It didn't take long time to get to the car. Mostly because we were in countryside and people are very friendly and kind. One week later we were hitchhiking at the same road again with six people and we had luck to get all in one car, five girls back one guy in the front. Funny ride again :D
Our second time to hitchhike was quite extreme from Alba Iulia to Abrud, because it was midnight, dark and four people, three girls, and one guy. I think we were waiting like 50 minutes then one man took us. Actually he wasn't his way to Abrud but he offered to us to bring us to Abrud with 15 lei per face. So, it was my first time to pay for hitchhiking. In this situation I understand why I had to pay, but it came out that in Romania its normal that car drivers are asking the money for taking you somewhere where he/she already going. And people are paying for it. Of course you are allowed to trade. In Estonia, we don't have this custom. But maybe that's why its not so easy to hitchhike there also as in Romania. So one new thing to me about Romania culture.
When we were hitchhiking from Abrud to Deva with six people it was hard. We stayed quite long time on the road. One guy offered to take us with 50 lei per face. Common, if I would have lot of money I would not hitchhike and I would take the bus. Finally truck driver took all of us. Little surprised, because we thought we have to split into 2 groups to get to Deva.
By the way its very good at hitchhike from Deva to Sibiu or Arad. Next to the speedway there is train station and also bus station.
Today we just arrived to Sibiu by hitchhiking. We splited into 2 groups, me, Sigrid and Daniela, Juliane and we arrived at the same time to Sibiu with 5 hours :) On this trip we had lot of adventures. For instance driver were driving too fast and policeman stoped him and he had to pay penalty for this. After this we visited car driver' brother who has farm near the Deva and he invited to us come in. We got a home made cheese, bread, meat and lemonade. People were so nice with us. We were like part of their family :) It was great opportunity to get more closer to Romanian culture and traditions.
In my opinion, its very good to hitchhike also if you have money enough to pay for train or bus ticket. If you hitchhike you will get more closer with local culture, people, it is best way to practise Romanian language.
Of course you have to be aware of dangerous what can attend with hitchhiking. Its not good idea to hitchhike all by yourself and for safely it would be good to hitchhike with guy.
At the moment I have very good experiences with hitchhiking in Romania and I know even more about Romanian culture, customs, traditons.
