Sunday, Strand and Sheep

So today is Sunday and these are sheep. (Check two titles off the title above!) More specifically, these are the sheep that we got to know on our way to church this morning. Having to wait on herds of sheep, goats, pigs or cows to cross the street before your car can continue on down the road is quite normal here. Today's herd was different though because of its size. I have never in my life seen so many sheep being herded down a road. I know the picture is hard to see (had to take it from the inside of the car) but as far as you can see down the road is all sheep. And, when I took the picture we were only about halfway past the herd. A lot of sheep. One of the herders saw me snap my picture and yelled out "Okay, take the picture of the sheep!" Meaning "Why the heck are you taking a picture of my sheep?" My response to him? "I've already taken the picture!"

The Strand, good old Strand. What is the Strand? It's an outdoor swimming pool that has been built over a natural thermal spring. They are all over Romania. The pump the water from the ground it's really hot. Like 60 degrees CELSIUS hot on average. It was so hot on Friday that I promised Caleb we could go. It ended up being closed but through the gate I could see people. So, we went to the hotel that is next to the Strand (with a private entrance to the pool) and I told the lady at the reception "Please, is there anyway you could let us in? I promised the kids and they are going to cry if they can't go!" (We had some friends with us as well.) The lady let us in (yay!) and we realized why soon after. They were doing final repairs and only just beginning to fill up the deep end pool. Well, that was perfect for us because the water had only filled up to reach Caleb's knees at the deepest point. For awhile we were pretty much the only ones there. It was really great! My friend and I sat on the dry, not yet filled area, and let our boys run around in the shallow water. Caleb LOVED it. I also loved it because I had a horrible cold and so sitting down and watching him have fun was a relaxing and non stressful way to spend the afternoon. Some people don't like the Strand because of the color of the water : really muddy looking. It is but they also pump enough chemicals in it to make it sanitary that I don't worry so much about lurking diseases : )