Folk and Fortifications

The day started with a visit to te very large grounds of the Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization in the outskirts of Sibiu. They had hundreds of outdoor exhibits mostly concerning folk industries like pottery-making, weaving, cider and oil presses, and mills of all sorts. Although most of this technology goes back to the Middle Ages, at least one of these mills was working until 1960. There were also homesteads of the characteristic styles of different regions. In the fence below, notice how the fence was woven together out of green branches and then a roof built over it to keep it from rotting in the rain.

The funky-looking wooden ferris wheel is actually a swing (or a medieval carnival ride) and we saw a picture showing it in use by kids and adults.

This is the painted ceiling of a traditional small (and I mean small) wooden church from Maramures. The sanctuary couldn't have been larger than 12' x 20'.

Many of the exhibits were arranged around a small lake---you may notice the collection of different kinds of windmills behind Jo Anne, Marta, and Mary.

In beautiful weather like we had this morning, even the Middle Ages seem attractive.

After lunch we were free to wander around the city admiring the amazing Saxon architecture of central Sibiu. A portion of the city walls survives, and each of the towers was maintained by a different Guild. This tower was maintained by the Potters Guild.

Tomorrow we're off to the village of Gagy to meet and get to know the people of our partner church, and learn what village life is all about.