Now that he’s fired from Top Gear, perhaps Jeremy Clarkson has some free time now to pick up a hitchhiker at the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania? I mean, he does say that “this is the best road in the world”. I’m also accustomed to hitchhiking with problematic people.

So… I basically hitchhiked to the start of the Transfăgărășan Highway just to take this photo (and make this joke). A month ago, Jeremy Clarkson still worked at Top Gear. I’d hoped to put out a little call to action to hitchhike with the crew of Top Gear. It’s a program I really like.

As you might surmise from the big word ÎNCHIS in a red field on the sign, the Transfăgărășan Highway wasn’t open during my visit. It closes in winter because of the snow, I guess. I’m in Romania a bit too early to hitchhike this road. But I’m really enjoying this country, so I’m hoping to return and hitchhike this road when the snows have melted. Normal opening times for the Transfăgărășan Highway are from June to October, so I’m here waaaay too early. This location is next to a Dr. Oetker factory and this is what it looks like in summer when it’s open. Open in Romanian is DESCHIS, apparently.

Even though this is my second visit to Romania, I didn’t hitchhike the first time in the summer of 2013. Why? A Polish friend of mine had told me he had hitchhiked in Romania. But everyone wanted him to pay for the ride. So I thought this wouldn’t be a good country for hitchhiking. Turns out you only need to put in a little bit more effort in communication to make sure it’s for free by asking “fără bani?”. I hope he’ll give Romania another shot one day.

As in Sibiu before this, I’m just really enjoying Romania thus far.

#Romania #hitchhiking #summerplans #onecantry (at Transfăgărășan highway)