Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from all the craziness in Lupeni. I mean, who knew this little town could pack such a punch? So, I wake up, right? Sun’s shining, birds chirping, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I hit up Strada 1 Decembrie. You know, the main drag. Grabbed a coffee at that cute little café, “La Măcelărie.” Best coffee in town, no joke. But then, bam! My phone buzzes. It’s my buddy, Mihai. He’s like, “Dude, you gotta come to the market!” I’m thinking, “What’s so special about the market?” But, hey, I’m an economist, I gotta keep my ear to the ground, right?
So, I hustle over to the market on Strada Victoriei. It’s packed! People everywhere, haggling over veggies and stuff. I’m dodging old ladies with bags of potatoes like it’s an obstacle course. And then, I see it. A stand selling homemade sarmale. I mean, c’mon! Who can resist that? I buy a plate, and it’s like a flavor explosion in my mouth. I’m in heaven, but then I realize I’m late for a meeting. Ugh!
I sprint down Strada Libertății, trying not to spill my sarmale. I’m thinking, “Why do I even have meetings? They’re so boring!” But I gotta meet with some local business folks about the economy. You know, the usual stuff—GDP, inflation, blah blah. But when I get there, it’s a total snooze fest. I’m sitting there, nodding along, but inside I’m like, “Can we talk about something fun? Like the best place to get mici?”
Then, outta nowhere, the power goes out! I’m talking pitch black. Everyone’s fumbling around, and I’m just sitting there, laughing. Like, really? In the middle of a meeting? Classic Lupeni! But then, the lights flicker back on, and I see this guy in the corner, totally passed out. I mean, come on! Who falls asleep during a power outage?
After the meeting, I’m feeling a bit drained. I decide to take a stroll down Strada Tineretului. It’s a nice street, lined with trees and all that. I’m just enjoying the vibe when I bump into an old friend, Andreea. We start chatting, and she tells me about this new hiking trail up in the mountains. I’m like, “Count me in!” I need some fresh air after that meeting.
So, we head up to the trail, and let me tell you, the view is insane! You can see all of Lupeni from up there. The mountains, the houses, everything. I’m feeling on top of the world. But then, I trip over a rock. Classic me, right? I’m sprawled out on the ground, laughing at myself. Andreea’s like, “You good?” I’m like, “Yeah, just testing the ground for stability!”
As we hike back down, I’m thinking about how much I love this town. The people, the food, the mountains. It’s all so vibrant. But then, I remember I left my car parked on Strada Mihai Viteazul. I’m like, “Oh no, please don’t get towed!” I sprint back, and thank goodness, it’s still there. Phew!
Finally, I head home, exhausted but happy. I plop down on my couch, and I’m just like, “What a day!” I can’t believe all the stuff that happened. Lupeni, you wild! I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Well, maybe for a lifetime supply of sarmale. But that’s it!