E3: Băile 1 Mai to Oradea: Day 90

A walk into Oradea, and the end of my walk on the E3 through Romania.

My host at the Pensuinea offered me a lift into Oradea and seemed perplexed that I was choosing to walk. In truth, the first part of the walk was not picturesque. Once I had left Băile 1 Mai, and negotiated pavements being dug up in the next suburb, it was a trudge beside a busy dual carriageway. Car repair shops, places selling agricultural stuff and the like dotted the road between rough grass. After crossing a large roundabout I was pleased my route took me into a quieter area of appartment blocks beside a tree lined road. The blocks were old but tidy. Then I crossed a neat park with a lily filled lake weeping willows, benches and a maze. Here the dogs were on leads, small, cute and being taken for a walk by their owners. It was a huge contrast to the loose hounds in the country which terrorised passing hikers.

I diverted into a shopping mall for a coffee. It could have been anywhere with international names like Zara, C&A and Starbucks. Then the E3 route took me on an intricate route to see some of the most interesting parts of Oradea. The fortress, although built on older foundations, seemed to be mainly 17th century. In the middle of the defensive bastions, there was a cathedral, which did not look to be of the Orthodox religion. 

These pictures were opposite the urinals at the shopping mall, not sure what they meant!

I walked down a number of pedestrianised streets with pavement cafés, mostly unoccupied, the cold and the lateness of the season probably not encouraging lunchtime diners. Around me electric scooters wizzed. The architecture of the buildings looked interesting and I am hoping to learn more tomorrow, from the guided tour I have booked for my rest day.