h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Travel broadens the mind. Even armchair travel.

When it's written up by non-native English speakers, armchair travel is also good for clearing the tear ducts. I defy you not to laugh heartily at this description of Lacu Rosu (Red Lake) near Gheorgheni, Romania.

http://www.romanianmonasteries.org/bucovina/neamt/bicaz

For maximum pleasure, read this aloud to a willing participant. Elektra was incredulous when I got to the town of Bicaz. She wants to know if it's near the village of Ouai...

This all started Bicaz, er, because I wanted to learn more about the lake, which was formed in 1837 when a landslide blocked the area, engendering the largest natural lake in the country. Of course, I think the Hungarians owned it at the time...anyway, the lake is red because of all the iron deposits from a tributary called, appropriately enough, Red Creek.

Now, this travel description has us wondering about many things. Not the least of which is this sentence:

'During Ceausescu’s reign, these two wonders were compulsory tourist destinations for the ones who wanted to spend their vacations in the mountains.'

We HAVE to know: how did the Ceausescu government force Romanians to go on vacation at Lacu Rosu? Were the terrible busses part of some draconian punishment for violating Communist law? The mind boggles.

That is good! I like the contests with the ducks, and the road just for travelling lovers

Yeah, we were speculating about those traveling lovers.