1.2. The Jazz Festival

Date: July 2007
Location: Gărâna, Trei Ape

There is no better cure for the summer heat than attending a music festival deep in the mountains. The yearly Jazz Festival in Gărâna is the perfect weekend getaway in nature. In my teens a longed to get there. All town spoke of the mystical, misty place in the mountains, where half the city gathers for jazz jamming sessions. For me it meant the promise of an adventure away from home, parents and responsibilities. It was a glimpse of freedom.

Thus you can only imagine my thrill when S., one of my boyfriends best friends, called us one Saturday morning.

"So, you guys are up for 2 days camping in the mountains?"

"Damn, sure!"

"Great! Get ready. I'll pick you up at noon."

So we had 2 hours to pack, get tents, sleeping bags and all the goodies needed for the trip. Needless to say it was a bit of a whirlwind.

At noon he picked us up. Another couple joined us too. We filled up S.'s car but we were as merry as it can be. Next stop Gărâna.

The drive was about 2hrs and 30 minutes. No highway. An old fashioned road trip through rural Banat. We passed colorful villages with ducks and chickens crossing the roads. Old villagers sitting on ancient chairs in front of their ancient homes. Children playing ball or running after said animals on the streets. S. is a bit of a speeding junkie and a drive with him is always an unforgettable experience. Don't get me wrong, he is a very responsible driver, but ever so often he likes to pump your adrenaline levels through the roof. Thus the ducks and chickens crossing his cars path could have easily become our dinner.

Once we passed Resița, we got on the serpentines. S. recommended we hold tight. He mastered the curbs like a pro, but we felt each turn deep in our stomachs. The views were spectacular the higher we got. Yet who cares about views when you feel you're about to fall any minute in the abyss. I was glad I didn't have breakfast.

We got to Gărâna in one piece. Of course we didn't have tickets for the festival, so we couldn't get near the stage. Instead we climbed on top of a small hill behind the stage where we set up camp. The music was loud enough and the hill had fewer tents than the valley and main road. After the tents were set up and ate dinner, we laid in the grass listening to the concerts while the sun was setting. It was an awesome atmosphere. Two girls joined our group. Friends of S. and we chatted way way into the night. Our chatted usually revolved around very philosophical issues. Fueled by beer they become out of this world.

"I can understand now why Ancient Alien astronauts would have wanted to visit Earth. It has its potential."

S. left at some point with the two girls. We went in our tents to get some sleep. It was my first time (and to this moment only time) sleeping outdoors in a tent. Not sure if this was an experience for me. It got very cold during the night. Even if it was Mid-July, the temperature dropped under 10 degrees Celsius. Those sleeping bags were worth every penny invested.

I woke up around sunrise. It was a misty yet sunny morning. It rained a a few hours ago so the grass was all wet and cold. Now the best part of camping awaits: getting ready for the day. Of course there was no bathroom or restroom. The only ones available were in the guesthouse and we didn't have access to those. Like the rest of the campers I needed to get myself cleaned in the cold creek and do my duties in the woods, behind a bush. Delightful. Being a part of nature is wonderful. I felt it very vividly that morning. But it was the second and last day so might as well forget about this small inconvenience and enjoy the rest of it.

After we ate the rest of our food and dissembled the tents S. showed up. He suggested we walk to "Trei Ape", a lake nearby. And so we did. The two girls from last night joined us too. The sun was high above us and burning our skin already. We walked on the roadside while cars drove past us. It smelled like summer with a cool breeze of manure. But it smelled like summer. And it was a gorgeous summer day.

"Trei Ape" is a village/resort with a lake and lovely mountain views. There was a wooden dock on our side and not a soul in sight. The lake was inviting to take a dive. S. and the girls did.

"Come in! The water is great!"

"Right away!"

Swoosh! and besides me everyone got in the dark blue water.

"Spielverderber!", they yelled back at me. I know, I know. But I preferred laying in the sun, roasting my chicken legs.

All that splashing and swimming made them hungry. Around 1 PM we got on our way back to the car to get something to eat and start our drive back. Our skin was all red by now. The mountain sun left its marks on us all.

We still had some leftovers in the car, but decided to stop on our way back to some roadside restaurant for a decent meal. The two girls said their goodbyes. We jumped in the car and drove off. Serpentines, villages, ducks... all passed by faster than before.

We made it back to Timisoara in the late afternoon. In one piece.

Website of the event: https://www.garana-jazz.ro/en/