Oh...3 girls...

Let me tell you, the Ploiesti-Vest train station is one sketchy place. Eduard and Fillip were trying to warn us about it, and the three of us just waved them off. Until we got there, that is. Then we understood their warnings and concerns for the 3 of us to be there by ourselves. It kind of looked like a stereotypical subway station that you would see in a movie about New York City right before someone gets mugged.

Thankfully Eduard waited with us and put us into our sleeping car. Now that we are experienced travelers we got on without a problem, found our cabin and got settled in. And then our bunkmate walked in. A Romanian businessman. Yes, man. As soon as he saw us, he got a funny look on his face and said “Oh…3 girls….I am wondering what my wife would think.” We all laughed.

He spoke English very well, and so we spent the first few hours of the train ride talking about everything from Religion to government, to healthcare, to movies and tv shows. It was really fun to hear a different perspective on things and just to chit-chat with someone from a different nationality.

He got off a few hours before us in the morning, so we weren’t able to get a picture taken with him, which we were all disappointed about.

Our 11 hour trainride turned into a 13 hour trainride, and after traveling every 3 days, we were ready to get off the train when it finally pulled into the station in Oradea. We jumped in a cab and headed back to Hotel Melody.

God undertook for us in so many ways during our trips and travels across Romania. It was amazing to see how He had His hand in the entire journey, from having really nice, helpful train companions, to never missing a train or stop, to keeping the three of us safe as we traveled alone. God is always there, but it’s refreshing to be able to see beyond a shadow of doubt how he protected and guided us.

Humbled by his protection,

Ali