Traditional craft fair in the square

Last Sunday there was a craft fair in the square behind the theatre in Arad. There are several such events in the square throughout the year. At Christmas there is a small Christmas fair and we enjoy sitting in the below freezing temperatures eating grilled 'mici' (a kind of small grilled kebab made from a mixture of beef and pork with seasoning) and drinking mulled wine. A few months ago there was a wine festival and a couple of weeks ago there was a traditional Roma music festival. We had a look round after church with Irina and Daniela (pictured above with Rosie and Yasmina) but didn't stay long because Johanna was at home ill.

Philip bought some honey - you can get a huge variety of lovely honeys in Romania, all produced by small family run 'busineses' (not even businesses most of them, just families). He also bought some quince syrup ...

not tasted it yet but it sounds good! Philip is from Australia but he is happy to settle in Romania and just loves all the traditional aspects of life which still exist here. He hates all the pre-packed, mass produced food in the West and he and Johanna have already bought chicks, duclings and two goslings (for Christmas dinner ... traditional roast goose, none of that modern turkey nonsense!!!)

There were a couple of stalls with the beautiful hand painted eggs which are displayed around homes at Easter. The eggs are first blown and then intricately painted and the designs on them are incredible.

Before we left we bought some mici, some smoked sausage and kebabs and took it all home to eat together. Had we not had a sick daughter at home we would enjoyed to sit at the wooden tables and benches and eat in the square, but the next best thing was to take it home ... mmmm yummy!