Danube's Delta and Sulina - part II

After having explored the Northern half of the Danube delta's canals in a small boat with an oversized engine, we thought that we'd do the Southern half the next day. Our hosts at the Delta Miraj hotel in Sulina told us that the Southern half looks and feels very different from the Northern half and experiencing both is worth the while.

However when we woke up the next day we (especially the girls) were still feeling tired from the previous tour and thought another 8 hour on a speedboat would be too intense. So we decided to take it easy, sleep late and then head towards the beach

On the way to the beach we first met and said "Hi!" to a giant grasshopper

Sulina beach is small but very nice, with fine, white sand. The most remarkable feature is that, because of the huge quantities of sweet water being brought by the Danube, the sea water is not salty at all - that makes it easier on the eyes and also you don't feel covered in a crust of salt after coming out of the waves and drying

Botticelli, after finishing his famous "Venus", thought of gender balance and painted "Adonis coming out of the waves flanked by his daughters" 🤣

Okay, the big cargo ships waiting to enter the Danube (or unload in the port) on the horizon kinda' spoil the painting. Also, "Botticelli" seems to sport an older phone with a mediocre camera.

Here's a teenager with a large hat, on the beach

Afterwards, we went for lunch and enjoyed fruit cocktails

In the afternoon, a bit of fun and relaxation at the hotel outdoor pool

And then, in the evening, the "pièce de résistance", the boat trip to the mouth of the river and in the Black sea. Again, riding a small boat with a 50HP engine is quite the thrill!

Here's where we went on the map ...

... enjoying the sunset on the water

The shipwreck in the picture below reminded me of a "demotivator", a poster I have in my office which reads: "Mistakes: perhaps the only purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others ..."

Sunset on the Musura bay

Sea gulls come to be fed by the tourist throwing them bread and biscuits

It's past eight in the evening and the sun is about to slide behind the horizon

A last picture and the boat headed back toward Sulina to get there before the nightfall.

We slept tight and the next day, after a rich breakfast, packed our luggages and took the speedboat up the Danube river toward Tulcea. We found the car in the car park and headed toward Bacau, passing the Danube with the ferry at Galati.

I would not recommend this road, the Danube level was low because of the drought, the ferry had to take a winded road not to get stuck in the mud and the waiting time between trips was horrendous. Fortunately, a new bridge over the river is being built 15 km upstream at Braila, so perhaps two years from now the crossing would be easier.

^{Crossing the Danube at Galati with the ferry}