October 2025. Brasov.
Five days into our Romanian trip, and it’s time for bears.
Mrs RM had decided we could do better than Bran Castle (“a bit Disney), but a visit to Libearty Bear Sanctuary to cuddle grizzlies was a must.
What do you mean I don’t get to cuddle them ?
These are the brown bears, 130 of them, rescued from circuses and travelling shows (and occasional town centre) to live in peace in oak forest.
The expert guide was very keen to tell us how to survive a bear attack, and a couple of Americans were equally keen to argue the finer detail with him.
For the benefit of my readers, I offer the following definitive advice;
Of course, none of that is much help if you’re colour blind.
Back in Brasov, Mrs RM had had an idea. No, not to adopt that one on the left.
We’d head to Sighișoara, birthplace of Vlad Dracul, whose son would scarcely be less welcome a sight than one of those grizzlies.
But first, a bit of trad Romanian grub in one of Mrs RM’s “cherry targets”™.
Ceasu Rau managed to look like my parents house in Waterbeach,
a traditional rambling place picking up business trade from the new town,
as well as the Old Boys meeting every Tuesday for soup.
Our first and last carafe of Romanian Rose for Mrs RM, big brewery N/A lemon beer for me.
Not, in honesty, the most sophisticated dining of the trip, just huge plates of polenta and cabbage and sausage.
But the atmosphere and service are great, and we had free entertainment from a smart looking but agitated lady who kept moving her mysterious bag from table to table. My bet is, in the event of a bear attack, she would NOT be able to play dead/DON’T play dead (delete as appropriate).
retiredmartin 
“but a visit to Libearty Bear Sanctuary to cuddle grizzlies was a must.”
As long as it’s a virtual hug!
Also, almost pointed out the misspelling of ‘liberty’. Luckily, I Googled it. Nice word play on liberty. 👍
“What do you mean I don’t get to cuddle them ?”
Virtually!
“For the benefit of my readers, I offer the following definitive advice”
Yep, that’s a good summary. Black bears are bullies so don’t curl up. We used the motto, ‘if it’s black, fight back’.
Also
– Make noise when walking in the woods. A startled bear may not act normally
– Don’t run away and don’t climb a tree! (bears can climb trees, and even run straight up a cliff! – I saw that from a helicopter once and, if I had been at the top of that cliff, I would have bet my house they wouldn’t be able to reach me)
– all bets are off if you mistakenly get between a momma bear and her cubs
– carry bear spray and/or bear bangers if at all possible… and know how to use them 😎
“Of course, none of that is much help if you’re colour blind.”
(slow golf clap)
Also, black bears have ears that are more pointed vs a brown bear (grizzlies are a subset of brown bears), so you could always let them get a bit closer and use that knowledge to decide what to do.😇
And, of course, black bears can be brown or golden or even white (spirit bear). 😏
“Back in Brasov, Mrs RM had had an idea. No, not to adopt that one on the left.”
(slow golf clap)
“But first, a bit of trad Romanian grub in one of Mrs RM’s “cherry targets”™.”
Apples!
“Ceasu Rau managed to look like my parents house in Waterbeach,”
I flipped a coin and decided that remark was a burn.
“big brewery N/A lemon beer for me.”
Were you driving?
“My bet is, in the event of a bear attack, she would NOT be able to play dead/DON’T play dead (delete as appropriate).”
Pfft. It’s a brown bear, she’ll wear the bag like a backpack and play dead. If it’s a black bear, she’ll throw it at him to scare him off.
Cheers
LikeLike