IASI DAYS are the BEST days!

So this past week/weekend was Iasi Days.

Best. Thing. Ever.

Not so good for my wallet or my waistline but it was a joyful occasion indeed.

**Normally I crop, and sometimes lighten, my pictures for your viewing pleasure but I have so many now that you'll just have to battle your way through unedited pictures. Enjoy though!

DAY 1 of Iasi Days:

We were unbelievably starving after coming back from the clinic and institute so

naturally we stopped for meat on the side of the road. :)

I pointed to a giant thing of meat and waved money in front of me.

They figured out that I wanted it. :)

DELICIOUS.

Best hunk of mystery meat I have EVER had!!!!

After chowing down we decided to meander on into the tent that was filled with smoke, dancing, music, and old men.

Did we dance traditional Romanian dances with drunk old men?

Yup.

Was it incredible?

Yup.

I LOVE ROMANIA!

(and dancing, and my wonderful friends here!)

After the dancing somehow we ended up back at our apartment and the following things happened.

Jenna, Heidi, and Debra took their pants off to reveal the leggings they bought.

Then Heidi and I compared our "food babies" that are growing from

eating so much.

 DAY 2 of Iasi Days:

Did I mention that they have interesting, new, and wonderful food?

I did?

Well here are some pictures anyway!

Did I eat an entire pig leg?

Yup.

(The picture comes a little later.)

There are vendors everywhere selling tasty sweet, sweet treats.

One of my favorites was this little homemade gingerbread cake.

YUM.

 

This little shop knew us pretty well by the end of Iasi Days.

We were there every day.

Okay...2-3 times a day.

Seriously people.

They had these doughnut things covered in chocolate, crepes, and grilled corn.

I love them with all my heart. 

Bless their little Romanian souls.

So day 2 continued with us coming home from the clinic and finding this graffiti wall.

This is us trying to look hard core.

Success?

No.

Silliness?

Yes.

It was cold outside but I dislike wearing pants.

Therefore, Britta and I made a pact not to wear pants for the rest of Iasi days.

Leggings as pants = A terrible fashion faux pas

BUT

Leggings as pants= The most comfortable outfit ever! 

Here we are showing off our legs.

Sadly I don't know how to pose for pictures. Ha. 

Sometimes I do yoga in the mornings.

Sometimes I do it outside on metal poles.

Again the silliness continues.

(Jodie is first and I'm second)

Well, at least my balance is improving...

Hala Centrala= Center for cute and cheap coats, hats, gloves, and very friendly people.

I kept blowing kisses to this little boy.

She was such a friendly woman and had such a cute little sailor son!

Shops, shops, and more shops.

I felt happily lost in a sea of fur, wool, and pleather.

It was fantastic.

Day 2 concludes with a pig leg and a giant sausage.

I don't even like meat and yet I ate mine AND about half of Britta's.

I was wearing my stretchy non-pants pants which allowed this to all be possible.

Too much information?

Probably.

I'm pretty sure my parents are the only ones reading this anyway...

:)

Day 3 of Iasi Days:

Rain, rain, rain, I love/hate you, rain, rain, rain. 

All. Day. Long.

Thus, we donned the same outfits we wore the day before (NO PANTS! :) ), grabbed our umbrellas, and set out to spend our monies on cheap scarves, toys, FOOD, and hats.

Our neighbor Bianca weathered the storm with us for a while too!

I so love that girl!

Oh! I bought a coat!

It's red, perfect, gorgeous, and any other pretty adjectives you can think of.

I've always wanted a red coat so thank you Iasi days for making my dream come true.

P.S.--I seriously don't know how to pose for pictures.

I look like I'm in pain half the time but just look at the coat people.

DID I MENTION THE FOOD ROCKS??????

We made our way through the storm to clean the church and this is what we found.

Miles, and miles, and miles of people standing in line waiting to touch the dead hand of the patron saint of Iasi Days.

Isn't that interesting?

They blocked our way to the church so we had to talk to the police so they could let us pass.

I live the craziest life don't I?

Here's Jodie and I in the rain in front of the line!

Yeah for rain!

The elders took us out onto the balcony to show us the line wrapping around the church.

It was so crazy!

I really admire their dedication to wait in that line though. The elders said that the people wait in line for about 3 days to touch her hand! 

It's fascinating isn't it!

Oh ya, here are the elders!

Elders: Bennett, Stintson, Benson, and Cox.

They have been such wonderful assets to us while we have been here and translate sacrament meeting for us every week.

As we walked home from cleaning the church we passed by the place where I got food every single day for Iasi Days.

This nice man had served me time and time again and when he saw that we were there again he ran out to meet us and so I needed a picture with him.

:)

While Jodie was taking the picture he started kissing my cheek.

And then again and again.

HA!!!!

Then he pulled a sign out of his jacket that asked for my name.

I couldn't stop laughing it was so funny that he had it all prepared.

Sorry cute Romanian Iasi Days man my heart belongs to sweet orphan children right now!

To top off Iasi Days we passed by Gelateria MoMo.

(My nickname is MoMo for those who didn't know!) 

 Well that was the past few days...

Complete and utter silliness most of the time but boy was it fun!

:)

Iasi Days = A mighty fine success!