The next day we steamed trough the rain towards Galati. Water started to ran into the shoes and gloves after two hours, another hour later I recognized the water running down my back. But the bikes ran fine, except a lost footrest at the Z650. So we were forced to stop at a Garage to buy a bold and nut to fix the exhaust pipe which was tied with the footrest.

In nearly every small village there is a garage or a vulcaniseur, easily to be seen from the main street. The Romanians are pretty good mechanics and always very kind and helpful. In the COMECON times Romania was the main distributor of machines and tools for the eastern countries, and still there is a skilled workforce. Nowadays agricultural products are the main export article, which are less paid. The result is a huge trade deficit and large foreign debts.

Galati is an important international harbour lying at the left side of the Donau. During the withdraw of the german troops in the second World War nearly all of the historic city was destroyed. Nevertheless the cities atmosphere is a charming mixture of mediterranean flair and busy internationality.

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