Transylvania

I am sitting in an internet cafe in Sigishoara, having had THE most fantastic day. One of the particularly nice things is that noone here seems to know the first thing about business and I have become a combined business guru and mascot that appears to open all sorts of doors that have previously been closed. Thoroughly undeserved I'm sure, but it is really nice to have people making appointments NOW for when I am next back.
The main point about this area is that it is a Saxon area, with about 200 villages. The Saxons came here from Germany 8 or 900 years ago, at the behest of the Holy Roman Emperor, to provide security for the southern edges of his lands.The houses are unimaginatively beautiful, as are the villages, churches and locations themselves, but under Ceaucescu they were depopulated and devastated. The Mihai Eminescu Trust has been working for 15 years to save these villages and provide sustainable development. They just might be getting to the corner that is marked "turning the".
This is only my second time in the area, but every one of the ideas and business possibilities that were discussed then have been taken to at least the next step, if not the one after that, and even the things I was told then were impossible have somehow become possible, as people are falling over themselves to outdo each other in the services & products on offer to the wider world and to their own citizens.
One of the most interesting conversations today was with an eco-economic professor on CO2 emissions and combatting them. Apparently, miles and miles of forest are not as good at converting the CO2 as a bio-diverse agriculture, including prairie, different trees, different animals and the regular growing season. Transylvania has the possibility to become the Lungs of Europe.In a weird way, the EUs set-aside programme, forced on them by production, may actually be a really good idea.
From people looking for handouts for their business proposition, it would appear that within a very short space of time they have got the idea that what they have to offer has to be saleable at a fair price, make a REAL profit, and provide funds for further expansion. 6 months ago, the trust was being inundated with people wanting a sub for this or that. Within that period - and I like to think slightly because of my prodding them - they have managed to get the sustainability message across. There are now real businesses coming forward with real potential that don't require handouts, and which will be the basis of the economy for the area and its inhabitants for a very long time.
The other really nice thing was meeting an actor called David Mallinson, he who played O'Donnell in the original This Life. Delightful man full of wonderful stories. One of the Ms. Lears asked if he was out saving trees, too. I think the answer is yes.