Anyone want a dog?

I have been here in Romania this whole time and I haven't brought up the stray dog situation here. Well, there is just about every mixed breed of dog known to man here simply walking the streets just like people. It really is quite strange. One of the guys on my team said there around 100,000 stray dogs in Bucharest, Romania's capital, alone. I believe it. We had a couple games in that city and there are dogs everywhere, of all shapes, colors, and sizes. There are a lot in Oradea as well. Three dogs actually seem to claim their territory right around the hotel where I stay. It's something different, that's for sure. I actually had a close encounter with a tough dog this fall. This dog has an owner and it is a good guard dog although it has a crippled front leg. I was walking back from the grocery store on afternoon and this dog is barking at me furiously. I was even on the other side of the street. He still didn't like it and he started to charge. I've never seen a dog with a bum leg move so quickly. I put my leg back like I was going to strike and he backed off, but it still got my heart pumping a little. The streets are rough out here - not with gangs, but with stray dogs haha. It's a different world over here - I am reminded of that every day.

I should also bring up the little airport in Oradea. We flew to Bucharest for our last away game and it was an interesting experience. The airport had one check-in desk, a little security checkpoint, and everyone that checked in was going on the same flight. Half of the walls were missing and replaced with plywood due to continued construction. But they had free wireless internet haha :) Good ol' Romania.

I hope all is well with everyone.

Take care and God bless,
Mike