Spring came and the surrounding hills (Bâtca Doamnei, Cernegura, Pietricica, Cozla, Carlomanu), lay at our feet intricate paths leading to their tops, as if inviting us to breathe the fresh air from their forests and meadows. In any season the landscapes are memorable. We decided to make a trip to Three Hills (about 660m), Three Buckets (about 680m), and then at Draga Hermitage, climbing Cozla Hill in Piatra Neamt. The route departs from Stefan cel Mare Street, Zoo Park, Colibele Haiducilor, Terasa Gospodinelor until the first glade is reached, the place of yore rustic festivities.

If you want, in the first round you can admire the panoramic view from Bâtca Doamnei up to Săvineşti. One hundred meters above on the right side, we have a view of Pietricica Hill and residential district at the foot of the hill. We pass the meadow and we climb up, as fast as we can, the steep path, or newly built car road, towards the Ski slope and the Cable car. The road cuts through the heart of the mountain, winding and revealing various terrestrial drawings in layers, slices of time from the ancient Eras in the earth formation. Cozla Hill is part of the so-called “Stone Age” and thus declared nature reserve. Therefore, fishing is prohibited here.

After a long climb, we reached the “Three Hills”. We made a stop on the green grass to admire the surroundings. The view of Ceahlău Massif when it’s sunny, that literally fills your soul with amazement, is not to be missed. We continued walking along the path on the mountain ridge that descends and ascends slowly to the “Three Buckets”, accompanied by chirping birds, and the voice of the beech forest. After walking a kilometer and more through the forest, careful where we stepped, we have seen on the path a vixen with her cubs that was teaching them to stand fixed like twigs. On a different hike we saw squirrels and hedgehogs.

Until you reach “Three Buckets”, the path goes through a deforested area for high voltage pillars, where one can catch sight of both sides of the hill. Before reaching “Three Buckets”, you need to climb about one hundred meters up the path, as if you ascend to a castle built on a height that cannot be easily conquered. We couldn’t forget the image of the large rocks that stood in our way and those which have rolled through abduct close to the target.

After we took enough photos in the back of the “Three Buckets”(photographed from a certain angle, the rock formation looks like a giant skull on which the forehead, three eyes and the nose are clearly distinguished), we made a stop to have a snack, and then go back the way we came or continue our road to Draga Hermitage. On the 10th of May, 1764 (according to some scholars in 1769), on the place nowadays occupied by the hermitage, a small church having as a dedication day “The Assumption of Virgin Mary”, was build, right in the heart of the forest. After practicing our worship at the church, we descend the road towards Dărmăneşti district, with our hearts and minds uplifted by the many wonders we had seen on our path!