In the most northern area of Romania there is a fabulous area, featuring unique ethnic, historic, and tradition characteristics. It is generically called Maramures. Having been isolated for a long time, Maramures is a keeper of the tradition of the Dacians (the ancestors of the present Romanians). If you travel here you will be struck by the feeling that, suddenly, you stepped into a primordial civilization: carved oak gates, wooden churches, rich houses, hand woven carpets and old icons, ancient rituals and outfits, elaborate dances and songs, celtic crosses and unknown symbols that send you back to mankind’s early days. In Maramures people are tough and sincere, hospitable and hard working. Here the peasant takes pride in a job well done, that has to last and be a joy to the mind and soul. When you say Maramures you think of Sapanta home of the Happy Cemetery, the only one of its kind in the world. Its name originates from the satirical epitaphs and poems hand written on the crosses. Poems are addressed by the deceased to his or her surviving relatives. A colorful image depicting a defining moment of the deceased’s life - usually the one that led to death - is painted on every cross. The special culture of this place was always linked to the ancient Dacian culture which believed in the immortality of the soul and considered death to be a reason for joy. A lot has been changed in Maramures during the last decade. Houses were restored, numerous wooden churches were refurbished, and roads became more accessible. In many places rural tourism became an industry, a way of life, providing visitors with access to a level of comfort that goes beyond tradition. I ask myself how much of the Maramures patriarchal wealth will be lost and how much will it gain from aligning itself to the demands of the third millennium?