The policy of 'village containment' had been started in June 1982. Based on ideological criteria the policy had as its aim the disbanding of 6000 villages out of total 13000 (people were to be rehoused in blocks of flats in new housing developments). Amazingly, the poorest and most conservative area in the country, Maramures, has survived almost intact. The economic changes may have hastened the pace of life somewhat but the steam trains still run and houses are built with neighbour's help. Haystacks can be seen in the fields and a wedding is a pretext for the whole village to have a feast.