The narrow streets of cobbled stone (and other improvised pavement types) were host to a diverse group of friends which resulted in an extraordinarily fun melting pot of personalities, moods and cultures, united under the “sus mainile” slogan. Romania (several regions), India, Great Britain, Switzerland, Vietnam and France were represented one way or another in the group who made the event memorable.

Here’s a mathematical question: V. had met A&A and C&L, but not B&N, A&A had also met B&N, but not C&L, who had also met B&N. How many introductions did I have to make?

Except those resulting from the question above, many – as we joined up with M.’s gang, and fun extended.

The next day we did a few trips in the surroundings, checking out some Transylvanian Saxon church-fortresses in the area, Malancrav and Biertan, and then V. and I took off to Brasov with B&N, who invited us over. We “ticked” Brasov, Bran and Rasnov off V. list, and added the “7-stairs Canyon” on our “to be revisited” list, as it was closed for the moment.

Pictures illustrating the above are here:

couldn’t help taking a piktcha. Or 2. By the way, a story I heard from a friend – on holidays in Switzerland, they stayed at Hotel Ibis. They had pictures on the walls with different hotels from the chain around the world. In their room there was – exactly, Romania. But the picture was showing this building:

Cool people, these Ibis guys. Made a hotel inside the most famous concert hall in the country. Kidding. It’s the Athenaeum. Hotel Ibis is far away, and far from any resemblance.
Further on I crossed Calea Victoriei, oldest street in town, nowadays shopping spree street,

to meet two friends close to the Cismigiu park. While waiting for them I heard a loud noise, and when they came I said let’s go and check it out. What? Where? Let’s cross the Dâmboviţa river first,

and then head towards… yes.

Car races! Formula 3000 (or formula 3? or is it the same?). We had no ticket, of course, just went to check it out. We asked where we can get tickets from, far away, of course. When we were about to go away, I heard a question: “You have no ticket?”. “Err… no.” I was afraid it was a scammer trying to sell us “black market” tickets. “Take these, we’re leaving”, he said. “They’re still valid”. I looked probably incredulous and puzzled, because he came with us to the gate and showed us in, talking to the guards – “they’re ok, they’re ok.”
Then he left. And we were in for a Formula 3000 race. I had never seen the guy before in my life, or thereafter. Was just a good boyscout. Thank you.

We saw the last 3 races on the circuit around the Parliament Palace. And amidst deafening motor noise, I finally understood the racing obsession many people have. The sensations are incredibly overwhelming. Those decibels, they go all the way through your body, and the cars, they go SO FAST – the combination is exhilarating.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay close to the track (actually, we couldn’t have resisted the noise), so we had to go down on the other side, to get to the tribunes. Got this shot at a car on the way, it must have stopped for some technical reason

and one passing by, caught by chance.

While some people had found alternative viewing spots,

we ended up at the silver tribune, bang in front of the Parliament Palace. Surprisingly, it was not jampacked,

probably half of the population of Bucharest is on holiday.
Very good. The city is livable under these circumstances. So we watched the end of the respective race, no idea what class, but cool cars,

then the formula 3 race followed, start taped below:

and aspects of the race below:

at the end, there was a Logan Cup, with the by now famous romanian low-cost cars driven by VIPs.

Was a fun end of the day, especially since some twisted and turned on the track, but no one got hurt, fortunately.
Conclusion – now I get that car races have a charm that is impossible to get from watching them on TV (shocking, isnt it? life is NEVER like on TV), and – they are NO CHILD’S GAME. Makes you dizzy just watching, they’re so fast.

When leaving we took a peek into some tents exposing… err… cars,

a Formula 1 simulator,

and that was that with car races. We headed on through old Bucharest, the area called Curtea Veche, = old court,

and through the Lipscani area, which we found upside-down given some archaeological diggings:

They apparently wanted to refurbish the pavement, but found some historic site underneath! And now they don’t know what to do with them. Meanwhile, i kinda like it like this.

The Hanul cu Tei galleries

are a quiet corner i hadnt known of

and i lika.

I said earlier that I consider Bucharest an interesting city, with touristic potential. Because I, as a tourist, would be interested to see the violent confluence of 3 ages: medieval-burgeois, communist and wild modern capitalist, and Bucharest is the perfect colored example.

There’s plenty to do to improve life in the city, and help tourists get around, e.g., refurbish the old town,

but it should be possible.

It’s said it’s a city you either hate, or it gets into your blood. I don’t hate it, i don’t have it in my blood, but as a tourist, i’d wanna check it out.

…

This concludes the mini-series on Romania, and pretty much the blogging year 2008. Finally. Only half a year late. Better later than never, I guess.

The “Pro Etnica” festival I stumbled upon in Sighişoara is a fine thing. Most minorities in Romania send artists who perform on a scene in the main square of the medieval citadel, songs, dances and what not. The crowd is not as big and crazy like at the medieval festival, creating a very laid-back atmosphere. There are many foreing tourists in this period, and together with the locals they are good customers for the few local handicraftsmen

who come to show off (and sell) their goods.

The citadel gets filled

so that in order for most of them to see the proceedings, organizers have installed a big screen

where I saw some Macedonians singing, extremely well, so I rushed to tape them, but till i got there it was over. And something else started, something that sounded very familiar: “Lasciatemi cantaaaaareeee, con la ghitarrrra-in maaaaanooo”.

There was supposed to be an Italian dance squad, but something happened and they couldn’t show up. Instead, these 3 funny people showed up – you gotta watch for yourself:

It’s a clear example of how the attitude makes a difference. They were obviously not professional singers, with their karaoke-style voices, but their courage of climbing that stage and positive attitude brought them warm applause from the audience.

We went on to check out what was going on elsewhere

(but didnt climb the Students’ Staircase this time),

and by the time we returned to the square la piece de resistence had started – greek sirtaki.

Worth a film:

I enjoyed Pro Etnica. Unity in diversity is much easier to find in art and fun.

Constrasting with the crowded capital, always in a hurry and pointedly materialistic, a oasis of beauty and color, with historic and spiritual focus, but without losing the atmosphere and energy of an “important city” – that is Krakow for Poland, and that is Braşov for România.

I’m pleasantly impressed by Braşov (read: Brashov, accent on “o”). I knew it’s nice in the townhall swuare, Piaţa Sfatului. But this time, thanks to my friend N. (a.k.a. Q-S) I had the pleasure of an insider tour exactly matching my taste (we are not friends by mistake : fast, intense, combining touristic and non-touristic insights, in the company of a good friend. There’s nothing more I’d wished for.

“Have you been to the Small Fortress (Cetăţuie)?”
“No.”
“To Salomon’s Rocks (Pietrele lui Solomon)?”
“No.”
“To Schei, the old neighborhood?”
“No.”
“Good. Then I know the route.”

And off we went. We had 4 hours, and we used them to the max.

We walked up to the Universitaty, for a first panorama with the city and the Tâmpa hill landmark, from a non-classic angle

and reached the Small Fortress. Which is a fully-grown medieval castle

from around 1580, hidden from sight from the city by the woods. Very well preserved,

refurbished and ready to host from teenage parties to formal dances to the Braşovian medieval festival of which I am hearing now.

Good start! Went on down to the park, for a color symphony,

joy and… weddings. I think we saw 10 brides – didn’t take pictures of them because of the crowd, and we had no time to lose. At the entrance to the old city center they made a flowery roundabout

(from where you can see how local nouveau riches are building their villas on a hill close by)

and placed explanatory signs for tourists, in Romanian and English. Good to know.

From the bus station at the bottom of this small hill

we took the bus towards Schei, at the outskirts of the old city. It’s the closest “picknick” area to the center, full of people in spite of the very hot day.

Apparently a king, Solomon, was chased by some enemies, reached this place and jumped with his horse from one rock to the other. The rocks to boths sides of the picture.

He was the only one who made it, and thus gave his name to the rocks. The place rocks too.

Having ticked that off, we headed back, on foot, through the outskirts, passing by a neat church

prepped with wedding folks, obviously

The bridesmaids, all very good-looking, were talking in Italian with Romanian accent. I had to laugh.

Further on, the more well-known St. Nicholas church,

with – you guessed – a wedding going on.

Not just a simple wedding, but one with a Hummer limousine. Like in da American ‘hood.

We smiled and went on to the Schei gate,

and took a peak at the “old town”.

But we didn’t go just yet, made a detour to Catherine’s gate, Poarta Ecaterinei

and then Behind the Walls,

a place of ill fame till recently, now refurbished

and featuring – no, this one you wouldn’t expect! – some wedding folks going for a photo session.

The center is not far,

on narrow streets of cobbled stone

to the most well-known walking street in… Romania, probably, which now bursts with terraces.

Piaţa Sfatului doesn’t need much introduction, the pivotal point of the city; they were building the stage for the Golden Stag music festival (Cerbul de Aur).

The Black Church is another landmark, with its colored clock and imposing silhouette of the largest gothic church in Romania.

“Do you want to take a picture of the Thread Street, Strada Sforii?”

Since we’re here already, of course.

It’s not everyday that you pass by the narrowest street in Romania,

also fully refurbished.

After a fugitive random look into a yard with an old Dacia car,

passing by a street undergoing refurbishment,

we reached the sports highschool arena – a surprising facility in the middle of the old town. Excellent for concerts and other activities.

It’s close to the Weaver’s Bastion, Bastionul Ţesătorilor, which is worth a visit,

apparently they have Shakespearian theatre shows here, you watch the actors in the middle from above. Cool.

Inside the tower there’s a model of the old town,

something both N. used to enjoy studying as kids.

Tennis courts hosting the ATP challenge tour in Braşov, are ideally placed close to the arena, the tower and the Tâmpa hill.

We took a walk around them to get to the other side of the old city, behind the other wall, also refurbished, including some defense towers.

A place to enjoy the city landscape

while sitting down on benches and watching your kids play.

Good lifestyle. They even have a football field “with panorama”

and are still working on other sports facilities.

The wall is looong, for a good stroll.

At the end we turned left to head back to the center, on the main street with terraces

and… the end. Had to catch a train.

…

Conclusion: yes, Braşov is a city you feel like living in. When they’ll finish building the airport, hopefully a low-cost hub, it will really be a Krakow of Romania. I feel better now, as a foreign tourist I would not be disappointed.

A small city lost in the Transylvanian hills, on the road from Târgu Mureş to Turda-Cluj, Luduş is completely off the touristic track. Even for Romanians – as for foreigners, I don’t know if you need more than two hands to count foreign tourists who’ve evere been there.

But for those related in any way to the place, it’s always a pleasure to come back.

Integrated in a typically Transylvanian landscape, the city spreads between hills, which, if you stop for a moment and look, give a feeling of peace and quiet.

The picture is taken from the Salcâm “stop”, a motel on the road which is probably the only touristic spot in the area – at least the only one i’ve seen. The offer is related to modern exploitations of the specific hilly landscap – e.g., ATVs

next to the usual handicrafts.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go to the city center, just snapshot some crops specific to the area (they’re already ripe! autumn’s coming soon…)

and off we go.