ROMANIA TOP 10
10 Things I learned in Romania…
1 – The Romanians love to rollerblade. I thought zipping around on rollerblades was a thing of the past, but the Romanians haven’t forgotten this fun past time. Whether it’s a way to get from here to there, a form of exercise, or simply a leisure activity, rollerbladers can be seen everywhere.
2 – Security is taken seriously in Romania. Numerous buildings and garages are locked with giant key locks. To add an extra security measure there are metal rings found around each lock to stopped them from being cut or banged off.
3 – Romanian women love red hair. I don’t think I saw a natural redhead my entire month in Targu Mures, however, there were plenty of woman with a bottled version of auburn, fire engine red, or ginger.
4 – The buildings in Romania are an interesting combination of the past and the present. They have a beautiful blend of color and life mixed with the troubled past of communism. The buildings are crumbling, the paint is peeling, but the beauty is still evident. Photographing these buildings was one of my favorite past times this month.
5 – Dacias are everywhere. During the time of communism these little cars were the most readily available. Now, intermingled with the older models are new and improved Dacias, but still the most common are the little square reminders of a different time, when choices were limited and you made do with what you had.
6 – Gypsy children are beautiful. I have never seen such gorgeous children as I did in the gypsy villages. Some are far skinned and blue eyed, others are olive toned with dark eyes, but either way their beauty is undeniable.
7 – Giant bird’s nest line the roads of Romania. To stop the birds from building on the telephone poles, the Romanians have created man made structures just for the large nests. It’s a bit of an odd sight seeing such massive nests precariously placed on top of large cement poles.
8 – Spring is upon Romania which means one thing… flowers. They are for sell in the streets and in the stores and in bloom in the parks and in backyards. It’s truly a beautiful sight to behold.
9 – Smoking is the norm in Romania. Young and old, male and female, it doesn’t matter, cigarettes can be found in the hands of almost everyone. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed a smoke free environment, it’s never fun going home smelling like an ashtray.
10 – After the long and cold winter the Romanians rejoice in a chance to enjoy the spring sun. Cafes and restaurants set up tables outside and ice cream booths pop up across the town. We joined the natives and took advantage of the chance to sit outside and bask in the pleasant spring sun.
