avril 2008

HERE is a great interview (despite ropey translation into English) between poet Ana Blandiana and Naomi Frandzen of Georgetown University, Washington DC. Ana Blandiana describes so many things that we lucky ones from 'the West' can't even gleen to imagine of life under Ceausescu's megalomanic and brutal rule, particularly during the 80's. You can also listen to it (in Romanian) HERE. This is the poem, 'Everything' ('Totul'), discussed in the above interview with explanations further down: ... Leaves, words, tearsTinned Food,... [Lire la suite]

Commentary: Why Does Monica Lovinescu Matter? Radio Free EuropeBy Vladimir Tismaneanu Monica Lovinescu (GNU) (Monica Lovinescu, a Paris-based literary critic and journalist who encouraged intellectual resistance to Romania's communist regime from the microphone of Radio Free Europe from 1964-92, passed away on April 21 at the age of 85. The daughter of influential interwar academic Eugen Lovinescu, and a mother who was to die in a communist prison, Monica Lovinescu enjoyed tremendous prestige and influence in her native... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everyone, Today, Rosie and I went for a wonderful walk, a Nicole Tour (the first of many, I have the distinct feeling!), planned by Nicole herself in faraway Connecticut, USA. I received a fabulously detailed e-mail yesterday with an itinerary of must-sees between Piata Victoriei and str. Biserica Amzei - many of the properties I had passed many times but not stopped to look, or take the time to know who had actually lived there, but that's half the fun. Such interesting families resided behind those doors and windows:... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody With nothing else to do coz I still feel like varza, (Aura called to see if I wanted to pop round and keep her company in str. Drobeta while she finished packing up her old office, but even that I couldn't manage - pathetic!) I've been on the web all afternoon looking for paintings by my all-time favourite Roumanian painter, Magdalena Radulescu (1902-1983). Sonia had a great collection of her works - how I adored them. We used to stand in front of them for hours, literally falling into them. The ones I've found on... [Lire la suite]

During our time in Sibiu, Flori wrote a horde of Roumanian musicians on Rosie's train ticket so I could go and discover them on Youtubes. As I'm staying home today, it's the perfect opportunity. I wanted to share some real gems with you. The first Romica Puceanu. Sunday saw National Rrom Day. They trashed the stadium in Sibiu and plenty of other places besides. It's hard to feel good will towards these people, find anything positive to say...but there is Romica Puceanu: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=VYneyue08so Here she is singing... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everyone, I've just come back from the most wonderful long weekend in Sibiu with Flori and her Gaby, staying with her Uncle Ilie and her parents repectively. Such kindness and generosity goes straight to the heart and this evening I'm feeling introspective, with a need for quiet. I'm glad to stay home and update this blog as I have no inclination to see anyone and make conversation after such a marvellous weekend that has made me stop, think and count my blessings on umpteen occassions. For those of you who don't know,... [Lire la suite]