août 2008

Dear Everybody, I stand corrected...the Palace of Culture in Iasi isn't closed for just a season due to renovation. It's closed for three whole years, dammit!!! Total idiocy. I'm lost for words (makes a change)... So, if you're going to Iasi, don't bother visiting the Palace except to have a gawp from outside (it is really lovely) 'coz it's no go. Unless, of course, you want to visit Anca. Even though the Palace is devoid of activity, she still has to go to her office every day and though she says she doesn't have time to be... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody, Sorry this is late, but what with that Toad article, I rather lost my rhythm... Back from Iasi in Moldavia now for a full day and I'm glad to be back in my Bucharest once again. I really do love this city. It's home, it's where I belong. I am fully aware that it's polluted, full of some of the most cretinous individuals on Roumanian soil, has dire traffic problems and could do with a really good clean, but...it's my city. I was so glad to visit Iasi at last. After so long with it on my agenda, finally getting... [Lire la suite]

In relation to article below: Oh, what a pile of absolute piffle! And as DaniK says in her comments on Ziua (amongst other things), what possessed the journalist to choose THAT particular photo - so relaxed, so self assured, and if that's a sorry face, then I'd love to see a don't care one. It's a real revelation of his personality. Absolutely no conscience, no shame... And as for the comment "I'm sorry to all those who appear in my notes but I say with conviction that they didn't suffer"...excuse me?!!! Is that an apology? How can... [Lire la suite]

Imi cer iertare fata de cei pe care i-am turnat Ziua, 20/08/2008       -- E regizor, director al Teatrului "Ion Creanga" din Bucuresti si fost vicepresedinte al Uniunii Teatrale din Romania. Are "origini burgheze" si timp de 60 de ani si-a ascuns legatura cu Securitatea, cu care a colaborat din scoala si pana la caderea comunismului, care i-a "dat voie" sa lucreze in Televiziune, sa faca spectacole omagiale pe stadioane si teatru tv in studio.       ... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody, Back from Timisoara, a few days in Bucharest (with Aura and Aylin, dear Nely, as well as Tantza and Mandita - please spare a thought for poor Nicu, back in hospital again and operated on a broken elbow) and tomorrow off once more, this time to the city of Iasi, Moldavia. I've always wanted to spend time in this city for several reasons. Not only was it the birthplace of Milla's father, but it's also a cultural hubbub and known for its churches, monasteries and some drop-dead gorgeous architecture, not least the... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody, Sometimes it does to stick your neck out, make a scandal and a lot of noise rather than remaining quiet, stalwart and elegant. Cornel Todea is certainly someone who should be surrounded by a great deal of clamour, none of it pleasant. As a seventeen year old, he denounced a group of school mates (all of them aged 16) which lead to two groups of arrests, one in the spring and one in the autumn, and subsequent time in prison. Imagine the terror. They were little more than children. One of them was arrested on her way... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody, Oh how sorry I am, how deeply sad. Yet another huge loss for Eastern European Culture. Just shows how out of touch I am here on my Roumanian cloud of bonheur...I only glanced at the papers online tonight to avoid thinking about 12th September which is becoming something of a galloping ghoul that won't leave me in peace for a second...and what do I find? That Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn died on 3rd August. I'd no idea and tomorrow I shall go to the Russian church in homage. This is a blog about Roumania, but he suffered... [Lire la suite]

Cristina Lapis is an incredible woman - the Brigitte Bardot of Roumania. Owner of the shelter 'Milioane de Prieteni' (Millions of Friends) Association where there are currently 800 dogs marvellously and lovingly cared for, she is also founder of LiBearTy in Brasov, a shelter for bears in danger. Some have been wounded by hunters, and others, far worse, have been abused by so-called human beings, though these people do not deserve any such title connected to humanity. See exclusive interview. The bears of Brasov have multiplied... [Lire la suite]

In light of the rising frequency of human - grizzly bear conflicts, the Brasov Mountain Department at Tampa is advising hikers to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while out in the open."We advise that hikers wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise them to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity.Hikers should recognize the difference between brown... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everyone, I'm still reeling from the marvellous weekend up in the clouds with Lidia and Marian. The Transfagarasan is the highest and most dramatic road in all of Roumania and up there, nothing else but the view and the clean air seems of any importance. We left the hassles of every day life at the foot of the mountains, and as we climbed further up, our heads cleared and our spirits soared. The road climbs to 2,034m in altitude finishing at Bâlea Lake, our destination with its wood cabin for coffee. The original Bâlea Lac... [Lire la suite]