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(Photo source) After a battle that has lasted nigh on three years between Bucharest City Hall who wanted to 'move' Matache Hall (Hala Matache) and NGOs trying to save it from demolition, oprescu's rats slunk out of their holes after dark last night (around 10pm, according to reports) and began to rip the roof off, shunning daylight like common thieves. There was no approved PUZ and therefore no legal demolition permit could possibly have existed at the time the so-called 'work' began and thus, once again, we are looking at the... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) What could have been a superb event for Romania abroad has turned into a scandal. How sad it is when culture becomes so polluted by ineptitude, politics, self-gratification and incompetence that those who really DO represent culture feel obliged to back away... The 33rd Salon du Livre in Paris is rapidly approaching and several notable Romanian authors have decided not to attend Paris's greatest literary event of the year in protest of ICR's degradation in the hands of its 'director' (entre guillemets), Andrei Marga. ... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) And so, Romania hopes to have the remains of its most famous sculptor, Constantin Brancusi, returned to his native land. A court decision will be taken here in France in two weeks time. Puiu Hasoti, a previous Romanian Minister of Culture and National Heritage, told French RFI that hopes of returning the remains of Brancusi to Romania rest on the goodwill of the French Government. "The government is calling upon a cabinet of Parisian lawyers to obtain all the necessary decrees and legal permits necessary so that... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Wow! Bucharest has gone nuts for St Patrick's Day this year, what with turning the Casa Nebunului green, concerts, a ball at the Marriott and other such shenanigans! Fantastic! Check out THIS video :o) There are five whole days filled with a variety of events throughout the capital which started Friday evening with the ball, and then there's a whole heap of stuff organised in partnership with the Irish Embassy running through until Tuesday. I wish I were there to see mad leprechauns bouncing around the Old Town with... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) I watched the winning entry for the selections chosen to represent Romania at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden in May, Florin Cezar Ouatu, with a mixture of amazement and horror. I couldn't, to be honest, believe what I was hearing... a falsetto prancing about the stage dressed like Adam Ant and singing terribly off-key. The opening bit was far too low for him and then, loe and behold, he turned into what one can only describe as a crazed Madame Doubtfire on hormones... Aoleeeeeeeeeeeeu!! See the video of... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) This time of year is packed to the brim with wonderful traditions in Romania. To mark the beginning of a new life cycle through the arrival of spring, Mărțișor is held on March 1st which, according to the old calendar, is also the Spring Equinox. It is specific to Romania and Moldova and dates back 8000 years, although similar customs are found in Bulgaria (Martenitsa), Albania (mărțiguș), Italy and Greece. So, here is some background for Mărțișor (from the word for the month of March - Martie, with the endearing... [Lire la suite]

Really, you couldn't make it up... Two former Romanian Agriculture Ministers, Decebal Traian Remes and Ioan Avram Muresan, were sentenced yesterday to three years in prison without parole for corruption (bribes and influence-peddling) in what has become known as The Sausage Case. The High Court's decision is final. According to the DNA prosecutor’s indictment, on 13th and 23rd September 2007, Remes, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development at the time, received promises for mici and palinca worth 1,500 RON (wow! How much... [Lire la suite]

Dragobete is the Romanian version of Valentine's Day celebrated tomorrow on 24th February. It is sooooo much lovelier than Valentine's without all the commercial bruhaha and is steeped in tradition. Dragobete (also named Dragomir), traditionally the Romanian god of love and well-being, was the son of Baba Dochia, the main character in the pagan myth related to the arrival of spring and the end of the harsh winter. The legend of Dragobete goes as follows: Baba Dochia is said to have been a very cruel mother-in-law who never missed... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) I'm stunned! Speechless! And in SUCH a good way! Ever since the 'potential' negative ad campaign began in the UK on Wednesday with readers of the Guardian newspaper encouraged to send their suggestions for posters aimed at detering Romanians and Bulgarians from moving across the puddle, there has been a massive - and I really mean MASSIVE - outpouring of the most incredible national pride I have ever seen from Romanians for their own country. EVER. The social networks are full of superb articles from journalists such... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Well, it was sure to happen and it has. Hurrah! A very bright Romanian campaign has hit back in style at the proposed negative ad absurdity in Britain aimed at keeping Romanians and Bulgarians OUT. Oh-You-Tee. That's right. OUT. Concerned about a possible (and groundless) influx of new arrivals when immigration restrictions for Bulgaria and Romania are lifted at the end of 2013, the British media is reporting that ministers are considering a negative ad campaign that would dissuade wannabe migrants from heading to the... [Lire la suite]