In July 2006 I was invited to visit TVR television
headquarters in Bucharest, Rumania. Rumania has, of course, seen huge
changes since the deposing of Ceausescu in 1987. I only saw a small part
of the city near a huge park but was quite impressed with what I saw.
The people were courteous and friendly; more so than our own capital
city in my experience!
Dan Obada was my
genial host from TVR. His English was perfect, my Rumanian non existent.
I got a glimpse of the huge open space after
breakfast one morning.
This is Parcul Herastrau
and it went on for miles; well kilometres I suppose.
Looking back to my hotel which was only
a few minutes walk from TVR, my hosts.
Fast food it says in the window. Mmmm, not sure about
fast food in any country.
In the evening, hundreds of people were just enjoying
the park: children, parents, grand parents and lovers.
There were cafes, bars, boating lakes and night clubs
all within the vast park.
A distant view of a very east European
looking edifice.
Even popcorn is here to be had. Westernisation is
almost complete...
There's that
building again: all lit up.
The following morning, a huge number of gardeners
descend on the roundabout opposite my hotel.
Renault 12 car presses came to Rumania a long time
ago and the Dacia was born. It used to be the ubiquitous car of choice
but now they are getting rarer as each year passes.
Seeing this old Trabant made me smile;
what a history they have and now become collectors items.
