What’s there to do on a sunny Saturday afternoon, when summer is almost over and school will start soon? For example, you can sit in the shadow of a tree on the edge of the lake in Park Herăstrău and share secrets with your best friend.
Aug 292009
Aug 182009
And another (more patriotic) shot of the mausoleum.
Aug 172009
What does a citizen of Bucharest do if it’s nice outside and it’s a Sunday? A lot of them are heading for one of the city’s parks to chill in the shade on a wooden bench, talk to friends, play some volleyball, walk hand in hand with their sweethearts, play with other kids (if we’re talking about the little citizens), listen conversations of their neighbourgs, watch the old people play chess, rent a boat, check out other people’s outfits, drink a beer if there’s a beer garden nearby (there always is one), take pictures (like myself), rollerblade or ride the bicycle, jogg, walk the dog (if it’s allowed), feed the geese or swans or ducks, smell the flowers etc. Today’s photo shows the central alley in Carol Park on a Sunday. And as an added bonus, aside from the greenery and the people, there’s something else for you to enjoy in the picture: a piece of communist architecture, the mausoleum built in the honor of … hold your breath … “the heroes who fought for the freedom of the people and of the motherland and for socialism”. You can breathe now. I’m not kidding, that was the name of the monument during the communist regime. It was built in 1963 and until 1991 it housed the remains of many communist leaders. Nowadays the mausoleum contains the remains of soldiers fallen in WWI and has been dedicated to the Unknown Soldier. In front of it there’s a small monument flanked by guards where an eternal flame is burning.
Aug 052009
Versiune în română
Carol Park has gone through many changes since its inauguration in 1906, including a change of name, being called Liberty Park (Parcul Libertăţii) during the communist regime, but one of the attractions that has withstood the passing of the time is the Zodiac Fountain. Located in front of the park’s main entrance, the fountain dates from 1935 when it was built for the first edition of a popular celebration called “The Bucharest Month”. “The Bucharest Month” had only six editions being held every year between May 9 and June 9 until the starting of the war in 1940. The fountain, looking like a huge footed serving bowl was designed by architect Octav Doicescu and erected by the architects August Schmiedigen and Dorin Pavel. Its name comes from the twelve mosaic representations of the zodiac signs made by scultptor Mac Constantinescu.
Jul 282009
Bucharest is scorchingly hot in the summer with temperatures in the uppper 30s and sometimes lower 40s Celsius. That is the reason why many people look for shelter from the heat in one of the many parks sprinkled around the city (because yes, Bucharest is a lot greener than it appears on a first sight). Today’s photo is from Cismigiu Gardens, Bucharest’s oldest park. The gardens are a great place to stroll and enjoy the peace that one can feel finding such an oasis in the middle of a hectic city. Among the lawns and trees and the winding alleys you’ll find a lake with rowboat rentals, a playground for children, a chess area where old people play tournaments, many statues and plenty of park benches. This is also one of the best spots in the city for people watching, all ages being well represented: children playing, couples strolling hand in hand or kissing on the benches, old people snoozing or chatting. Cismigiu was first designed and laid out in 1843 by the German landscape architect Carl Meyer, on the commision of Prince Gheorghe Bibescu. The official opening took place in 1847 but the park continued to be developed by the architect until 1870. More than 30,000 trees and plants were brought in from the Romanian mountains to be planted on the 17 hectares park.