CONSTANTA, ROMANIA
CONSTANTA, ROMANIA
We learned that Romania was settled by the Italians hence the name. Their language is based on Latin so shares the same alphabet as other romantic languages and we could recognize some of the words. Mersi is thank you, Piscine is pool, Restaurant is restaurant, etc.
We boarded our bus which I nicknamed the Icecube as the driver had cranked up the air conditioning. Thank heavens we had our Tauck blankets with us - even then we froze. We didn't say anything as we seem to be the only ones who dislike the AC cranked up so high you think the season is winter not summer. But when others complained, we added our voices and the return ride was quite comfortable.
Costanta is a city of about 400,000 people. The Communist influence is everywhere. The Commie Condos - apartment buildings - as our guide referred to them, were everywhere. We visited the Old Town where some of the beautiful buildings lie in ruins as the Soviets took them over and then proceeded to devastate them. According to our guide, the families who once owned them are now eligible to take them back but have to restore them to their original glory. That is much too expensive for most, so they turn them over to the city that also does not have enough money to fix them, so they adjoin both restored and modern buildings.
Graffiti adorns most of the buildings in we've seen on this part of the trip. In Serbia we were told that it was a form of protest. When I asked our guide here in Romania, he admitted that it was nothing but vandalism. I assume there isn't money in the budget to remove or paint over it. It really mars the look of the city.
Air pollution is much worse here as well. In some places the air is so bad that not only can you see it and smell it, you can taste it. Our air is so much purer. The pollution also mars the outsides of the beautiful buildings staining the lovely pastel coloured stucco an ugly black.
Here in Romania corruption runs rampant according to our guide. Many of their politicians are indicted and even run for office while under investigation. The mayor of Constanta has been sentenced to ten years in jail. Norma says, "Just like in Quebec!"
He had lots of funny jokes about it. I guess the Romanians have to laugh about it as there seems to be no hope of improvement.
We visited the Museum where we saw artifacts that were discovered when the Communists wanted to put up a parking garage. When they dug they found evidence of civilizations dating back to the first century. Believe it or not, instead of building the garage, they preserved them in a Museum opened on the spot where the garage was to have gone. We saw a beautiful mosaic floor that once graced the floor of an agora or marketplace. We passed by the only mosque in Romania on our way to the Orthodox Church. This was another highly decorated church inside not so much outside. We then walked to view the Art Nouveau style Casino looking out to the Black Sea. It was indeed impressive but we couldn't go in as the building was in danger of collapse!
From there we drove to Mamaia for lunch in one of the hotels that line this peninsula. From there, we toddled down to the Sea for a walk along the water line. You have to see this place to believe it. Every inch of sand is lined with lounge chairs and umbrellas. People in various stages of undress were either in the chairs or walking the waterline. I saw one man who should never have been in a speedo - who was sunburned beyond belief. I don't think he will be too comfortable tonight. We also noticed a woman sprawled on a chair with her legs wide apart. Reminded me of our Bulldogs who used to love to sprawl with all their privates on view. I have a photo if you want to see her.
Then it was time to board the bus again to return to the boat. Tonight, we will finish our packing and have an early night. It is our last night on the boat as we will spend the next two nights in a hotel in Bucharest.
We learned that Romania was settled by the Italians hence the name. Their language is based on Latin so shares the same alphabet as other romantic languages and we could recognize some of the words. Mersi is thank you, Piscine is pool, Restaurant is restaurant, etc.
We boarded our bus which I nicknamed the Icecube as the driver had cranked up the air conditioning. Thank heavens we had our Tauck blankets with us - even then we froze. We didn't say anything as we seem to be the only ones who dislike the AC cranked up so high you think the season is winter not summer. But when others complained, we added our voices and the return ride was quite comfortable.
Costanta is a city of about 400,000 people. The Communist influence is everywhere. The Commie Condos - apartment buildings - as our guide referred to them, were everywhere. We visited the Old Town where some of the beautiful buildings lie in ruins as the Soviets took them over and then proceeded to devastate them. According to our guide, the families who once owned them are now eligible to take them back but have to restore them to their original glory. That is much too expensive for most, so they turn them over to the city that also does not have enough money to fix them, so they adjoin both restored and modern buildings.
Graffiti adorns most of the buildings in we've seen on this part of the trip. In Serbia we were told that it was a form of protest. When I asked our guide here in Romania, he admitted that it was nothing but vandalism. I assume there isn't money in the budget to remove or paint over it. It really mars the look of the city.
Air pollution is much worse here as well. In some places the air is so bad that not only can you see it and smell it, you can taste it. Our air is so much purer. The pollution also mars the outsides of the beautiful buildings staining the lovely pastel coloured stucco an ugly black.
Here in Romania corruption runs rampant according to our guide. Many of their politicians are indicted and even run for office while under investigation. The mayor of Constanta has been sentenced to ten years in jail. Norma says, "Just like in Quebec!"
He had lots of funny jokes about it. I guess the Romanians have to laugh about it as there seems to be no hope of improvement.
We visited the Museum where we saw artifacts that were discovered when the Communists wanted to put up a parking garage. When they dug they found evidence of civilizations dating back to the first century. Believe it or not, instead of building the garage, they preserved them in a Museum opened on the spot where the garage was to have gone. We saw a beautiful mosaic floor that once graced the floor of an agora or marketplace. We passed by the only mosque in Romania on our way to the Orthodox Church. This was another highly decorated church inside not so much outside. We then walked to view the Art Nouveau style Casino looking out to the Black Sea. It was indeed impressive but we couldn't go in as the building was in danger of collapse!
From there we drove to Mamaia for lunch in one of the hotels that line this peninsula. From there, we toddled down to the Sea for a walk along the water line. You have to see this place to believe it. Every inch of sand is lined with lounge chairs and umbrellas. People in various stages of undress were either in the chairs or walking the waterline. I saw one man who should never have been in a speedo - who was sunburned beyond belief. I don't think he will be too comfortable tonight. We also noticed a woman sprawled on a chair with her legs wide apart. Reminded me of our Bulldogs who used to love to sprawl with all their privates on view. I have a photo if you want to see her.
Then it was time to board the bus again to return to the boat. Tonight, we will finish our packing and have an early night. It is our last night on the boat as we will spend the next two nights in a hotel in Bucharest.
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