simplicate

there’s an old phrase that says about romania <what a great country! too bad it’s inhabited…> and how extraordinary true that is!!

i went to cluj the other weekend, for the first time. i had heard a great deal about it – wonderful sight, “dealul feleacului”…apparently some sort of a touristic city. but the romanian tag hit me from the very beginning. first of all, despite the long trip to the hotel, i couldn’t tell any difference between, let’s say, a school or a museum or a simple apartment building. i could, however, notice the big sign saying <cemetery>. this town is laid on the right and left sides of the small somes, and still the river is literally treated with the back. all buildings are facing away from the river, and it’s shores have a very clearly stated usage – garbage bag. seriously, passing a bridge over somes is like taking a trip to a dirt camp! another typical behaviour – the newest mall has about 2500 parking spaces, half of them empty. but don’t dare to imagine there are no illegaly parked cars. no way. the first 2-3 rows of cars are packed up, mainly because each self-appreciating driver is convinced of him being entitled to a 1-minute-away-from-the-door spot.

an upside, though? one way streets. cluj is one of the very few cities in romania that seems to have realised that a little detour is less time consuming than endless queues on both ways streets. however…interesting enough for a one time experience.