ADVENTURE TRAVEL: Carol Park and other Amazing Bucharest Natural Places

ADVENTURE TRAVEL: Carol Park and other Amazing Bucharest Natural Places
By Jorge Jefferds December 11, 2015

When we think of nature in a city like Bucharest, we always look forward to visiting castles like the one owned by Count Dracula. This time, however, the idea is to enjoy the Christmas breeze that dominates this lovely city, and there are three famous natural spots where the visit is a must.

A Sunny Day in Carol Park

Carol Park
Also named Liberty Park, it is a public attraction in Bucharest, Romania, named after King Carol I of Romania. A French garden located in the southern-central area of Bucharest, partly on Filaret hill, originally capable of hosting various exhibitions, it suffered considerable modifications during the communist regime, including a name change. Aside from its beautiful vegetation and panoramic views, the park also includes several monuments, such as a Mausoleum, the Cantacuzino Fountain (built in 1870), another fountain Fântâna Minelor și Carierelor (1906), the Giants' Statues, the Zodiac Fountain (1934), the Technical Museum (first opened in 1909), a monument in the shape of a small mosque built in 1923 as a sign of reconciliation. Also in the park are the open-air Roman Arena, and the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy.

The Mausoleum

Herastrau Park
This is a large park situated on the northern side of Bucharest, Romania, around Lake Herăstrău, one of the lakes formed by the Colentina River. Initially, the area was full of marshes, but these were drained between 1930 and 1935, and the park had to be re-opened in 1936. The park is divided into two zones: a rustic or natural zone (the Village Museum), which is left more or less undisturbed, and a public active domain with open areas for recreation activities. Small boats are allowed on the lake. Several buildings are found within the Herăstrău Park. The most notable is the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, an open-air exhibition center showcasing traditional life of the Romanian peasant and having hundreds of houses from across Romania. Scattered across the park are an outdoor theater, a yacht club, a sports club, the Herăstrău Hotel and, adjunct to the park, the Diplomatic Club, featuring a golf course.

Boating in the Herastrau Park

Cismigiu Gardens
They are a public park near the city center, spanning areas on all sides of an artificial lake. The gardens' creation was an important moment in the history of Bucharest. They form the oldest and, at 17 hectares (42 acres), the largest park in the central area. The main entrance is from Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, in front of the City Hall. There is another major entrance at the Știrbei Vodă Street, near the Crețulescu Palace. The southwestern corner of the park is adjacent to the Gheorghe Lazăr High School. The Rondul Român ("Romanian Round") or Rotonda Scriitorilor ("Writers' Rotunda") is a circular alley which has stone busts of twelve important Romanian writers: Mihai Eminescu, Alexandru Odobescu, Titu Maiorescu, Ion Luca Caragiale, George Coșbuc, Ștefan Octavian Iosif, Ion Creangă, Alexandru Vlahuță, Duiliu Zamfirescu, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, Nicolae Bălcescu and Vasile Alecsandri.

The Rondul Roman

Monumentul Eroilor Francezi ("The Monument of French Heroes") commemorates French soldiers who died fighting during the World War I Romanian Campaign. Made in Carrara marble the French monument was created by the Romanian sculptor Ion Jalea and was inaugurated at 25 October 1922. The sculptural work Izvorul Sissi Stefanidi, was created by Ioan C. Dimitriu Bârlad (1890–1964), and it depicts a mother, aggrieved by the death of her daughter, pouring water from a pitcher. Monumentul Eroilor Americani ("The Monument of American Heroes") commemorates the 378 US soldiers who died in Romania during World War II. The granite sculpture is the work of the artist Remus Botarro and it was officially inaugurated in 2002 by the Romanian Government and the American Embassy in Bucharest. Other statues located in Cișmigiu are the one of journalist George Panu sculpted by Gheorghe Horvath and of writer and women's rights activist Maica Smara (1854–1944), sculpted by Mihai Onofrei.

The Zodiac Fountain

The two Giants' Statues that flank the Carol Park's main walkway near the 11 June Square entrance, form a line perpendicular to the walkway and depict two nude youths. One of them shows a young man with a strained look. His head is bowed, his right shoulder twisted, he leans on his left hand, the right he keeps behind his back, and the legs are bent. In the other statue, a young man leans his head toward his left shoulder, his torso is twisted and he supports himself on his left hand, while the right is behind his back.
At first the statues were located before the Arts Palace and of the artificial cave in front of it. The grotto was called "The Giants' Grotto"or "The Enchanted Grotto", as it was watched over by the two giants and a Sleeping beauty. The three statues showed the characters of a legend where twins, in love with the same woman, were turned into stone due to their unrequited love, while the object of their love became a waterfall. At that time, the giants were displayed one before the other, with the sleeping beauty lying down in the middle.

SHOPPING DESTINATION: Five Amazing Romanian Stores

SHOPPING DESTINATION: Five Amazing Romanian Stores
By Jorge Jefferds December 8, 2015

We should never forget that Christmas is a tradition that started in Europe. Therefore, don't forget to do your shopping in beautiful romantic countries like Romania. In Bucharest, with the millions of LED lights decorating the Romanian capital during winter holidays, you might not feel homesick that you are not with your entire family. On the contrary, emotions will come up to your face because of the impressiveness of this spiritual event, and the many shopping options that arise in every corner. There is nothing against the Chinese culture, but still beware: Almost all of the many souvenir shops that have opened of late in Bucharest (especially those in and around the Old Town) sell little more than Chinese crap with 'Romania' plastered over it. For genuine Romanian arts and crafts, head for the shops at either the Peasant or Village Museums.

Bucharest's Christmas Romexpo 2014

Carturesti Carusel
Bucharest's most impressive bookshop is this wonderful building on Strada Lipscani. Dating from the latter part of the 19th century the building was home to a department store during the communist era, before standing neglected for almost a quarter of century until reopening earlier this year after a long renovation. And what a renovation: the building has been brought back to life by Carturesti's team of architects and is that impressive that even if you are not in the market for any books, you must pop in to have a look. It is also perhaps the only shop in Bucharest where the staff do not tell you off for taking photos: indeed, it's positively encouraged. Besides the tens of thousands of books and gifts on sale there is gallery and exhibition space, and a rather good bistro on the top floor.

Carturesti Carusel Bookstore

Dorobanti Art Gallery
The gallery sells works of art (paintings, statues, carpets, furniture, decorative objects, jewelry) on consignment. The management is ensured by Maria Dumitrescu, philologist Eugenia Petreanu, and economist Maria Matache, all of them experts authorized by the Ministry of Culture.
Clients can be counted among cultural personalities, politicians, business people, or simple lovers of beauty. Some of those who visit the Gallery become collectors, and owners of prestigious collections, or some wonderful paintings decorated in classic housing. The merit belongs first to anyone who can combine business (investment) with pleasure (the beauty of art).

Dorobanti Art Gallery

Band of Creators
Clothes and accessories from more than 40 Romanian designers, both established and up and coming names. Besides buying from the store in the city center you can also order everything online using the excellent website: they ship via courier worldwide. Furthermore, they always welcome international designers. The selection includes limited edition or even unique pieces, office or smart casual clothing, but also evening wear and outstanding accessories. Product categories are dresses, tops, blouses, trousers, dresses, skirts, jackets, overcoats, jumpsuits, hair accessories, bags.

Band of Creators

Antique and Flea Market
Each Sunday you can find a variety of antiques dealers of varying quality (there is plenty of good stuff on sale, but equally as much rubbish) at the main entrance to Parcul Carol. Look out for old Romanian banknotes, stamps, medals and badges. The event is open to the public only on Sundays, from 10am to 4pm, and located on Piata Libertatii (Freedom Square).

Traditional Bucharest Flea Market

Piata Obor
One last stop, the most important ultimate one, is at Piata Obor. Market since at least the 18th century, when it was known as the Piata Targului de Afara, a place for traders from outside of Bucharest to do business; the name Obor came into use during the early part of the 19th century. During this period Obor was infamous as the location of Bucharest’s gallows: public executions would take place on market days to ensure a good crowd. The practice was halted in 1823, but the gallows itself remained in place until 1870. In 1877, market traders raised a stone cross on the site of the gallows to commemorate those killed here. The cross, despite being declared a protected monument in 2004, was nevertheless moved in 2009 during the renovation of the market. It today stands in front of the Sector 2 Town Hall, a hundred metres or so to the right of the market itself.

Piata Obor

It has been re-dedicated as a monument to Romanian independence, and its original purpose played down. Indeed, when the Sector 2 council published a history of the Obor area in its newspaper Foisorul de Foc in 2012, no mention of the gallows was made.Obor’s main market hall – an elegant, linear and modernist building known as Halele Obor – was built in the 1940s. Its architects, Horia Creanga and Haralamb Georgescu, also designed the Patria Cinema block on Bulevardul Magheru, as well as the splendid art deco Aro Palace hotel in Brasov. Much as it has been since it opened, the interior of Halele Obor is today mainly given over to fresh produce, primarily meat. Prices are decent if not cheap, and quality is high. Unusual things you don’t usually see in your average butcher’s or supermarket can be found here (lamb’s liver on sale, for example).

A vendor trading his best vegetables at Piata Obor

There are also a number of stalls selling all sorts of crap from Lenin caps and fur hats to cheap children’s toys. There are also – mainly upstairs – a few wonderful reminders of the past, not least the shoemender’s shop.When it comes to eating at Obor, the only food permitted are mici: you will find them at the far left-hand entrance/exit to the main market hall (just follow the smell). Though more than a few locals will tell you to mind the mici at Obor, still served on a bit of card with mustard and bread (which costs extra), they remain amongst Bucharest’s best. You should never encounter any problems with them. Mici and the old market hall aside, today’s Obor is a hugely different place. For starters, it looks different: in 2009 the old open-sided fruit and vegetable market was abandoned and the impromptu stalls removed: replaced by a new, shiny, purpose-built mall.

In Christmas, the crowd could be terrible, but the visit to the place is worthy

The fruit and vegetable sellers are now inside this new building, on the ground floor, although a few who can’t afford the price of a pitch hang around outside selling their produce. You will also still come across at least a handful of rogues. Obor is not as chaotic as it once was, but scrape the surface just a tiny bit and you can still find the old roguish place. So while Romanians are happy to admit that Obor was almost certainly a lot more fun in the old days, before it got a facelift, and before the new hala was built, it nevertheless remains one of those quintessential Bucharest experiences which really ought to be part of any visit to the city. If your idea of Romania is old women selling onions on street corners, Obor is where to come.

ART JOURNEY: Dickens of an American Christmas

ART JOURNEY: Dickens of an American Christmas
By Jorge Jefferds December 7, 2015

Dickens of a Christmas or Dickens of an American Christmas? It doesn't matter. The craft show is celebrated in several areas of the United States, and mainly in the Northeast. Last Saturday, Wellsboro, in Pennsylvania, celebrated its 32nd annual gathering of Christmas fellows. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., food, craft vendors, strolling musicians, singers, dancers, and street-corner thespians spread up and down Main Street transmitting a tradition that was born during Charles Dickens' era. The history recalls images of Victorian architecture as the backdrop when the author walked around the streets of his hometown, Portsmouth, in England, circa 1840. Certainly, A Christmas Carol has been the inspiring novella he wrote for the performance of this celebrations prior to the holidays.

Dickens of a Christmas in Wellsboro, PA (Courtesy image by Tim McBride)

Therefore, in towns where the colonial architecture is carefully preserved as part of the history heritage, Dickens of a Christmas is a mandatory moment for beautiful memories of family Christmases.
In Wellsboro, street food was amazingly home-made. From the typical hot dogs to several kinds of fudges, you could also enjoy candy pop corn, crab meat pie, seafood pizza. Yes, this is not a lie. Santa Claus brought food to everybody's tastes.
Another town that already celebrated its version was Roanoke, VA. They called it a night of lights. Nearly 350 ornaments, decorated last November by children, adorned a 28-foot-tall and 30-foot-wide spruce. The tree was lit up for the first time that night during The Roanoke Times Dickens of a Christmas Event.

For four weekends in the aforementioned month, people invited themselves to the Taubman Museum of Art to decorate ornaments— yarn wrapped around Popsicle sticks and clear orbs stuffed with colorful tissue paper — that hung from the branches of the tree lit up in multicolored lights.

Christmas Tree in Roanoke's Dickens of a Christmas (Courtesy image by the Roanoke Times)

For those who still feel like participating in one of these shows, the celebrations are not over yet. At least, there are two more coming up: one in the south, in Tennessee, and another one in the Amish county, Lancaster, in Pennsylvania.

The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County is performing its version of Dickens of a Christmas between December 12th, and December 13th. They, for example, encourage goers to attend the event to dress in Victorian custom for them to add to the ambiance, as they stroll the streets. As a compensation, they will get the chance to to enter a Dickens Gift Basket Giveaway sponsored by Moe’s BBQ, The Puffy Muffin, Chick-Fil-A, The Honeysuckle, and Roxy and Taz Boutique.
What to expect in this particular celebration:
-Favorite Victorian-era activities will return, including sugar plums and roasted chestnuts being sold on the street. Other food vendors will offer heartier old English fare.
-A variety of musical and dance performances will take place both on the street and on the stage at City Hall.
-Horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo for children, live artisan demonstrations, and more than 70 vendors offering holiday arts and crafts will line Main Street from Second to Fifth Avenues.
-Each day will conclude with a town sing of classic Christmas carols.  Saturday’s town sing will be led by Brandon Heath and Mike & Molly Grayson and will take place in front of the stage on the Public Square; Sunday’s town sing will be conducted inside the Historic Presbyterian Church at Five Points.

Victorian residents singing Carols in Franklin, TN (Courtesy image by Pinterest)

Manheim is in Lancaster, and is hosting the 32nd season of Dickens of a Christmas at the Mt. Hope Estate & Winery. You are cordially invited to the Annual Christmas Party at Mount Hope’s Theater in the Mansion production, kicking off December 2 and continuing until December 23. Sing along, share games and traditions, and rejoice in the spirit of the season with holiday characters. Bring the whole family and create new traditions out of old at Mount Hope’s A Dickens of a Christmas. Before the show, guests visit the newly remodeled Anchor & Mermaid Tavern for Dinner and a Show or Lunch and a Show. No time to dine? Show only tickets are also available for all performances.

Uncountable vendors in Wellsboro's Dickens of a Christmas