Some observations in Romania

Here is the O Zone track and video I meant to send last week, with special guest Brad Pitt.

Come back Top of the Pops!

http://youtu.behljWoqTMdo

Observations in Romania


Transport seems to be mainly by 'Maxitaxi',( small mini vans) . From Breaza you can get a maxitaxi north to Brasov, or south to Bucharest via an occasional stop in a town. I have only seen buses in Ploieste and Bucharest.

There are lots of horses and carts in the countryside and the owners are not all Romanies.

I first saw  Romanies here in Sinaia, selling lilacs which grow in many hedgerows here. Many of them look Indian and wear brightly coloured clothes.

Romanies sell their wares in places where there are a lot of people/tourists e.g. Bucharest, Sinaia.

They sell fruit and flowers mainly, and the children join in the selling, sometimes on their own at quite an early age.

When we see Romanies at the side of the road, we know that either we have nearly  reached our destination, or, more likely, there is a traffic jam. Romanies have mobile 'phones and must let each other know where there are people gathered together.

Every adult occupant of the car is asked whether they want to buy fruit, which is presented prettily in a small basket lined with coloured paper, so one of us saying 'no' is not enough.

I remember one young boy's eyes when I said 'no'. The memory still haunts me. But, when you are on your way somewhere in the 30+ heat, you have nowhere to put flowers or fruit in that temperature, so the Romanies must face almost constant rejection.

I have seen someone buying a wooden stool through their car window in a traffic jam.

There are lots of traffic jams, many up and down from Bucharest on fridays and Sundays on the 'M1'.

Many roads are single carriageways and have little scope to be widened because of existing houses, rail tracks, rivers, hills and mountains. Plus, there are always some roadworks which take a long time to complete.

When it is v hot, some men lift their t shirts up and leave them stuck up around their upper chest. I often have to lookaway, but not always.

In the supermarkets, there are rows and rows of plastic contraptions to attach to the toilet rim and refills of 'toilet water' scent, but no disinfectant. I have searched for it, and considered bringing some from home, but did not want any spillage in my suitcase.

Raw alcohol is used on a cut, rather than Dettol.

Most people use scythes to cut their lawns/meadows. I think that I speak for many when I say that I am glad that I do not have to sharpen a scythe before I hack down the long grass and make haystacks.

http://youtu.be/yJpltkXRXQk

Pa pa  AM