Adsos Letter, You have

[comrade snarky]

Finally inspired me to post some of my own shots from Romania.
I've been enjoying the heck out of yours! My wife and I were there in Early November of 2007 and loved it. Yes, we went to Transylvania for our honeymoon. :evilgrin:

We were hoping to get to Timisoara but an early snowfall limited the driving we planned to do. Ah well, that means we have to go back! These are from the Brasov and Rasnov area, all taken with a Nikon D70.

Brasov Main Square and the Black Church


Brasov at Sunset


Romanian Pups


Transylvanian Forrest


Outside of Rasnov Fortress


More Rasnov


Ruins in Snow

[Blue_In_AK]

1. These are beautiful.

I like the bottom one best. I'm liking the fog today. :)

[Maestro]

2. Wow Rasnov at sunset is good, but

below that it just keeps getting better! Love the forest and fortress images!

[comrade snarky]

4. Thanks!

We came out of a pub, I looked up and the sky was on fire.
Camera up and click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click!

One minute later and it was gone. Just got lucky.

[Adsos Letter]

3. Beautiful work comrade snarky!

I especially like the first one, and the last one reminds me a bit of the Roman fortress on the hill above Deva.

And the Dogs of Romania, they're everywhere, aren't they? They warn you about 'em in Bucharest...

These guys seem to be watchin' each others backs:




:hi:

[comrade snarky]

5. Thanks! You got me thinking about going back to E. Europe

It's a tragic story, the Bucharest dogs. Pales in comparison to the street kids and Chauchesku's orphans but still. I'm an American so sad stories about dogs affect me deeply.
In the county side there were lots of dogs but most all of them seemed to have homes. Definitely no leash laws in Romania.

We were just blown away by the people, so much recent tragedy and hardship but they are so open and friendly. So ready to laugh and enjoy a moment. I could learn a lot from them.

[Adsos Letter]

6. We went there specifically to work with the people and some orphanages...

in rural regions. We really didn't spend much time in cities; and, because of the political climate that still reigns there I am loathe to publish many pictures of the rural areas; they usually contain identifiable faces, and ours is a Protestant Christian group that has been persecuted there in the past, and could easily be again (and which also puts a great deal of time and money into defending Separation of Church and State).

The people were wonderful; so giving of what little they often had. The older generation, which came up under Ceaucescu, was more guarded in their speech than the younger ones, but everyone was very generous.

Corruption is still a major problem there though. My wife had her wallet lifted from her backpack in one of the outdoor markets (a thoroughly professional job :D )and the cops who found her passport wanted cash to get it back. Still, it was fortunate we did retrieve it 'cause it would have meant a cross-country trip by train to Bucharest, in weather that was making transportation iffy at best.

We always wondered how the dogs in the cities survived those winters, but some folks feed 'em, and they can actually be dangerous in packs.

We are going back this year because one of our Romanian friends is getting married in Deva, and one of my daughters is going to sing for the wedding.

Incidents like this one, with children being put out on the street to beg were always disturbing :( (that is my wife and our interpreter being approached by one of the little kids) but we were able to do some good, and I guess the answer is to keep doing what you can:

[comrade snarky]

9. Wow, that's fantastic

That's wonderful that you're trying to help. If we all do the same then millions of little changes can add up to a whole new world.

It's so hard to see the kids in "developing" countries who get trotted out by their parents to beg. I'm always torn because I want so much to help them but giving money just perpetuates it. All the reward goes to the parent or in some even worse cases, the handler. I wish I had a solution, something I could do right then but I've never found one.

I'm glad your wife was able to get her passport back. Having to pay the police to return it is bad but it's better than some places where the cops cut out the criminal middle man and just do the whole job themselves.

If you can please post some pictures from the wedding! I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing I could go with you.

[a la izquierda]

7. Really nice.

See, I should probably just stay in the Photography forum. Keeps my blood pressure in check.

[comrade snarky]

10. Thanks!

It's nice in here. During the primaries I'd spend a lot of time in the photo threads....

Seemed sane.

[Adsos Letter]

11. I regard this as a City of Refuge on DU...

:D

[comrade snarky]

13. And how!

I'm always worried about getting in a argument with someone and then I'll realize "oh no! they're in the photography group!" :evilgrin:

On edit:
Oh, I forgot to mention. You said Rasnov fortress reminded you of a Roman fortress in Deva. Good eye! It started as a Roman fort.

[Mira]

8. A fabulous eye for composition - congratulations! As an immigrant

from Europe this just makes me a little homesick - as an American by happy choice it makes me wonder if Rinfield will show up and start eating some cockroaches.
No wonder bats fly in Transylvania.

[comrade snarky]

12. Not one bat!

Well, we saw a few made of plastic at the fake "Dracula's Castle". It was just as awful a tourist attraction as you'd imagine but hey, we were in Transylvania! The castle itself has an old foundation but the building did not feel old. It was like one of Mad Ludwig's fantasies.

Pay not attention to the small wounds on my neck... shaving accident.

The big new thing in the Carpathian mountains, ski resorts. All over. Apparently the skiing rivals the Alps at a fraction of the price. Romanian tourism is on an upswing or at least it was before the recession.

So, not to be nosy (OK to be nosy) where are you from?