Our lives depend so much on the will of others. In many ways and areas. The will and decision of others, usually politicians and administrative decision-makers, can bring good, useful, and beautiful into our lives, but often the opposite happens. These decisions make the difference between different places in the world, in the way people live. I am referring now to cities, in some, it is a pleasure to live, and in others, obviously, if it is the opposite, it is not very good.
The city I write about the most here is called Bucharest and is the capital of Romania. It is a troubled city, in which the different historical epochs have meant development and beauty or, on the contrary, destruction, neglect, and indifference.
Bucharest is among the first places in the world among the busiest cities in the world, I mean cars and traffic. The inhabitants of the city lose many hours every day in the car, when they go to work, when they take children to school or kindergarten or whenever they use the car to get around. There are many cars in the city and this city was not designed for such traffic. The streets are narrow and the parking spaces are insufficient and this leads to a congestion of cars. It is unpleasant, in such situations, to go to the city center. I don't go to the center often, I have everything I need in my suburb, except the art part, theaters, and concert halls, but the pandemic has closed these places. Only on weekends, and especially on Sundays I see the city center because my wife usually goes to a small monastery, located in the center of the old city center.
It's a small monastery inhabited by five nuns and where a special religious service is held, which strictly respects the hundreds of years old canons.
Stavropoleos Monastery, built in 1724 and is now a historical monument.
Finally, something good happened. On the most beautiful boulevard in the city, called Victory Avenue, it was forbidden to drive cars on weekends. A pleasant and well-received surprise by all the inhabitants of the city and by the more and more numerous tourists that I see walking on the streets.
The boulevard was thus reserved only for pedestrians, cyclists, and those who travel by tricycle.
It seems paradoxical that few people seem to enjoy this freedom. The lack of people in large numbers is due to the fact that it is noon, Sunday noon, on a very hot day, with temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius ...
I really like this boulevard, it is the place where most buildings built in the past centuries have survived, where there are few new constructions. I like the old image of the city, with buildings built at the end of the nineteenth century, with an architecture that copies Paris, which is why Bucharest was also called Little Paris in the interwar period.
It was a special and beautiful Sunday, the special word can be replaced with sublime without exaggerating too much. I really like to walk, look at buildings and take pictures and the fact that I no longer have to pay attention to cars, the fact that I am no longer disturbed by the noise made by them managed to make me feel very good.
I will present some special places on the route of this walk, places that I like, and represent tourist attractions of this city.
At the head of a small street in the Old Center is the CEC building, one of my favorite buildings.
On this street, called Stavropoleus Street, is the monastery of the same name, on the left.
At the end, as I said, the CEC building, called the CEC Palace, located on Victory Avenue. On the left is the History Museum and on the right a building belonging to the National Bank.
Then follows Victory Avenue and we go to the right because on the left the boulevard ends in a few hundred meters when it meets the Dambovita river that crosses the city.
I will choose a few more well-known points that I will talk about next.
Former National Theater...
which was bombed during World War II. There was a small market here, that's how I've always known it, but a modern hotel has been built for several years. This is one of the few new buildings on this boulevard. In order to receive permission to build in this place, the architects had to reconstruct a part of the national theater building in front of the hotel. I like this building and the way the buildings are reflected in its glass facade.
Revolution Square
... the left side.
It is interesting to see constructions from three different eras. The oldest and most beautiful is the Cretulescu Church, built in 1720, in Brancovenesc style. To the left of the church is a building built between the two world wars. In the background, you can see blocks of flats and a higher block, the Tower Block, which was for a long time the tallest building in the city, during the communist period of Romania when it was built.
... the right side is the most interesting.
Here is the building of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, led by Nicolae Ceausescu. This was the first building occupied by protesters transformed into revolutionaries, during the Romanian Revolution of December 1989. The result of the end of communism in Romania.
Now, this building houses the Ministry of Interior.
On the right is a monument dedicated to the memory of the people who died during the revolution. Although even today it is not known exactly who these people fought. It seems unbelievable but it is ...
The monument, which cost a lot, around 15 million euros, is very controversial and contested. Those who challenged this monument called it the Potato on a Stick or the Potato of the Revolution. Some like it, some don't, as is usually the case. I do not like it.
Revolution Square (former Palace Square)
... the left side.
The most interesting part. Former Royal Palace. The place where the former kings of Romania lived. It now houses the National Museum of Art.
In front of the Palace is the equestrian statue of King Carol, the most important king. The man who was brought to modernize Romania, in the nineteenth century.
Like any monarch, he despises communism. Even though he did not suspect that this would be the fate of the country he ruled. As a symbol, the king and his horse are with their backs to the former headquarters of the Romanian Communist Party, moreover, the horse explicitly shows its lack of respect!
... the right side
Athenaeum
Also in this square is an emblematic building of the city, the Romanian Athenaeum. A hall for symphonic concerts and classical music.
What is very interesting is that this building was built by public subscription. Some people of culture had this initiative to raise money from the population, at the beginning of the last century this happened, because there is no such hall in the city.
Victory Avenue continues its journey and we follow it. I stop presenting the buildings because I also stopped the walk for a well-deserved rest and a cup of coffee.
A pleasant way to talk with friends and watch those who enjoy this privilege of walking on the boulevard without worrying about being hit by cars.
Of course, it sublime and beautiful Sunday. I hope to repeat this experience next Sunday and I hope to present to you new things about this boulevard and about Bucharest. Because it is not known when any of you will come here and it is good to be informed.
A florist brought us a bouquet of flowers. It brings beauty and light into the house!
This post was made for:
-#sublimesunday, topic proposed by @c0ff33a
-#beautifulsunday, a topic proposed by @ace108
-#alwaysaflower, a topic proposed by @dswigle
and I think it can be in #haveyoubeenhere too because I've been here even though I'm here all the time!
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I look at the grandeur of the downtown and know that long ago, in a different world, this was built for show. Not the people of today, but, the government of yesterday.
The last laugh is on them because you get to enjoy the beauty that it is.
I am very excited about them making it a pedestrian zone on the weekends, how much more enjoyable that is, not having to worry about being slow, or being in the way of the cars. I am thrilled at the revitalization of the incredible buildings! Little Paris indeed! It is easy to see just how amazing this will be when it is complete.
Even if you did not name the building, the Romanian Athenaeum has all the lines for a music hall and all things classical. It always feels that much more special when the building is razed with money from the industry, a place to display their musical art.
I also like how the statue has turned its back on Communism and raised its tail to it. :))
A great post, all in all! #alwaysaflower appreciates the flowers and the shout-out! I'm sorry I upped and reposted and ran, without words. Of course, I knew I would be back, but, you didn't.
I hope you have a most wonderful week!
This city is really full of history in different corners of it. Always a pleasure to walk around.
I'm so glad you believe that. I think it's true for most cities.
That's wonderful that you have a place in the city to walk without cars. And it's very surprising that not everyone appreciates that amazing freedom! We recently returned to a place where we used to live in California, and one of the streets has become completely devoted to small shops and eateries, with no cars allowed. Visiting there on our vacation was in some ways a time warp, but it was so changed that we barely recognized it. It has such a happy carefree feeling now.
"Potato on a stick" — ha ha. Oh my gosh. Some artist made a fortune on that. I'm with you. It is not attractive.
Thank you for sharing all the wonderful pictures of scenes and architecture.
@tipu curate
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Thank you very much!
Regardless of the political and government decisions @bluemoon you have a beautiful city. I love the idea of no cars, trucks and buses on a street on Sunday. It takes me back to another time when shops and business were closed on this day for people to have a rest day to go to Church and be with family.
Yes, it is good when the day of rest, Sunday, is protected.
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