Too Tasty for Men

What can one say? Have centuries of struggling for equal rights, equal respect, made the slightest mark on our "civilized" world?

Bucharest, 2011

So here is the ironic part of these billboards: Redd's is a brand of fruit-flavored beer - apple, raspberry and citrus - from Poland to satisfy a niche market of consumers, particularly women, who add juice to soften the bitter taste of traditional beer. So these 50's styled women are supposed to appeal to women, hence the tag line: too tasty for men. Go figure. But sales figures show that it's working.

Linking with Lesley Signs, Signs.

Nu Intră

Bucharest, 2011

Linking with Wordless Wednesday, Window Views and Sepia Scenes.

[MyWorld] Building a Controversy

Today I show you an unusual piece of architecture you will either love or hate. It's not a building to elicit tapioca responses and thus has been the subject of lively controversy.

This is the headquarters of the Romanian Architects' Union.

Bucharest, 2011

The bottom stone portion are the remains of a circa 1890 house in Bucharest called Casa Paucescu. It was occupied by the infamous Securitate, the secret police of communist Romania, and was destroyed during the Romanian anti-communist Revolution of December 1989.

In 2003 architects Zeno Bogdanescu and Dan Marin designed and built this modern glass structure inside and on top of the ruins, preserving the remains of the original house as a memorial to the revolution.

So, what do you say... love? hate? was it worth preserving this part of the historic building with a grim past?

Original Casa Pucescu

Linking with MyWorld Tuesday.

Yellow Signs of Spring

It was a chilly day for our walk around Bucharest today, made chillier by a persistent wind, but lovely signs of spring are finally in clear view.

 

Bucharest, 2011

To see more things yellow, go to Mellow Yellow Monday.

Ottoman Stone Bridge

I can not really say with certitude that this bridge with nothing much to cross we saw a few hours north of Bucharest was built by the Turks. 

Romania, 2011

Yet the long and complex history in the region - with various wars fought against the Turks since the 15th century, the domination of the Turkish Empire from the 17th century onwards, and Romania declaring its independence from Turkey as recently as 1877 - plus the stone and arch architecture, historically Turkish in style, lead me to conclude that the bridge is some centuries old and built by Romanian's past aggressor from the south.

Here is my capture of the other side as we drive by:

Linked to Sunday Bridges and Scenic Sunday.

Passion for Lines, Patterns and Reflections

Chisinau, 2011

This image of the exterior of a café called Passion in the Moldovan capital  of Chisinau is linked with Weekend in Black and White and Weekend Reflections. It's more interesting viewed twice enlarged.

[SkyWatch] Coloring a Winter Landscape

The Romanian landscape is still in winter bleakness; yet the late day sky offers colors to please the eye.

Romania, 2011

Check out SkyWatch Friday to see stunning skies around the globe.

Lie to Me

 

Chisinau, 2011

This billboard on a stark run-down Soviet-era building made me laugh. It struck me as an advertisement for a news program (JurnalTV).  How refreshingly honest, I thought! Our Moldovan partner informed me it was the name of a TV series. Well okay, but still it pretty well conveys in a nutshell what I think of mass media these days.

And so this awful drive-by shot gets posted for Lesley's Signs, Signs, where you can check out what noteworthy signs others have found.

[MyWorld] Chişinău Cathedral

Today I worked in Chişinău, the capital of Moldova. Before the final rays of sun disappeared I made it to the central Cathedral Park to capture this beautiful Orthodox church and its bell tower. Architect A. Melnikov designed these buildings in the style of late Russian classicism and they were erected between 1831-1835.

 Moldova, 2011

Seeing people enter the church, I followed. When I went inside, I heard a mass in progress with gorgeous choir music. Standing at the very back, I listened for quite some time and was ale to snap this one image of the spectacular interior without disturbing the devout.

This today was MyWorld. Follow the link to explore many other worlds!

Hooded Crow

I don't think I've ever seen so many crows in a city as I have in Bucharest, although Kyoto may rank a close second.

 Bucharest, 2011

Romania is home to the Hooded Crow - an ashy gray bird with black head, throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers, as well as a black bill, eyes and feet. But its coloration is about all that sets it apart from the usual black crow; an omnivorous and opportunistic forager and feeder.

I've seen these crows in flight in very large groups, but unfortunately my camera did not capture them. These two loners join Misty's Camera Critters.

National Bank of Romania Reflected

 Bucharest, 2011

Besides the architecture, lines, and reflection of old in new, what I like about this image is the bright hues in the reflection contrasted with the dull shaded light of the bank building. 

Linking with James' Weekend Reflections.

The Hotel Capitol

Built in 1901, The Hotel Capitol is one of the grand old hotels in the heart of Bucharest.

Linking with Walk in the Street.

Renovation Signs

According to economists, Romania was hard hit by the global crisis and joins so many in the struggle to emerge from one of its worst recessions on record. Nonetheless, as I walk around Bucharest, I see plenty of construction and renovation projects going on. That's a good sign.

What I have not seen before anywhere are the tarpaulin scaffolding covers  with images of the project when it is completed. Here are a couple I've recently captured.

 Buchaest, 2011

I am linking today with Lesley's Sign, Signs.

Church Windows

More captivating Bucharest architecture: here are a couple of windows and part of a door on a small red brick church whose name I failed to note for Mary's Window Views. Romania is secular with no state religion, yet with about 87% of Romanians registered as Eastern Orthodox, it would be fairly safe to guess that is what this church is.

Bucharest, 2011

This close up photo to show you the intricate window detail with the exquisite wrought iron grate is for Sepia Scenes.

If detail appeals to you, it's worth enlarging these images.

[MyWorld] First Warm Day in Old Town Bucharest

My first week in Romania was bone chilling. But on Sunday the sun shone warmly and the temperature rose by at least a dozen degrees. All of Bucharest came out to enjoy this first spring day.

These photos were taken in Lipscani, the renovated historical center of the city that only a few years ago was a district to avoid. Today it's a very happening  place with cafes, bars and night clubs.

Bucharest, 2011

I am sharing my world with the community at MyWorld Tuesday.

Yelllow Glass Roof

Today our ramble exploring the city of Bucharest took us through Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse, a pleasing fork-shaped, yellow glass covered arcade built in the mid-19th century and named after the chief architect of the city and his brother-in-law.

 Bucharest, 2011

I link with Mellow Yellow Monday and Mosaic Monday.

Old Reflected in New

Bucharest offers a beautiful eclectic mix of architecture that I hope to capture and share on my photoblog in the weeks to come. 

Today's image merely illustrates the contrast of old and new I saw on my walk this evening for James' Weekend Reflections.

Bucharest, 2011

[MyWorld] Flower for Women Power

Today is the 100-year anniversary of International Women's Day. I join the many around the globe celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. 

As I was walking around the central district of Bucharest today, I saw flower vendors on nearly every street corner. It is perceptibly a day that matters in Romania. Many women get the day off work and I even received a lovely white freesia from our lunch waiter. 

    Bucharest, 2011

And this is MyWorld today!

Up, Up and Awaaaay!

Right click on this and open in a new tab to hear what's on my brain.

Split, 2009

Okay, so I'm not really going up in a balloon, but I am boarding a plane in a few days to go work on a project in Europe. I expect that my blogging over the next months is going to be much more sporadic than it has been. Just a heads up for anyone who may miss me. I know I'll miss you.

And this is linked to My World Tuesday and Ruby Tuesday.