Walking, Books, Shopping... But Mostly Walking
Of all the activities and needs I have, one of the most enjoyable and easiest to do is walking. Plus walking brings many benefits to my heart and overall health.
For someone who lives on the outskirts of a relatively big city, where he finds almost everything he needs for existence and is also retired, and walk in the spectacular and representative part of the city, i.e. downtown, turns almost into a journey. A journey that often repeats itself in more or less the same places, places that are well known but where something new is always happening. Because there are always all kinds of new temptations and events, which make every walk unique.
In the city where I live, Bucharest in Romania, University Square is the most popular place for meetings and, consequently, the starting point for different walking routes in the city center. A center where there is mostly 18th-19th century architecture, and which is the most beautiful part of the city.
Following this tradition, our walk (I mean accompanied by my wife, or even better, me accompanying my wife) also started from University Square. Although I noticed the architecture and the old buildings, I start here remembering my favorite building here, which is the National Theatre of Bucharest, a building inaugurated in the 1970s.
Here is also a cross. It is a memorial to those killed during demonstrations of young people and students, in what was called "mineriade". These events are a disgrace and a stain on Romanian society, which happened after the 1989 revolution when communism was eliminated from Romania.
The mineriads (Romanian: mineriade) were a series of protests and often violent altercations by Jiu Valley miners in Bucharest during the 1990s, particularly 1990–91. The term "mineriad" is also used to refer to the most significant and violent of these encounters, which occurred June 13–15, 1990. During the 1990s, the Jiu Valley miners played a visible role in Romanian politics, and their protests reflected inter-political and societal struggles after the Romanian Revolution.
Source
I witnessed these events that remain the most terrible in the country's new history. Obviously, passing by this monument, the unpleasant memories come back automatically, but moving on, oblivion does its job and helps us to come back to the present.
It's Friday again and that's what #MarketFriday is all about, this challenge, initiated by @dswigle, has turned into a community of those who are used to recounting little or big events they have experienced while shopping.
So, I try to show the shopping part, both actual and those remaining only in the wishful thinking phase. The city is suffocated by cars, it is one of the busiest of the European capitals. To encourage alternative modes of travel there are also places where you can rent bikes...
I'm not a cycling enthusiast but something caught my eye looking more closely at these waiting bikes...
... an unexpected reference to Hive.
In the end, I have to admit that this walk was not just for pleasure, it had a purpose. My wife was looking for a gift for our granddaughter and wanted to go to a certain bookstore. Although the bookstore is very close to University Square, we took a detour through the narrow streets, the old streets of the city.
This street has a nice name, it's called Lady Street. About ten years ago the old buildings in the Old Center started to be renovated. They're still working...
Here I had a big surprise... concerning myself and how I observe things. Looking between these two buildings I realized that I had not noticed before that I could see the Russian church in the back. I've passed this street hundreds of times.
Overcoming this perplexity, at the end of this street I approach the bookshop. In fact, this is an area of bookshops and antique shops, of old and new books, but second-hand.
In these places I can find almost any book, many at very low prices, as you can see from the photo, prices start at $ 0.45...
We arrived again in University Square and in front of an important building of the city. Coltea Hospital!
It was the first hospital in Bucharest, built on 14 December 1704, on the initiative of the backward Mihai Cantacuzino, to be a hospital for the poor. The hospital was organized and operated following the model of the Ospedale di S. Lazzaro e Mendicanti in Venice.
Source
And so, through the rickshaw, we arrived at the bookstore across the street from the hospital, the place where we will also shop, my wife does not conceive of leaving the house without buying something, no matter how insignificant.
Bookstores have changed in recent years, they don't look the way I used to know them. They've diversified their offer, especially as people don't read as much anymore.
Books are still the majority and can be seen, in the background, on the bookshelves, but many people enter bookstores to buy items to give as gifts.
Well, my wife was looking for something specific, something she had seen before and wanted to show me. Something for my granddaughter Ilinca who is three and a half.
The initial choice was this handmade doll...
...and then I slipped into this one, made of wood.
The price of each doll was $10. I didn't buy them in the end, not because of the price, but because I thought they might be dangerous for a small child to bump into because there were wires in the dolls.
Eventually, we turned our faces to books. We bought two books and a puzzle, which were even cheaper than a doll.
Ilinca was very pleased with the gift!
After dealing with the bookstore, we returned to grand boulevard and I want to show you now an unpleasant contrast to the eye. Some people actually live on the sidewalk, next to indifferent passers-by.
A few meters ahead, we met tourists. How much the luck of each of us differs. Maybe it's not luck, maybe it's about the chance to have, or not, a normal life.
A sad end to a pleasant ride. To sweeten the pot, I again appeal to a suggestion made by @dswigle, namely #alwaysaflower!
Beautiful spring everyone!
Traveler to the city where I live is what I've been doing for many years, that is, I try to show what is more interesting, more important, and not necessarily what is more beautiful in the city where I live. I don't bypass the ugly places or the sometimes uncivilized behavior that I try to explain through the history of these places but I focus especially on what I think a visitor would like to see when he arrives for the first time in Bucharest. Bucharest, the capital of Romania, a member country of the EU, is located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeast Europe. I'm going to use this tag #mycity and then put these places on the Pinmapple map for those who want to discover them more easily!
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A nice city walk you showed us! I wish no one would live in streets. You can see in Istanbul too. They use the sidewalk as a room, as a living place :/
Have a good weekend!
A very nice weekend for you too!
You are absolutely right, every person should take care of their health first and everything comes after the health because if there is no health there is no point in having anything else because unless you are not healthy, you cannot enjoy anything. So it is important to be healthy to enjoy things. All the pictures you shared with us are amazing.
Thank you!
Walking is (alomst always) the best choice.
Agreed!
probably there are few countries in which there was not something similar to what is immortalized by your monument with a cross, alas. 😞 It's great that old buildings are being restored. the store was very nice. I'm glad your little one loved your gift! about homeless people: I know that many countries have government organizations to help such people, but for some reason they do not want to go there. Does your country have government assistance for them?
In Romania too, the homeless don't want to go to the places specially designed for them. It's probably how they see freedom.
I also think like you
https://twitter.com/872915946385555456/status/1641883475400855552
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Tragedies throughout history are moments that many wish had never happened, but what is clear is that stories always learn from tragedies.
Moving on, how cool do the hive bikes look lol.
Yes, hive bikes look good!
People who are here in Pakistan and their age is high, they don't care about their health at all and most of them don't go to the doctor and get their checkup done, so they are doing absolutely wrong with themselves. Because we all should take care of our health, when a person's health is not good, then nothing looks good to a person. As one thing is known, if man has life, man can do anything.
Health is the most important, say I who have some serious health problems now that could have been avoided!
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This really is a more than pleasant surprise. Thank you very much!
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It sounds like you had a lovely walk with your wife through the beautiful city center of Bucharest. It's great that you enjoy walking and that it has so many health benefits. It's also wonderful to hear that you were able to explore some of the historical landmarks and architecture in the city.
It's understandable that passing by the cross memorial to the miners' protests brought back some unpleasant memories, but it's great that you were able to move on and enjoy the rest of your walk. And it's always nice to see unexpected references to your hobbies or interests, like the Hive reference on the rental bikes.
It's great that you and your wife were able to find a bookstore with a diverse selection of books and items to buy as gifts. It's important to support local businesses, especially during these times. It's also thoughtful of you to consider the safety of the dolls you were considering buying for your granddaughter.
Keep enjoying your walks and exploring your city, and thank you for sharing your experience with us through #MarketFriday!
With pleasure! I write about walking around the city where I live with the desire that readers will see and understand what life is like in this part of the world. I'm glad you read carefully and captured all the aspects I wanted to convey. Thank you!
It's great to hear about your love for walking and how it brings you many benefits. Your description of your walk through the city center of Bucharest, including the architecture and historical monuments, was very interesting. It's also fascinating to see the unexpected reference to Hive on the waiting bikes. I hope your wife found the perfect gift for your granddaughter at the bookstore!
I'm glad you found interesting things about this city. Yes, the wife found a gift, but not the one she wanted. Thanks for your interest and comment!
but the logo is strange. it might be meant be some other Hive, right?.. 😁 funny find, anyway. !BEER
It definitely refers to something else, thanks!
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BEER.Hey @bluemoon, here is a little bit of
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BEER.I love reading through your posts, especially as you wander through Bucharest retelling the history as you have lived it. Of course, University Square is well known to me, it was in a time and place that chilled my soul. Of course, I was talking about the collapse of Communism. I remember being filled with hope and terror as I watched the riots, but even then I knew that it wasn't open and free, only showing what they wanted. I can't imagine trying to reshape the entire system, as it once was.
That speaks of truth, to be fair. While we can elevate some things in our life, some become a matter of circumstance. I would like to think there is a perfect system to ensure a more equitable outcome, but, they all fail. I would rather be at the mercy of the people than the government. There is no end to the good of people.
Anyway, the old part of Bucharest is a crossroads of the past, present, and future, as we live it. Its eclectic nature is evident as they make the necessary renovations or repairs to return it to its original beauty. The Russian church? I cannot believe it was never in your telescope. Such a captivating structure! The stories of Bucharest are always steeped in history and architecture! Of course, I love following behind you and Magda, you always make it an interesting way to put a little exercise in your daily errands. You took a rickshaw! How cool! :)
Bookstores have become cafes/stationery stores, gift shops, and so many other things. It is hard to make a living on books anymore. People have become addicted to all things Good call on the dolls, they are cute, but, she will get so much enjoyment out of the books. Things have gotten so out of hand with the prices, haven't they? Every business has extended itself to be the one-stop shop everyone looks for.
Thank you, Dan! @bluemoon #alwaysaflower for you!
#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers' markets, and eventually branched out and evolved over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, and even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact that these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world. Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday
Rules of the Road to Join #MarketFriday!
1.Go to any type of market, or anywhere where you pay money for a service. It can be a museum, a movie theatre, or an auction. Be creative!
2.Tell us a little bit about the market or the event. What brought you there? What did you buy? How much did it cost? We like to compare prices, otherwise, it is just pictures of a market!
3.Post the pictures! No out-of-focus ones, please! Tell a little bit about the pictures that you post. Having many pictures to scroll through does not make a better post without explanation.
4.Use the MarketFriday Community Platform to post #hive-196308 (this is not required, but appreciated) If you don't, then #MarketFriday should be your first tag
5.Following me and reblogging the post so more see it would be appreciated !! Not a rule, just appreciated, more vision for more views on your posts!
. You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post.
6.#MarketFriday post should be submitted sometime on Friday UTC
7.The post MUST be in English
8.Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it
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Apart from shopping at the bookstore, walking around the city looks very pleasant, the city is clean and very neatly arranged