The average westerner doesn’t know a lot about Romania. It hasn’t been in the news much since the communist break-up in 1989. When westerners think of Romania, maybe gypsies come to mind. If you’re into tennis, Ilie Nastase and Simona Halep for sure. And for off-beat history buffs, maybe Vlad the Impaler?
We disembarked in the small port town of Giurgu and boarded a bus for a one-hour ride to Bucharest. No one looks forward to a one-hour bus ride, but so far on this river cruise, they’ve been great. Time spent on the bus gave local guides, who’ve been excellent, a chance to tell their stories.
The bus ride also gave us a chance to see the Romanian countryside. It was mostly fields and farmhouses, Romanian style.
Gypsies!
Sure enough, we saw gypsies. They were driving horse-drawn carts along the roadside. The carts looked like they could be from the last century, except for the big rubber tires.
The real name of the people we call gypsies is Roma. There are hundreds of thousands of them in Romania, but the terms “Roma” and “Romania” have nothing to do with each other.
It’s always interesting to see gypsies. We once saw a gypsy camp in Greece. They do their own thing, their way.
Romania’s history up until the end of World War II is similar to that of other eastern European countries we’ve been visiting. But during the communist years, Romanians have their own story to tell.
Romania’s Exalted Supreme Leader?
Romania’s leader during much of the communist era was Nicolae Ceaușescu. If Mr. Ceaușescu were editing this, he’d probably add “exalted supreme” leader. That’s the type of guy he was.
During his time in office, Ceaușescu made a trip to the Far East to meet with Mao Zedong and Kim Il Sung. He liked what he saw – a lot.
These guys didn’t just hold an office – they ruled as if they were God-like. Gigantic portraits of them adorned government buildings. Everything was all about them and their awesomeness. That’s how Ceaușescu saw himself, too.
Upon his return to Romania, he started consolidating power in the Romanian government so that eventually, he was in charge of absolutely everything. He became Romania’s supreme leader that everyone had to answer to.
School children were taught to sing songs praising him. Romanian journalists were no dummies. They couldn’t think of high enough praise to pour on Ceaușescu in the newspapers. His birthday was declared a national holiday.
Mrs. Exalted Supreme Leader
Ceaușescu’s wife, Elena, was cut out of the same cloth. When they went to China, she took note that Mao’s wife had a position of power in the Chinese government. It didn’t take long for Mrs. Ceaușescu to establish her own power base back home.
When we were in Bucharest, we toured the Palace of the Parliament. It’s gigantic, and it’s as opulent inside as any self-respecting tyrant could ask for.
The story goes, as told to us by our guide, that during the Ceaușescu era, another large building was being constructed next door for Mrs. Ceaușescu. When the building was partially completed, she decided that it was a bit too close to the Palace of the Parliament. They had to move the half-built building.
If that story is true, do you think she did it just because she could? That’s what I’m thinking.
Much of Bucharest was leveled during World War II, but now, thanks to Romania’s post-communist era economic boom, it’s a modern, bustling European city. Things are looking up for today’s Romania.
To be continued…
The photo at the top od this post is University Square, Bucharest. Credit: Cristi Croitoru/istockphoto
