The Sisters United

The sisters are all together in Romania. LaLa and Erik got here late in the day and are still smiling from ear to ear about Danny and Maria’s wedding.

We started the day at Kretzulescu Church, a 1700’s church that managed to escape the communist regime. There was no photography allowed inside, so I’ll attempt to describe the visit. The sanctuary has only seating along the walls for the elders (Romanian Church service has everyone stand or kneel on the marble floor), but now folding chairs have now been added to accommodate a much older population.

It is a dark, close sanctuary that is decorated with frescos on every surface. The pulpit is wildly ornate. There is a female choir that sings a good bit of the mass and two male cantors as well as three priests that also sing the mass. There is much candle lighting, book kissing, crossing one’s self and kneeling that transpires. The music is all a capella and other worldly. You are transported in time to the mid 1700’s, and moved by the ancient rythmn of it.We got back to the hotel and waved Chazy on to the mall, let Lisa turn over for s few more winks and met Greg in the lobby for a walk around the city.

As usual, he proved to be a wonderful guide and an entertaining person to spend the day with.

There is so much beauty in Romania — old baroque and art nouveau buildings, large parks, and lots of churches.The Romanian people are very religious and predominantly Christian. Church service goes for a solid 2 hours, and is very well attended.

We went to a “peasant fair” and saw all manner of interesting crafts.

We walked to the largest park, Herestau Park and got ice cream before heading to visit The Ceausescu Apartments.The Apartments were interesting, but sort of a bust. They were garish and ugly, but didn’t really give you a window into who those wild dictators were. However, I did find out that their son is 69 and still living in Bucharest. Seems he’s been a very quiet citizen who has been a physicist all his life. No way to understand this — a boy grows up in a home where his father persecutes an entire generation, and he turns out to be a gentle soul.

A Metro ride home (modern and safe) a quick dip in the spa’s hot tub, a room change for LaLa because of a broken bed, and an Indy500 taxi ride to dinner at Grano.Another full day. Let’s see what tomorrow brings!