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Romania Today
This page is to show the good and the bad things about living in Romania, some of the quirky and unusual things that may be found here.
Clothing
Clothing now comes in all shapes, sizes, and with messages.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2 May 2019
Art Deco Lamp posts
One never knows when an art work worthy of Marcel Janco or Demetre Chiparus will appear on Romanian streets.
Here we have two examples of such Art Deco masterpieces.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22 May 2019
The cat tree!
A new type of tree is growing now in the Oltenia area, Filiasi town, known as - the cat tree!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19 January 2019
Homage to Parents
Adrian paid a visit to his parents' grave.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 3rd November 2018
Reading
A homeless man reading by the streetlights at midnight.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th March 2018
Protest on the back of a truck
Adrian writes:
This text is written on the back of a Romanian truck in Oryahovo harbour and it seems to be a strong protest against Romanian corruption...
( I translate this as:
Excuse me for hurrying. I am trying to keep myself from thieves, penalties, corruption and mobsters.
I work for their free pensions, for insurance companies, and for the theft supervision association.
Thank you Romania!
- Don)
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 1st June 2017
Old church from Livezile Mehedinti County
Old church from Livezile Mehedinti County before and after this winter.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th February 2017
Rural house in Ganeasa village, Olt County, under construction....
(Don speaking) Words fail me....
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 24th November 2016
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 24th November 2016
Art in Romania
Adrian writes:
This is the Art Museum of Craiova, Dolj County, Romania. Inside are hosted treasures of art, masterpieces by well known Romanian artists such as Brancusi, and many others.
Now an exhibition of art from another artist, unknown to me, has opened. Trying to promote the work of this artist, one of his masterpieces has been located in the doorway of the building, as we can see here.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 30th October 2016
I am not highly qualified to understand art or this artist, but I have given up visiting the museum for a while, and I want the money back which I have paid in taxes to support this museum for .... such works!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 30th October 2016
Medical Facilities in Filiasi
Adrian writes:
I am a doctor in the town of Filiasi, Dolj County, for more than 25 years. I have behind me more than 22 years to learn and prepare for this vocation. For over 20 years the main medical location in the town looks like this, with a ghost building, misery around it, homeless dogs everywhere, a huge garbage tip near the building and no maintenance for the building, to which 100 000 people come every year.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2015
I still do not know why I am not going to work in other countries instead of staying to work in this hell, except that I am a Romanian doctor, and I believe that this is my duty and responsibility. In this misery I am working and living without any hope for a better future.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2015
This miserable place belongs today to the Mayor of Filiasi town, and to the local Council, but it is supposed to be a tradition to manage facilities like this as one of the most important needs of the local community - their health!
Take a look at these photographs, they tell the story of this nightmare.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2015
A brake for horse power!
Getting down a hill is not easy when there is a heavy load on your vehicle. You may need an extra brake, so that you can manage the situation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th June 2015
As usual, Romanians are very smart, and for this solution they should get a copyright!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th June 2015
Calafat boat first draft of construction details
This is a first draft of a reconstruction image of the ancient wooden boat from Calafat.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2015
Calafat boat progress
In the town of Calafat, in the custody of the Marincu local Museum there is an ancient boat still undescribed.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2015
In cooperation with the Mayor of Calafat, as well as with the help of the local council and of Mr Dan Virtopeanu, city manager of Calafat, NGO Alexis Project is starting to make an inventory including the measurements of the pieces of the ancient boat.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2015
It was found on the left bank of the Danube, near the village of Ciuperceni, not so far from Calafat, in 2002.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2015
We are hoping to try to identify the origin of the boat, and to propose a restoration of it, depending on its value, for the benefit of the Calafat community.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2015
Calafat
Adrian found, in the middle of Calafat town, in the local Museum building, pieces from an ancient Roman battle ship, abandoned by the specialists after they pretended to take care of it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 29th March 2015
Soon, the Alexis Project will cooperate with the local Mayor to restore the wreck in the centre of town, even though not everyone will be happy to see this.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 29th March 2015
Bitcoin
A few hundred years ago, there was a way to buy or exchange goods with others called troc, or barter. After this, more and more, cash was used instead. Then, in modern times electronic ways of payment were used, such as credit cards.
In Craiova railway station there is now a machine for payments which even accepts the latest electronic money, Bitcoin!
This may be progress, or it may not!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th February 2015
Craiova Afghanistan troops
In Craiova, Dolj County there was a huge parade of the Romanian soldiers who came home from Afghanistan after six months of military missions there.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th July 2014
Amongst them was our hero, Ionel Neagoe, who is still healthy and alive, burned by the desert sun, hunted by the local militias, with many memories from the battlefield. Hundreds of Oltenian people came to see the Romanian soldiers and to congratulate them, along with the officials who made speeches lauding them for their wonderful achievements in Afghanistan.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th July 2014
In one short story of their experiences, they kept the candies from their dinners for the Arabian children around the military camp, having in mind their own children, who are today so happy to see their fathers home safe and well.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th July 2014
Bechet Harbour
This is the blue Danube in the area of Bechet Harbour, Romania, in the early spring of 2014.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd March 2014
The river has passed through this point for millions of years, with the land on each side of it connected by a real highway.
When we see the river as beautiful as this, we can believe in Mother Nature, and admire it for its wonderful vistas.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd March 2014
Rojiste Village Funeral
This is the funeral of a young man who was the victim of a car accident in Rojiste village, Dolj county, Romania.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd March 2014
Adrian writes:
What is amazing to me is that I have never seen such a rich funeral as I have seen in this village. The young man was buried with a huge quantity of flowers on display.
A local told me that there is nothing unusual in this, but I have never, repeat never, seen as many flowers as I have seen at this particular funeral at the local cemetery, where there was not enough room to place them all, so hundreds of them were put around the cemetery fence and on the roads inside the village.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd March 2014
Oltenian Military Units ready to go to the Middle East
These Oltenian soldiers are preparing to go to the Middle East to keep peace there, and to protect civilians in the war-torn areas.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 25th January 2014
The soldiers took part in a parade through the middle of Craiova, in the town square, in front of the Mayor of Craiova, as part of the start of their mission to keep peace and order in the Middle East.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 25th January 2014
A General presented the troops to the people, two Military Priests blessed the soldiers, and the soldiers marched off to the war zone, with Romanian flags in front of them.
Amongst these heroes, our NGO Vice-President and brother, Under-Officer Ionel Neagoe is prepared for his first war mission in the Middle East. He and his colleagues are representing Romania overseas.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 25th January 2014
Many of today's heroes are already dead, many are marked by their military efforts to keep peace and order for the locals, many have returned from their tour of duty justifiably proud of their efforts, and covered in glory.
This is part of Adrian's country, integrated into the NATO forces and EU structures, to be part of a huge family of the planet, to cooperate with the USA, Russia and China and many others, for a common target of peace and development.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 25th January 2014
Disgusted Fisherman
Here we see the results when a fisherman has not had success with his fishing - perhaps the water was too cold, the wind was too strong, or there was bad weather. In any case, this fisherman has crushed and tried to burn his fishing gear after some bad luck with fishing!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th September 2013
Blonde Drivers
It may be a world wide joke that blondes are not noted for their intellectual capacities, but here in Romania this blonde driver advertises the fact that she is blonde!
Perhaps as a warning to other drivers to take care around this driver!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd July 2013
The Danube floods again
The Danube has risen once more, and has flooded for the second time this year, making the passage by ferry across the river difficult once again.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 17th June 2013
The port of Bechet flooded
The port of Bechet is still flooded by the waters of the Danube. The waters are more than one metre deep, making the river crossing difficult and dangerous.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd April 2013
Trucks are given priority for the river crossings in order to expedite international trade.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd April 2013
The Storage Shed for Posts or Priests!
These images are of a small storage shed in the middle of a field, near Craiova. When you get closer, you can see a sign with 'Popi de Inchiriat', which means that they rent huge wooden poles, or Popi, for the support of the formwork of a concrete pad to form the roof of one storey of a building, and the floor of the next.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th April 2013
However, also in the Romanian language, Popi can also mean, not huge wooden poles, but Priests!
So, just for fun, you can read the text as 'Priests for Rent', which should be a miracle!
Adrian thought he should go in and ask them: 'Do you have only Priests for rent, or do you also rent out Bishops?'
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th April 2013
Code Red for the Jiu, and Code Orange for the Danube
Because it has been raining for a week, and it will be the same for the next week, there is a Code Red for the Jiu River, and a Code Orange for the Danube.
The flooding has meant that the Ferryboat can only take trucks, not private vehicles, so Adrian had to return without going to Bulgaria across the Danube.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2013
Flooding of the Danube
It is unusual to see how high the water level of the Danube is at this time of the year. Usually only the flooding is only a few centimetres above the normal bank of the river.
The Ferryboat operators are working very hard, with their activities in danger of being stopped at any time. Traffic was closed for a while until conditions improved.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 25th March 2013
Michael the Brave!
Adrian writes:
"Here is an image who is taken from a painted wall included in the building of the Romanian Ministry of Defence, Bucharest, painted in the 90s.
It represents the entrance of an important romanian king, Michael the Brave, in the 16th century, in the town of Alba Iulia, an important moment for the unity of the Romanian people.
But, in the left part of the image, shown with a red arrow, can be seen the portrait of our present president. He is the only one without hair over his face, so as to be better seen in the context of the people in the painting.
This is Romania today, a good reason to change it !! "
Photo: Timi Slicaru
Romanian Flags
Adrian writes:
Tomorrow, 01.12.2012, it will be the National Day of Romania, my beautiful country.
Everywhere I went today, I met flags, even in the middle of the fields, and on farm buildings.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 31st November 2012
So there is still a chance for my country to be ….. Romania!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 31st November 2012
Large ships on the Danube
There are some huge ships on the Danube River at some times.
This photograph was taken from a ferry crossing the Danube.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th October 2012
Tourists at the Information Point
The friends of the Alexis Project know better than others how hard it was to clean, to improve, to repair Vogna Church, and also to make a strange wooden information point just nearby in the Vogna Valley beside the ghost church there.
When an EU project is completed, it is good to know what the effects and results of it are. In our case, it seems that the info point is very interesting for tourists, because for the fourth time intruders have broken only the door, just to visit it, without any other damage to the structure or contents.
Tired by this unexpected success, Adrian has replaced once again the destroyed part of the wooden door, though he remains silent about what is in his mind about these people.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 12th October 2012
The Farm and the Flag
Adrian writes:
This poor farm in the middle of a field has a Romanian flag to cover it. The owner should be one of our Romanian leaders for this!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th October 2012
The Toilet and the Drinking Water Source
Adrian writes:
In a beautiful small village in Dolj County, you can see a very well done eco-toilet in the middle of the field, far from the owner's house, but just three metres from a well used for drinking water, perhaps for the same smart owner!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 1st October 2012
Graffiti
Adrian writes:
Even in the ancient city of Rome, inscriptions or graffiti were put on the wall of the city. So, starting with the Romanian Revolution of 1989, we are entirely free to talk, everywhere, about everything.
In Craiova is this huge building, covered now by graffiti, perhaps made by young people, who knows how, many of them to do with the sadness of our times.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2012
I am happy, because as the Alexis Project tries desperately to record and preserve the past of my country for a better future, perhaps these young people are the next generation of the Alexis dream - to have a better future, we should be able to criticise the present.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2012
Tourist badges for Gorj County illustrated with images from Germany!
Foreign tourists are enticed to come to Gorj county with a landscape of … Germany. The image was downloaded from the Internet and printed on hundreds of badges. Although the project funded by the Ministry of Tourism will cost over 200 000 euros, no one bothered to take a picture of the county to be promoted.
Gorj County was present in several tourism fairs in the country with promotional materials. These badges invite you to discover the county … in Germany. Because it was from that country, not Romania, that the photo printed on the badges came.
For the instigators of the project, the Council of Gorj County, it was just a detail that was overlooked. One of the employees who handled the project argued that the specifications did not say exactly what image should be used for the badge. The total value of the 'Rediscover Gorj' promotion exceeds 900 thousand lei, or about 200 000 euros. The money comes from the European Union and the Ministry of Tourism.
Photo and text: http://www.antena3.ro/html5/#161010
Ponoarele - beautiful but polluted
Ponoarele is a beautiful monument in Mehedinti County, near Ponoarele village. The entire area of Ponoarele is full of rivers and caves.The huge stone hill between Zătonul Mare and Zătonul Mic has a double cave with an entrance from the north, from Zătonul Mare lake, with an exit to Zătonul Mic lake. However at the exit from the south of the cave, part of the roof of the cave has fallen in, leaving an arch called God's Bridge, or Podul Lui Dumnezeu in Romanian.
For the first time, Zătonul Mare was full. It was a wonderful sight.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 21st February 2010
The stones on top of the hill are called Lapiezuri, which are moulded by rain and snow over many centuries.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd June 2007
In many places of this natural and protected area there are still a lot of scraps and rubbish, coming from un-educated tourists, as can be seen here.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 3rd July 2011
A very good road has been built to Ponoarele, and this is a good opportunity for tourists to go there without any access problems. However, there is still a lot of rubbish left by these tourists.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 3rd July 2011
At the same time, they are trying to repair God's Bridge and to make for the main road a shortcut for heavy vehicles, to protect it for the future, which is a wonderful thing. Perhaps in the future, authorities must take care not only to make a good road, and to protect the natural bridge, but even a real protection for the area, which is too good to be forgotten and neglected.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 3rd July 2011
Saint Millipede
Somewhere in Europe, there is a small, unimportant church hidden between the mountains. Searching inside, as usual, the Alexis team found this strange restoration of one of the paintings on the walls.
The painting shows the first Saint in the history of Christianity that has at least four legs!
The painter created a new character over the original painting, and ignored the painting beneath. This anonymous Picasso has created, unwittingly, a new biblical character - Saint Millipede!
Seriously, this fact is a very strong argument for the surveillance of these important works by a specialist, whenever restoration of old buildings is contemplated, or for protecting wild areas and even promoting and passing from generation to generation the traditions of the people.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 14th May 2011
The Pole in the Road
These are interesting photos of a pole in the road! Very strong evidence for human stupidity and its universal presence!
Photo: Alexandru Gheorghe, 1st May 2011
It is good to notice that the pole has a plate indicating the direction to the kindergarten. Presumably this is the reason that those who built the road just can't take it away - it serves a precise purpose!
Photo: Alexandru Gheorghe, 1st May 2011
Fire
Adrian and Alexandru were returning home from a trip to Goiesti, when they saw a big fire on the road near Craiova, where a gas pipe had broken.
Photo: Alexandru Gheorghe, 14th April 2011
Begging
A beggar with a child helper at the stoplights, Craiova.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th March 2011
Adrian writes:
I was born in Romania and having lived here for 55 years, I have proved my good faith and humanism and professionalism and love for this nation, above all and beyond all dispute.
I am proud to be a Romanian, a people with thousands of years of history. I did my duty to society and am ready to pay any price for my country's future, as a privilege to give, not as an obligation, always!
I have seen beggars everywhere, some tragically struck by fate, others who have pretended to have a disability to give a compelling but deceitful picture of their state.
I have always considered that even disaster has its dignity, but we ought to protect people and help those in need, with everything we can give, just as I want to be helped in turn, if bad luck or ill health strikes.
But in this picture, in which a man of middle age, with a lower leg partially amputated (diabetes? peripheral arterial disease? Accident?) has a cardboard sign around his neck, on which is written in large letters: "I'm hungry!" And he patrols like a hunting dog at one of the busiest intersections of Craiova, with a child accompanying him to beg, soliciting money only from luxury cars in the vain hope of greater remuneration. Although this man is part of my people, he can not ever be part of my heart.
We have supported a hawk, a dog, some people, children, cats and even flowers, but I can not accept these forgeries of intent, these pretences that have filled Europe and the major cities of the world with Romanian beggars, making us a laughing stock everywhere, because even though they have personal handicaps, they have made it a business, without shame, without remorse. The whole world sees them and judges us by them, not for what - good or bad - this nation has demonstrated everywhere as praiseworthy or otherwise.
I know exactly (doctors process many such documents) what the Romanian pension provides in terms of money and physical help for people with special needs, I know that Romania is neither Heaven nor Hell on earth, but we allow these people to do anything for easy money.
In the same place a year ago (it is a busy intersection, a source of fast money) a child frozen with the cold was begging amongst the cars, supervised by a teenager from a secluded corner, acting as his "employer". When the child did not seem to be getting enough tips, he called him over and punched him in the mouth, breaking his upper lip and left him with a face soaked in blood and mucus. The child had to go back to begging, and had much more success among people driving luxury cars who did not question this encouragement of exploitation by begging as a business, with what amounts to the torture of those with special needs as a source of illicit income by the ruthless bandits behind them.
This image above is so fake, to do business by taking advantage of the man's misery, I say with full knowledge to foreign tourists, as a physician and honourable Romanian: Romania is NOT the best country in the world, but it is not the worst, it is my country and I love it!
Vandalism
Alex Gheorghe, son of Adrian, is a student at "Ion Mincu" University Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest, Romania, and is in his first year of architectural studies.
He completed a beautifully made scale model of a new and interesting project, a house defined by pure modernism, shown here in two collages, and presented it to his teachers and fellow students.
On a Friday, he presented his project in front of three architects, professors at his University, as well as his colleagues. On Monday, the presentations continued, and finished at about 9 pm. On the Tuesday morning, he went to the University to collect his scale model to take home, and found that all the scale models, including his, not taken home were destroyed!
This senseless destruction was by unknown individuals, but presumably by students at the University.
Dozens of his colleagues were in the same situation, who had invested passion, effort, hard work and money into these projects, and were left with nothing but smashed splinters of wood and plastic.
Photo: Alexandru Gheorghe, 30th March 2011
Modern Road
In Craiova city there is a modern road with a few strange details which can be seen here:
The electricity poles are not on the footpath, but on the main road!
Even if the excuse could be made to facilitate parking, there is no good reason to organise parking in this way. It is a dangerous design, to have poles in the main road.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th March 2011
Long Vehicle
A method by a Romanian driver to transport long metal reinforcing rods using an ordinary private vehicle. This is an extra long vehicle with six wheels, and had a very strange behaviour as it wobbled down the street, because of the long tail.
The picture was taken by Alex, just outside Bucharest, capital city of Romania.
Photo: Alexandru Gheorghe 17th March 2011
Sunday Worker
This beautiful image is of a single Sunday worker, in the Vogna Project area.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
Farcas School
This very modern school at Farcas village was put into place by the Mayor, Ilie Nemtaru, a person who wants to protect and promote the culture, education and history of his village, as shown by these beautiful buildings.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
There are new and modern rooms, with a sports area behind the school, and the buildings have many modern facilities for the children.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
Speaking about himself, the Mayor told Alexis that in the last election he refused to put posters with his face and slogan, because the results of his activities can be seen from the air - yes, the new school buildings put into place by this Mayor can be seen from a plane!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
Bridge at Goiesti
For many years over the Amaradia River there were only a few wooden bridges, so because the Goiesti village has more than 12 smaller villages as part of it, half are on the other side of the Amaradia River from the main road, making difficulties for the residents who had to use the old wooden bridges.
Now the Mayor of Goiesti, Ing. A. Atanasie, has worked hard to have this new concrete bridge over the river, as well as two other new bridges like this over the river, very useful for the local people.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
Partial eclipse of the sun
Alina took these photographs of a partial eclipse of the sun with her mobile phone.
Photo: Alina Neagoe 4th January 2011
Roxana and friend
During the search with Alina inside the Mongol cemetery from Farcas village, the family member Roxana, met a friend, in the middle of the wilderness, another frog!!
After a few minutes together, Adrian and Alina went on, leaving the new friend resting in the field, waiting for another meeting.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th November 2010
Closets
Adrian and Alexandru were at Mecea village, to search again for architectural facts concerning the wooden houses there. It was obvious that, on the back wall of every house, on the first floor, was built a kind of wooden cage, perhaps as food storage in winter time.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 7th November 2010
But as a local man, Mr Nicolae Degoianu, told us, and later Dr Cornel Balosu, Manager of the Ethnography section of Oltenia Museum, these wooden cages were not made to preserve foods, but as latrines.
Because ground space was very limited in villages in mountain areas, people made these latrines up on the wall of their houses.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 7th November 2010
Even so, there are many unanswered questions about how these rooms were used, as well as where else in the world you would find such outside latrines, and how they were used and emptied and cleaned.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 7th November 2010
Adrian writes:
"This is to confirm how smart people are. They choose a tree, cut it into small pieces, then make a strange place to rest, such as you might see in the Amazon jungle.
We should consider sending such men to jail for a few years, not because they have killed a tree, but because of their huge stupidity."
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 4th July 2010
And we now have an update:
Adrian writes:
"The seat has had a few more pieces added to it, but again the same stupid people, careful with the details, yet are very stupid at the same time, since it is a very poor project for a resting area. Surely they must have a few good pieces of wood to make a better one. "
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th November 2010
A Chat between God and Others
Here we can see where, in the back yard of a very nice church in the small village of Gradistea, there is a kind of wooden roof, the end of an attic, painted with facts from the Bible.
One of these paintings shows Jesus Christ in conversation with a woman, named here as Samarineanca, but the text is a very modern one. In Romanian the text has the word Convorbire, a very modern word, such as is the case in English, the translation "chat", without any connection with the ancient texts of the Bible.
Also, the quality of this painting is very low, so we can easily ask, who is the Jesus Christ, in this picture?
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2010
A Cannon for the Devil
Here we have a "Cannon for the Devil".
In the background is a beautiful painted church in the northern part of the Oltenia area, in the small village of Gradistea.
But, just in front of the church, stupid people have put a cannon, ready to be used against.... the devil!
Any tourist may see this stupidity, in which God's House is protected by... a cannon!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2010
Saving a Dog
Adrian was in the Radovan cemetery to put some flowers and a candle for our Radovan bride, even though Patra Maria is not the Radovan bride, but there is a strong connection to her with our search for Eleana Padomianu, the real Radovan bride.
As he was passing through the cemetery, in an empty grave Adrian found a small dog, wet and afraid, who could not get out.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 10th October 2010
With the help of an old woman who was visiting the cemetery, Adrian jumped into the grave, took his jacket and put the small dog inside, then climbed out and set him free. However, the dog ran off without saying goodbye!
There are only two images, because Adrian was alone, and the dog was too afraid to take images of his own rescue!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 10th October 2010
In Romania you can find many things. In this case the driver, a woman, has put a poster in the rear window which says:
"In frana si femei sa n-ai incredere"
Which in English says:
"Never place your trust in brakes or women"
Adrian thinks that this woman driver knows herself very well....
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 30th June 2010
Maybe we should understand this driver as a hunter, shooting with his car against people.
Perhaps there are many people in every country like this. But it is still a surprise to meet such people, working and living as men, though they are not ordinary human beings.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd May 2010
Even though Cioroiu Nou is a very important site, where Oltenia Museum invests a lot of money to search the site, and exp.arch.dr.Dorel Bondoc has a lot of hard work to do, it is still possible to find a lot of stupidity on the part of the people there.
There is a lot of garbage dumped on the area, which is very disappointing. The garbage pollutes the rivers, and there is a bad smell from the river, because of the rotting organic matter.
These are images of a trespasser over the site, with sheep on the other side which should not be there.
Romania is a beautiful country, but there are a few stupid people there.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 1st May 2010
An important monument destroyed
At Catunele village, Gorj county, the agricultural works near the Roman castrum have destroyed a very important monument, the clay wall of the castrum on the Motru River side.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th April 2010
A shocking accident in Strehaia town, Mehedinti county
Approaching the accident, it appeared to be a blockage of one lane of the road.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th April 2010
Soon it was obvious that a large piece of earthmoving equipment had toppled over.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th April 2010
The traffic was held up for some kilometres.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th April 2010
Visitors from Scotland
Some old friends from Filiaşi, now living in Dumphries, Scotland, paid a visit to Filiaşi and to the Medical Units there.
A huge problem for Bîlta village, near Filiaşi, but across the Jiu River was solved with the new concrete bridge. Our Scottish friends went to visit this important construction, not very far from the original old rickety wooden foot-bridge.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
Adrian shows the visitors from Scotland the old wooden foot-bridge over the Jiu River, on the road between Bîlta village and Filiaşi town. Just at the end of this old bridge are placed a lot of wooden crosses, as a reminder of people who have died at Bîlta, placed according to the tradition of putting the crosses near running water.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
A short visit to the future Medical Unit for Bîlta, where, in the spring of next year, will start the work of reconstruction for a better medical resource.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
In the back-yard of the future medical unit of Bîlta, Adrian explains the most important steps to do a good reconstruction next year, starting with the roof
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
In Filiaşi, in the office of the Mayor of the town, eng. Nicolae Stăncioi, the visitors can hear about the main problems of the town and the future projects for the town.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
Also, in the middle of the town, there is a very new medical unit for the assistance of people with special needs, also for treatments for old people, under the good management of Dr Pistol, a very competent doctor.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
At the old hospital of Filiaşi, the new general manager of the medical unit, Dr Gingioveanu shows to the visitors a few of the projects to make this medical unit a more modern unit, to provide better medical assistance for the people from the Filiaşi area
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
The friends from Scotland were able to see modern medical tools and rooms inside the building.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
Finally, the guests were able to have a few moments of discussions just in the medical unit of Dr Gheorghe. After this, the visitors from Scotland went back to Bucharest, but they will come back next spring for a future cooperative project here.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th December 2009
Treasure Hunters
On the important Roman site Tepelus, you can see a hole made by Treasure Hunters to search for a piece of iron underground. During the last few weeks, Dr Gheorghe has found such holes in a lot of sites, including Cioroiu Nou, Piscul cu Jidovi, Tepelus, Girla Mare etc.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th December 2009
The Road
Dr Gheorghe writes:
In winter, under rainy and cold conditions, this is a Romanian country road for those passing through the forest.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th December 2009
The Cyclist
Dr Gheorghe writes:
Look, please, at this young Romanian boy, heading to the future, as the entire Romanian people does it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th December 2009
The Treasure Hunters
Inspecting the digs at Cioroiu Nou, evidence of treasure hunters was found, even though police are protecting the site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd September 2008
The Door
Dr Gheorghe writes:
In a small village in Romania, at the end of the world, far, far away from civilisation, living in the middle age, there is a place for the future. An important person from this village has built a gate, using a house door, possibly with a carpet behind it. But the door has ... What is that?
A peep hole?
Perhaps to see who is outside, asking the owner for permission to enter? - But in any case, the door has no bell.....
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 17th October 2009
The Bridge, Part II
As is detailed in a report below, the new concrete bridge from Bilta Village, about two hundred metres up from the old wooden footbridge over the Jiu River is a very bad one. It is believed that when the Jiu River floods, as it does every spring, the bridge will be damaged by the water coming from the mountains.
Just upstream of the bridge is the confluence of the Jiu, Motru and Gilor Rivers. Even in these photos it can be seen that in the middle of winter, the Jiu has burst its banks, and has come over the main island of the bridge, which has been made almost like a dam in front of the Jiu.
Worse, a large part of the foundations of the bridge are simply clay! The flooding of the Jiu will only increase, especially when the snows of winter begin to melt in spring, putting the structure of the bridge in jeopardy.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th December 2008
The Killing of History
This is the general view of the Racari fort area, at the end of November 2008!
The site of Racari is one of the most important locations from ancient Roman times. Here, Arch. Dr. Eugen Silviu Teodor, from the National History Museum of Romania, Bucharest, in cooperation with the Arch. Dr. Dorel Petrus Bondoc, from Oltenia Museum, Craiova, have made great discoveries about Roman culture and civilisation.
But, today, this is the reaction of local authorities: The site has become a huge dump, with no protection.
The Alexis Project, together with the Oltenia Museum Manager, Prof. Dr. Mihai Fifor, are ready to ask the local authorities to give the site the protection of their administration, to protect it, and to respect the hard work of the specialists there.
There are no words to describe the stupidity of the local people: to kill history.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 30th November 2008
The Bridge
After many years hard work, a concrete and earth bridge is ready to link Bilta village to Filiasi town.
Although we are not experts, it is easy to see that this bridge will act like a dam across the Jiu River when water levels rise in spring floods. When that happens, we will see what kind of bridge it is.
However, you don't need to be an expert to see that the height restriction (like the old "Iron Gate" that restricted passage on the Danube) at both ends of the bridge is not high enough to let a fire truck through in an emergency, or even an ambulance. Perhaps an ambulance could get through if the driver took off the flashing red and blue lights from the top of the car!
A real bridge to serve the people would have been better designed, so that emergency vehicles could make the trip across the bridge.
Oh Romania, my love!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th November 2008
A Pink Ghost
This is a fortified Mediaeval mansion called a Cula. In the 18th century many were built in the Oltenia area, and in this area they acquired a verandah. They consisted of two or three levels and were built to protect the owner against Turkish attack. This one was built by the Izvoranu family from Brabova.
Today the building is left empty and like a ghost, even though it is a historical monument.
The Cula is 11 metres high, and built on three levels, but is in imminent danger of collapse. In 2001 three of the four sides acquired a coat of pink paint, courtesy of the Mayor of Brabova, Teodor Nani.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th November 2008
A Strange Bird
In the village of Ghidici, Dolj County, is a very beautiful building for local authorities, which cost a lot of money.
In the front of the building is a statue, made of stone and bronze with four huge lions (the lions came from .... Ghidici??).
On top of the stone obelisk is a very strange huge bird, as can be seen here. This strange bird must be an ancient one, maybe one billion years old, because it has a huge head, but a small mouth, and very big eyes.
The bird was unable to fly, because the head is very heavy, so maybe this bird is a walker who only drinks.....
It is our opinion that the local authorities should publish the source of this very strange bird, to be communicated to the entire world as a miracle....
From the position and stance of the bird, it seems that she is laying an egg or something...
It is only just remotely possible that this bird is an Aquila, the eagle on top of the Roman Military Flag, but we are not sure.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 1st November 2008
At the same time, when a lot of money has been spent in Ghidici for lions, an aquila (perhaps!) and a huge building, a very important historical site, just near the village, is in a bad situation as can be seen from the photo. It is not marked, has no protection, and is just a simple field. It may be because there is no money for cultural artefacts, only for stupid monuments like this!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 1st November 2008
Slaveni Roman Castrum
At Slaveni village, the main village of Gostavatu-Olt county, there is a huge ancient Roman fortress, the main castrum of the Oltenia area.
Here, at the eastern border of the Oltenia area, on the left bank of the Olt River, ancient Romans made the most important stone fortress of the entire Dacia Inferior, to protect the Oltenia area, and also their main city, or colonia, from these ancient times, Romula, near the present city of Caracal.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th October 2008
The ancient Slaveni Roman fortress was destroyed by the ancient Goth people. A Goth army of over 50 000 soldiers attacked the Roman soldiers from Slaveni fortress, comprising about 1000 soldiers, in a bloody fight. After this battle, most of the ancient fortress was destroyed, although it was rebuilt later.
In the middle of October, a very cold, foggy and rainy time, Oltenia Museum was working at the Slaveni Castrum under the direction of the archaeologist Dr Dorel Bondoc, with the help of a few people from the village.
The search was in the south corner of the castrum, over an ancient tower, and there are many artefacts from there demonstrating life in these ancient times.
It should be remembered that Oltenia Museum has made huge efforts this summer to search in many locations in Oltenia, such as Racarii de Sus/Bradesti Dolj, as well as Cioroiu Nou/Cioroiasi-Dolj, where the general manager of the Oltenia Museum, Professor Dr Mihai Fifor finished two stages of a search in the same summer, July and September, also at Desa/Dolj and now at Slaveni/Gostavatu-Olt, for a better understanding of ancient Roman culture in Oltenia, and to promote it around the world.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th October 2008
At the same time as the work of Oltenia Museum was proceeding, the local authorities from Slaveni have constructed, against the law, and against culture and respect for ancient times, a huge area for sports activities such as football games, right over the ancient castrum area, and were quite uncooperative with the museum specialists.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th October 2008
Also, the area of the ancient Roman Thermes was defiled by the dumping of the rubbish of the entire village, with the agreement of the local authorities.
Oltenia Museum and the Alexis Project have made a lot of effort to protect this area, asking for help from t
he authorities and from the media. 2000 years after the Goths attacked, at Slaveni, other Barbarians attack the ruins of the ancient castrum, as can be seen here.
Romania is a beautiful country, but the same cannot be said for some of its people.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th October 2008
Near Slanic Prahova, Prahova County, there is a small salt mountain beside a salt lake, called Baia Baiului.
The effect was like a cup on its side, with the salt lake in the cup, overshadowed by the mountain.
Now the salt mountain has fallen into the lake. It may have been preventable, with enough research and effort.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 12th July 2008
The fresh water springs may well re-create the cave and the lake, but for the present the whole effect has been destroyed.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 12th July 2008
 | For further information, see Grota Miresei, The Bride's Cave |
Alex writes: "Better for this car to be in Romania and not in the USA!"
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 1st July 2008
Romania entered the European Union just one year ago, so many people do not understand what it really means and implies. It is not just papers and talking, not just facts at a higher level.
For example, Romania must now take care of people with special needs, so there must be provision for them to cross the road and bypass stairs in buildings, and of course many other things.
Dr Gheorghe could write a book about the stupidity of workmen and supervisors who make provisions for people with special needs but with no real understanding of what these people require.
Here is a very clear example of this stupidity. The photograph shows the entrance to the single huge medical unit in Filiaşi, where many specialists and general practitioners have their consulting rooms and surgeries.
It might seem to be the entrance to a cave, but one must understand that through this door for Dr Gheorghe's practice alone, over 11 000 people every year, or over 100 000 people altogether counting all the clients who walk through just this door.
So it was required to build a concrete ramp for special needs access into and out of the building.
Look at it!
Dr Gheorghe imagines a comedy movie with Charlie Chaplin or Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot as a special needs client.
They try to climb up this very steep and narrow piece of concrete, to the door. After much labour, the person arrives not just in front of the entrance, but in front of a closed door, so they can either fall back down again, or if they are very strong, they can catch with their hands (or mouth if they have problems with their hands!) this strange iron construction on the right, which seems to be the entrance to a jail or a cage.
But do not worry, because if they fall down and some parts of their body are broken, the medical unit is close by, and can help them very quickly, but only if the doctors jump out of the building or slide down a rope like a monkey!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 18th April 2008
A man washing his car on the left bank of the Danube, using water from the Danube, and a lot of chemical substances in the process, which washes straight into the river with the next rain. There are many car washing places in Drobeta Turnu-Severin which he could use.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 7th March 2008
Dr Gheorghe was with Alina Neagoe at the site of the "Three Counties Monument" to obtain information about the work being done there.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 7th March 2008
At this point the monuments have not been damaged, as can be seen in this photograph, but it is important that workers engaged on other tasks realise the historical and cultural significance of monuments such as these.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 7th March 2008
For more than twenty years, Dr Gheorghe has lived and worked in the Bilta area. In this area shown on the map in a valley between two large hills there is a large forest of acacia trees in which he has made many searches for the ancient village of Bilta over those years. It is a large forest, covering 1000 metres down each side of the ridge, and stretches for 1000 metres along the ridge.
On 2nd March he was in this area with Alina searching for ancient wooden dams. After searching in the main fossiliferous area nearby, they climbed the hill to the north to the acacia forest, to look for ancient dams in the acacia valley.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd March 2008
But on top of the ridge between the valley of the fossiliferous site and the valley of the acacia forest they encountered an image of a crime: the entire area of the acacia forest had been cut down by workers. They made many roads for the exploitation of this dead forest and this has led to sever erosion because of springs, rain and wind.
Dr Gheorghe is sure that if he asked the workers for documents which gave them permission to destroy the forest, they could produce a lot of documentation which gave them permission for this crime against nature.
In only a few places there are some young, planted acacia trees to replace those cut down. Even so, putting in these small plants may be useless, because the environment which nurtured the forest has been changed forever.
There was a time when the entire region of Romania was covered by forest. The region of Transylvania was named because of its forests, trans = across, sylvania - forests. Now the number and extent of those forests has been greatly decreased, and it feels like a familiar relative has died.
The whole world should know what a beautiful land Romania is, what a wonderful culture and civilisation has grown up here, what kinds of animals and plants live and grow there. This exploitation degrades that heritage.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd March 2008
This is a secondary street of Bilta Village in Romania, near Filiaşi, shown in the third millennium after Jesus Christ.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th February 2008
January 2008 was very cold, less than -10° Celsius, a strong wind and a lot of snow.
All Romanian people have a strong sense of property, sometimes even with things that are not their property, such as public car parking. It is a real fight to keep your parking spot free here, and people use all kinds of methods to safeguard their parking spot.
Here the owner of the small car has parked his beloved car in the middle of the snow, and after he comes back from town, finds another car has blocked the exit of his car. Since both cars are on public property, it would seem right on a first come first served basis that the second car should have parked so that the first, smaller car could get out, and not block his car completely.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th January 2008
The war begins!
The owner of the small car puts a piece of paper on the window of the big car, with a note reading "What are you doing here? Next time, I'll move your car right outside Filiaşi!"
The owner of the large car reads this, then adds a note: "Move it if you have enough money to do it!" and leaves his car where it is.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th January 2008
Dr Gheorghe writes:
I believe that Romanian people are warriors from ancient times, and this is why the Romans got out of Dacia. One day, one of our ancestors, a Dac, found a Roman horse in his parking spot, and angrily told the Romans to get out of here. The Romans were so scared they left Dacia for ever.
But today there are no Romans, so the only way to make war is between ourselves!
Dr Gheorghe writes:
This is an expert in archaeology working in winter in Romania today, for about €300 per month. I believe that the single reason for this difficult task is his love for his work, and his vocation.
Dr Dorel Bondoc is a quiet man, very able in his job, and ready to do everything he can for his passion, History. He is a hero; If Romania had 1000 people like him, we would be the best country in all the world.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 24th November 2007
This ridiculous wooden sign, which reads "Archaeological Excavations. Access Restricted" is the sole protection for this important site. It is like a science fiction movie - the law is very clear about what must be done for this protection, but it is not done, for lack of funds.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 24th November 2007
Here, in one small kitchen and one small bedroom, this specialist works, eats and sleeps for week after week, in very cold conditions with no comforts, when about 2000 years ago at this place, the Romans had underfloor heating, and a very comfortable life style.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 24th November 2007
This is the scene at the northern area outside the castrum, where the Roman therms (hot baths) were!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 24th November 2007
In the middle of the Slaveni site, an important castrum in which digging is totally prohibited, two concrete poles have been erected for electric light, inside the main buildings of the castrum, even though this is a protected area, and there has been no action to mark the area so that such mistakes are not made in future.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 30th November 2007
This is a photo of an ambulance perhaps 20 years old, which has the left hand door, the driver's door, missing. It was photographed on the road between Cioroiu Nou and Craiova. This is a very dangerous situation, but there is no money to fix the door or get a new ambulance, even though the lack of a door puts the driver and his passengers, the nurse and the patients, in danger.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2007
The Henri Coandă Museum
The Henri Coandă Museum is near the small village of Perisor, half way between Cariva and Calafat, a beautiful city on the left bank of the Danube.
Henri Marie Coandă (June 7, 1886 – November 25, 1972) was a Romanian inventor, aerodynamics pioneer and the builder of world's first jet powered aircraft, the Coanda-1910.
Although he was born in Bucharest, his grandmother and grandfather came from Perisor, which is the reason for the museum.
He was the discoverer of the Coandă effect, named after him, and used it to build the first jet airplane, in 1910.
However it crashed at an airport near Paris, when Coandă lost control of the aircraft, and it left the runway and caught fire.
He continued a very productive career designing and building aircraft, hovercraft, and even the world's first jet powered sleigh!
Bucharest's Henri Coandă International Airport is named after him.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Text: Adapted from Wikipedia
This warplane in the garden of the Coanda Museum has an interesting story attached to it.
When it was brought here to be placed near the museum, a lot of people from the village came to have a look. The local priest climbed into the plane's cockpit, to see how it felt to be the pilot of the plane.
However he had with him, hidden in his cassock, a small chainsaw, called in this area a Drujba, and while he was in the cockpit, he started it up!
Everyone thought he had somehow started the plane's engine, and there was great consternation in the gathered throng, and everyone ran away terrified.
In front of the plane are Amelia and her daughter Maria-Amelia.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
GPS coordinates of the Soviet MIG fighter at the Coandă Museum.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th February 2008
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RC J/263/230/2007 CIF 21464151
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