Comments on: Thank you, Andrew http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/ Dispatches from an American in Romania (was Transylvania) Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:01:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1252 Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:57:17 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1252 [...] Maybe it’s emerging as a pattern for me to suggest people try it. If I think back, the trend started when I was out on the town with Bunissima one night and spotted the glowing sign from afar. After dragging her in there, she was happily satisfied. The second time was when I took Mihai, a buddy who lives in Seattle where I met him while I was living there (well before I decided to move to Romania, much to his shock). He came to visit family and stopped by in Braşov to make sure I was getting along, so I twisted his arm into trying it. Happily satisfied, he agreed it was fantastic. Later, I dragged the Griviţei Ambassador de Gara there around 5 or 6am, after we’d been up an all-night bender. Next, Andrew. Now, Matt. Will you be next? [...] [...] Maybe it’s emerging as a pattern for me to suggest people try it. If I think back, the trend started when I was out on the town with Bunissima one night and spotted the glowing sign from afar. After dragging her in there, she was happily satisfied. The second time was when I took Mihai, a buddy who lives in Seattle where I met him while I was living there (well before I decided to move to Romania, much to his shock). He came to visit family and stopped by in Braşov to make sure I was getting along, so I twisted his arm into trying it. Happily satisfied, he agreed it was fantastic. Later, I dragged the Griviţei Ambassador de Gara there around 5 or 6am, after we’d been up an all-night bender. Next, Andrew. Now, Matt. Will you be next? [...]

]]> By: Chris http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1064 Chris Sat, 22 Jul 2006 08:30:04 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1064 Yea Ploiesti is another place entirely but the Peace Corps decided to have our training here so that is that. The plus side is that pretty much any other place in Romania is great compared to. Yea Ploiesti is another place entirely but the Peace Corps decided to have our training here so that is that. The plus side is that pretty much any other place in Romania is great compared to.

]]> By: IOnuka http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1047 IOnuka Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:53:33 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1047 Timisoara is an acquired taste. After being there a while, you start to appreciate the plethora of cultural events. Music events, movie festivals, literary events, student festivals, and some good theater. We had a horrble taxi episode in Timi too - it involved the taxi driver cursing my American boyfried in Romanian and asking me TO TRANSLATE HIS CURSES! All because he slammed the door. Timisoara is an acquired taste. After being there a while, you start to appreciate the plethora of cultural events. Music events, movie festivals, literary events, student festivals, and some good theater.

We had a horrble taxi episode in Timi too – it involved the taxi driver cursing my American boyfried in Romanian and asking me TO TRANSLATE HIS CURSES! All because he slammed the door.

]]> By: Dan, A Muh Fucka From Slatina http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 Dan, A Muh Fucka From Slatina Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:22:30 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1044 lol, damn, i was gonna say ploiesti too, anyway, holla @ me if u pass through slatina =) lol, damn, i was gonna say ploiesti too, anyway, holla @ me if u pass through slatina =)

]]> By: Romerican http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1042 Romerican Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:01:53 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1042 Alba Iulia makes a fine city to drive through. I've driven through it several times myself. I think the Craiova area probably will be graced with my presence until 2007, although I have driven through Pitesti a number of times. I am confident that Slatina will welcome me with open arms primarily because the Vlaicu edict of 1386 specifically states that merchants from Braşov should not pay a fee at the Slatina customs point which I take a good omen. Ploiesti is the bomb!  Although, I've only been there in the dark of night for a brief encounter in the central park.  *cue mysterious organ music* Alba Iulia makes a fine city to drive through. I’ve driven through it several times myself.

I think the Craiova area probably will be graced with my presence until 2007, although I have driven through Pitesti a number of times. I am confident that Slatina will welcome me with open arms primarily because the Vlaicu edict of 1386 specifically states that merchants from Braşov should not pay a fee at the Slatina customs point which I take a good omen.

Ploiesti is the bomb!  Although, I’ve only been there in the dark of night for a brief encounter in the central park.  *cue mysterious organ music*

]]> By: and'rei http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1041 and'rei Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:36:18 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1041 and Ploiesti, a must see city =] .... laughing I've been to Timisoara twice, it's not a bad city, like romerican said. I like the big parks they have tho', i guess it's cool in the hot summers we had this last 2 years, otherwise the city is quite ordinary and somehow simple. and Ploiesti, a must see city =] …. laughing

I’ve been to Timisoara twice, it’s not a bad city, like romerican said. I like the big parks they have tho’, i guess it’s cool in the hot summers we had this last 2 years, otherwise the city is quite ordinary and somehow simple.

]]> By: Dan, A Muh Fucka From Slatina http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1040 Dan, A Muh Fucka From Slatina Fri, 21 Jul 2006 10:16:46 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1040 Ay, Romerican, if u want the FULL romanian experience, hit the less "cool" cities like Bucuresti, Craiova, Slatina , Pitesti...oh, yeah, and make sure u see a village, lol. Anyway, i haven been paying attention so could u tell me what brought u here? Ay, Romerican, if u want the FULL romanian experience, hit the less “cool” cities like Bucuresti, Craiova, Slatina , Pitesti…oh, yeah, and make sure u see a village, lol.
Anyway, i haven been paying attention so could u tell me what brought u here?

]]> By: Andrea http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1006 Andrea Thu, 20 Jul 2006 22:11:15 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1006 Ionuka - I'm class of 2001. Heh. Sean - And Alba, don't forget Alba :P Ionuka – I’m class of 2001. Heh.
Sean – And Alba, don’t forget Alba :P

]]> By: Romerican http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1005 Romerican Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:52:33 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1005 Who said I disliked Timisoara?! Oh, right, that was me. Allow me to refine the outlook a little bit (being quizzed by two psychologists probably being the impetus behind not wanting to be labelled insane). I don't hate it or anything. I find the centru to be "quite okay" with a few very nice buildings and a couple damn good restaurants (with decent service!). If you happen to be travelling through there, it's worth spending half a day wandering around. My lackluster opinion derives from expectation. I had been led to believe Timisoara was a beautiful, cosmopolitan, thriving metropolis. Instead, I thought it was "just another" Romanian city albeit a bit more dusty than most. Ultimately, I was disappointed at how plain and unremarkable the city was because I'd been expecting something special based on the enthusiasm of others (whose input I still appreciate nonetheless). Disclaimer: I did have another abhorrent taxi-related incident in Timi, but I'd like to pretend that it did not affect my opinion of the town as a whole. Does that help? I wouldn't put Timisoara on my "must see" list of places to go, at all, but it sure beats the snot out of Bucuresti! I also wouldn't put Timi on a list of "dont waste your time" sights for tourism, but I would put Bucuresti on that list. In case any road-weary traveler finds this post and is short on time in Romania: hit Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara, and Cluj for your urban fun before heading elsewhere. Who said I disliked Timisoara?! Oh, right, that was me.

Allow me to refine the outlook a little bit (being quizzed by two psychologists probably being the impetus behind not wanting to be labelled insane). I don’t hate it or anything. I find the centru to be “quite okay” with a few very nice buildings and a couple damn good restaurants (with decent service!). If you happen to be travelling through there, it’s worth spending half a day wandering around.

My lackluster opinion derives from expectation. I had been led to believe Timisoara was a beautiful, cosmopolitan, thriving metropolis. Instead, I thought it was “just another” Romanian city albeit a bit more dusty than most. Ultimately, I was disappointed at how plain and unremarkable the city was because I’d been expecting something special based on the enthusiasm of others (whose input I still appreciate nonetheless).

Disclaimer: I did have another abhorrent taxi-related incident in Timi, but I’d like to pretend that it did not affect my opinion of the town as a whole.

Does that help? I wouldn’t put Timisoara on my “must see” list of places to go, at all, but it sure beats the snot out of Bucuresti! I also wouldn’t put Timi on a list of “dont waste your time” sights for tourism, but I would put Bucuresti on that list.

In case any road-weary traveler finds this post and is short on time in Romania: hit Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara, and Cluj for your urban fun before heading elsewhere.

]]> By: Ionuka http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/comment-page-1/#comment-1004 Ionuka Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:40:26 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/07/19/thank-you-andrew/#comment-1004 Andrea, yes - I think that was it. The one that departs from Timisoara at five am or so... (off topic: we might have gone to school together. I'm also a Psychology graduate from Univ. de Vest (2002). I'm sure we weren't in the same class, you might have graduated before me. Anyway... thought it was a cool coincidence!) I am also interested in the reasons behind Romerican's dislike for Timisoara. Is it the city, the plain terrain, the people, the arrogance, the beer, the Bega... ? Andrea, yes – I think that was it. The one that departs from Timisoara at five am or so…
(off topic: we might have gone to school together. I’m also a Psychology graduate from Univ. de Vest (2002). I’m sure we weren’t in the same class, you might have graduated before me. Anyway… thought it was a cool coincidence!)

I am also interested in the reasons behind Romerican’s dislike for Timisoara. Is it the city, the plain terrain, the people, the arrogance, the beer, the Bega… ?

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