Timisoara - Temesvár

Timişoara is one of the largest cities in the Banat region, in Romania, an important economical, cultural and university center of the western Romania. It is also called "Little Vienna", because the city belonged to the Habsburg Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and its architecture is dominated by majestic buildings built in this period, which reminds us of the old Vienna.
Timişoara is the first city in Europe to have electric public lighting on the 12th of November 1884.
Timişoara is the place where the Romanian Revolution of 1989 begun, after a small group of people gathered on 16th December 1989, in front of the Church to support the Hungarian reverend Tőkés László against his deportation by the Securitate (Secret Police). The next day, on 17th December 1989, a massive popular revolt began in Timişoara against the Communist regime and its leader, Ceauşescu. The meetings spread rapidly in the city and in the country and Ceauşescu's rule came to its end a week later.

Timişoara is also the place where I was student at the Univeristatea de Vest, Faculty of Physics. I lived there for 5 years and I have beautiful memories of those times. :-)


View of the Dom Square


My favourite place in Timişoara is the Dom Square - Dóm Tér - Piata Unirii, with beautiful old buildings and pretty cafes all around the square. There is a rule, that only white umbrellas are allowed for the open-air cafe terraces, not to destroy the atmosphere of the square.


Dom Square by night









Dom Square with the fountain










Dom Square with pigeons









Dom Square









White umbrellas and the Baroque Palace in the Dom Square








Dom Square with the surronding buildings

Brighton

Brighton is in the south coast of England, being one of the most famous seaside resorts of the U. K.

In Brighton it is always windy and the sea is cold but it is a pleasure to breath in the fresh sea-air on your walk along the pebble-beach.

Actually the sea was VERY cold... But I wanted above all to salute my good, old friend. And the sea, as well, wanted to give me a hug... So I succeed to get wet instantly...


The Brighton Pier is the famous landmark of Brighton, with roller coasters, restaurants and a fantastic view on the sea. The seagulls glide in the air using every little breeze and fill the air with their sad song.


Here you can see the most beautiful green colour in the world, as the sea has an amazing green colour when it is sunny! The Brighton green.


The Royal Pavilion is an other attraction in Brighton, built at the beginning of the 19th century by King George IV, in an exotic, oriental style. There is a large park around the Pavilion, where people can relax in the grass.


The Laine is a shopping area in Brighton, with narrow streets, hundreds of boutiques, tiny shops, pubs, bars and small restaurants.

I wish I were there now...

Békási szoros - Cheile Bicazului

As I promised in my previous blog, the next place I am going to take you is the Bicaz Gorge (Békási szoros in Hungarian or Cheile Bicazului in Romanian).

This is one of the most stunning places in Romania, situated in Harghita and Neamt counties in the Hăşmaşu Mountains (Nagyhagymás) in the Eastern Carpathians.


As the small Bicaz (Békás) stream fights its way through the calcareous rock an amazing landscape has formed with steep cliff and narrow canyons.


Békás stream




The road is twisting and turning between the rocks with huge altitude differences and incredible hairpin bends.

Serpents




You need horsepower here!








The entrance of the gorge is marked by a new tunnel, that is wider and higher than the old one, allowing heavy traffic to go through, as this road is the main passage that links the two Romanian provinces: Transylvania and Moldova.


Oltárkő / Altar-rock and the gorge


The Altar-rock has 1154 m and guards the region with a huge cross on its peak.


Oltárkő / Altar-rock






As you walk through the gorge, you are fascinated by the giant vertical cliffs that trying to reach the sky make you feel so tiny, insignificant and mortal.


In the gorge





In the gorge











If you have the chance to visit the place several times, you have time to notice amazing details and undiscovered aspects. Here, in the Bicaz Gorge, if you are attentive and lucky, the landscape offers you strange surprises. Looking upwards, suddenly, near the edges of a rocky wall, a familiar figure appears, well known from the renaissance sculpture: Madonna with the Child.

What is up there?

Nature, with the power of the wind and the purity of the rain and man, with the imagination of his mind, create a masterpiece: Madonna of Bicaz Gorge.

Madonna of Bicaz Gorge

The last part of this blog is a translation of my text that is in the on-line newspaper Cotidianul, where my photos and text were posted

Lacul Roşu - Gyilkos tó

The Gyilkos tó (=Killer Lake in Hungarian) or Lacul Roşu (=Red Lake in Romanian) is situated in Romania, in the Easter Carpathians, in the Nagyhagymás / Haşmaş Mountains. It is situated at 983 m elevation, it has about 12 hectares total surface area, an average depth of 5,5 m and maximum depth of 10,5 m.

View of the lake

The lake is a natural dam-lake, which formed in 1837, due to a massive landslide, when limestone rocks and clay from the nearby Gyilkoskő (Killer stone) Peak rolled down in the valley and blocked the watercourse of a small stream, forming later a lake. Nowadays you can see the remains of the old fir trees, hundreds of tree trunks stand out all around from the water, as the calcareous and iron oxide rich water preserved the wood.

Fir tree trunks in the water

Several small streams and drift waters flow into the lake, carrying a reddish alluvium that has been deposited on the lake bed during the years and slowly bank up the lake. People try to save the lake by building dams on the small streams to filter out the alluvium.


The lake is frozen in the winter and it is covered by a massive ice-layer. During the summer its temperature can reach 22 C. In the lake there live several species of fish, like trouts and crabs.

Boating on the lake

Tourists have opportunities for boating and fishing in the lake, walk around the lake, mountaineering, as there are several tourist routes to the Cohárd / Suhard Peaks, Gyilkoskő (=Killer-stone) Peak, or even rock climbing in the nearby mountains.

Kis-Cohárd / Suhardu Mic Peak - 1352 m

The water of the lake flows into the Békás stream that leads us to one of the most spectacular places in Romania, the Békási szoros / Cheile Bicazului / Bicaz Gorges, where I will take you in my next blog.

Brighton green

The most beautiful green color I have seen is the color of the see at Brighton, from the Pier.

The Lion King - musical

The Lion King - The award-winning musical at the Lyceum Theatre, London

You may have seen the Disney's cartoon, The Lion King, so you know the story... You may think that it is impossible to adapt for the stage... But it was possible and the cartoon is nothing in comparison with this live performance!
There are no words could describe properly the atmosphere created during the show, but colours, sounds, movements, rhythm, feelings and emotions...
The actors' and dancers' costumes are inspired by African patterns and colours, the masks and puppets they carry create an amazing effect. The human figure continues and melts into the puppets or the masks, working and moving together. The actors' makeup is sometimes decorative, sometimes figures out the personality of the characters.
The choreography includes African dance elements, with fantastic rhythm and energy, that move through the bodies of the dancers, but also imitates the movements of the wild animals.
The music, composed by Elton John, has again African influence and adds a theatrical touch to the show.
The scenic design is absolutely amazing, you feel as you are in the middle of the African Savannah. Imagine the African sunset, with silhouettes of gazelles jumping across the landscape or the huge giraffes walking along in the horizon, imagine the African sunrise with thousands of birds singing and flying in the air, imagine the Jungle with mysterious shadows and luxurious vegetation... And all this on the stage...
Oh, and not to forget the child-actors, they do an exceptional work, singing, dancing, moving puppets... fantastic for their young age!
I wish everybody could see this musical, as it is absolutely amazing!

Here you have some images from the Internet, to have an idea, as no photography is allowed during the show.
http://www2.disney.co.uk/MusicalTheatre/TheLionKing/abouttheshow/productionphotos.jsp

Az oroszlánkirály - a londoni Lyceum Theatre díjnyertes előadása

Valószínű láttátok a Disney rajzfilmet, tehát már a történet ismerős... És azt gondolnátok, hogy ezt lehetetlenség színpadra átvinni... De lehetséges volt és a rajzfilm eltörpül a színpadi előadás mellett.
Szavakkal képtelenség leírni az előadás hangulatát, inkább színekkel, hangokkal, mozgással, ritmussal, érzésekkel és érzelmekkel...
A színészek és táncosok ruháit afrikai motívumok és színek díszitik, a viselt maszkok és bábok együtt nagyszerű hatást keltenek. Az emberi alakok folytatódnak és egybeolvadnak a maszkokkal vagy bábukkal, együtt mozogván velük. A színészek maszkja néha díszítő jellegű, néha meg a szereplő személyiségét formázza.
A koreográfia afrikai tánc elemekre épül, a táncosok testén átáramló hihetetlen ritmussal és energiával, ami a vadállatok mozgását is utánozza.
A zenét Elton John szerezte, szintén afrikai hatású és az előadás hangulatát az egekig emeli.
A diszletek és a szinpad megtervezése lenyűgöző, úgy érzed, mintha az afrikai Szavanna közepén lennél. Képzeld el az afrikai naplementét, amint gazellák suhannak át a tájon vagy hatalmas zsiráfok sétálnak el a horizont előtt, képzeld el az afrikai napfelkeltét, amint ezer meg ezer madár énekel és repked az égen, képzeld el a dzsungelt, titokzatos árnyakkal és buja növényzettel... és mindezt színpadon!
És ne feledjük a gyerekszereplőket, akik elképesztő munkát végeztek: énekelnek, táncolnak, bábokat mozgatnak... fantasztikus az ő korukhoz képest!
Kívánom, hogy mindenki megnézhesse ezt az előadást, mert lenyűgöző!

On the homepage of the show, where you can have a sneak preview:
Egy kis betekintő az előadásba, a műsor honlapjáról:
http://www2.disney.co.uk/MusicalTheatre/TheLionKing/downloads/videoclips.jsp

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle is situated in Maidstone, Kent, South East England.

The first castle was built in the XIIth century by a descendant of William the Conqueror, later it passed in royal hands, being held by medieval widowed queens. Queen Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII lived here and Elisabeth I was imprisoned in the castle before her coronation. Later the castle passed in private ownership, the last owner of the castle was Lady Baille, who established the Leeds Castle Foundation. It was opened for the public in 1976.

View of the Castle from the hot-air balloon... yes, I was flying up there... :-)

The Castle is a gem: it is beautiful, elegant and friendly with amazing rooms, beautiful decorations, interesting paintings and lovely flower bouquets in the windows. You can see different epoques as you go around, starting from the Norman wine cellar and going through the old castle and than passing to the new castle, ending with the last owners drawing rooms.

The moat

Inside the castle

There is a beautiful park surrounding the castle, with interesting plants, trees and flowers.

In the garden

As Lady Baille loved the birds, she asked garden designers to create a duckery where now hundreds of wild birds live, as white swans, Canadian geese, ducks and black swans, the symbol of the castle, imported from Australia by Lady Baille.

Swans

The Aviary house different species of exotic birds, as parrots, toucans, ibises, cranes...

Parrots in love...

You can also see a falconry display, with majestic predator birds, like vultures, falcons, owls, eagles and hawks. The demonstrations give a fantastic insight into these wild birds life and behavior.

I got it!

Beautiful eyes...

You can also try to get lost in the maze and the grotto or to see the dog collar museum or the vineyard or just walk along the pathway and enjoy the sight of the small stream and the giant rhubarbs...

Giant rhubarb

or to admire the smell of the the giant magnolia...

Giant magnolia

or to follow a duck family swimming and to see the reflections of the sky in the lake ...

Reflections in the lake

Old Weapons - Régi fegyverek

Today at the local Museum was the opening of an interesting exhibition presenting old weapons, armours and shields. These amazing artifacts belong to the Sekler Museum of Miercurea Ciuc, they were kept in secret during the Communism and were restored only after the 1989's revolution. The exhibition presents swords, sabres, small swords, knives, different sort of guns, pistols, riffles, shields, helmets and armours dating back from the XIVth to XIXth century. Some are relatively simple, these were used in battles and combats, some were specially made for jousts, but the most beautiful pieces were used as a wall-decoration or as a parade weaponry.

Ma a Múzeumban egy nagyon érdekes kiállítás megnyítóján vettem részt, ami régi fegyvereket, pajzsokat, páncélokat muttat be. Ezek a csodálatos műremekek a Csíki Székely Múzeum tulajdonát képezik, a kommunizmus alatt elrejtve tartották és csak az 1989-es forradalom után restaurálták őket. A kiállításon kardokat, szablyákat, tőröket, késeket, különféle pisztolyokat, puskákat, pajzsokat, sisakokat és páncélokat láthatunk, amik a XIV - XIX században készültek. Egyesek nagyon egyszerűek, ezeket csatában használták, másokat lovagi tornákra készítettek, de a legszebb darabokat csak falidísznek szánták vagy parádékon viselték.

Here you have a slideshow, presenting the most interesting weapons, enjoy the tour!
Ime egy néhány kép a legérdekesebb fegyverekről, jó szórakozást!

Last bell...- Kicsengetés...

Once our school was the only grammar school in the town and year after year the last bell ceremony for the leaving students marks the end of the school year in our town. During the years a familiar scenario evolved transforming the ceremony into a beautiful event. Generations of students left the old Alma Mater following their predecessors footsteps, walking out into the real life singing the same old melodies. I had the same ceremony years ago, right after the revolution, when our class gave the copper bell to the school, that has rung every year ever since to salute or to say good-bye for the pupils.

Valamikor az iskolánk az egyetlen líceum volt a városban és a kicsengetés éveken keresztül a tanév végét jelentette a városban. Az évek során kialakult a megszokott forgatókönyv, amely az ünnepélyt egy csodálatos eseménnyé varázsolta. Végzősök százai hagyták el az ódon Alma Matert elődeik lábnyomát követve és ugyanazokat a dalokat énekelve léptek ki az igazi életbe. Nekem is hasonló ünnepélyben volt részem évekkel ezelőtt, rögtön a forradalom után, amikor az osztályunk az iskolának adományozta a réz harangot, ami azóta is rendületlenül köszönti és búcsúztataja a diákokat.

The bell ring and the Last Bell Ceremony begin for the 2007 graduate students in the Orbán Balázs Grammar School. All the pupils enter the school yard and take their places on the walkways waiting for their older school fellows.

Megszólal a csengő és kezdődik a kicsengetési ünnepség az Orbán Balázs Gimnáziumban. A tanulók bejönnek az udvarra és felsorakoznak a sétányon, várva végzős diáktársaikat.
"Gaudeamus igitur
Juvenes dum sumus
Post jucundum juventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus..."

The 12th grade classes students walk along for the last time under the old trees of the school yard singing these verses. They carry the school flag, representing a horse chestnut leaf, the symbol of our school.

A végzősök utoljára sétálnak el az öreg fák alatt a Gaudeamus... sorait énekelve. Hozzák az iskolazászlót, amin egy vadgesztenye levél látható, iskolánk szimbóluma.
The head teacher and other officials greet the students.The leaving students bid farewell to the school, teachers and school fellows, followed by the traditional "Honour to..." poem, written for the school by a former student for its 175 years anniversary.

Az iskolaigazgató és más meghívott vendégek köszöntik a ballagókat. A végzősök búcsúznak iskolájuktól, tanáraiktól és iskolatársaiktól, majd hagyományosan elhangzik a Tisztessék adassék... című vers, amit egy volt tanítvány írt az iskola 175 éves évfordulójára.

The students thank for the teachers for their work with flowers.

A diákok virággal köszönik meg tanáraik munkáját.

The year tutors present the results of the students, giving various awards and prizes, listing all the activities and competitions they were involved in.

A végzős osztályok osztályfőnökei ismertetik a diákok eredményeit, díjakat, jutalmakat adnak át, felsorolva a tanulók összes tevékenységét és versenyeken elért eredményeiket.

The 11th grade students dressed in traditional costumes give the embroidered "pack", a traditional and a symbolic gift, "containing" their best wishes for the leaving fellows and all the memories related to the years spent in school.

A székelyruhás tizenegyedikesek átadják a himzett batyukat, ezt a hagyományos és jelképes ajándékukat, ami "tartalmazza" jókivánságaikat és az összes iskolához fűződő emlékeket.

The youngest pupils give flowers to their senior school fellows, this is the sweetest and the most touching moment of the ceremony.

A legkisebbek virággal búcsúznak a ballagóktól, talán ez a legmeghatóbb és legédesebb pillanata a ballagásnak.

The school flag is handed over for the 11th grade students, for taking care of and to preserve it for the next generations. All the audience rise to salute the school flag leaving the yard.

A végzősök átadják az iskolazászlót a tizenegyedikeseknek, hogy vigyázzanak rá és megőrzizzék az eljövendő generációk számára. A nézősereg felállva tiszteleg a zászlónak.

The 12th grade students leave the school yard singing a good-bye song...

A végzősök énekelve ballagnak ki az iskolából...