We’ve now been here 6 weeks, and have made several observations
about this country. Below is a list of
just a few. I have organized them
according to main ideas:
Driving
- Driving on the sidewalk is ok
- Parking on the sidewalk is acceptable
- A 3 second gap before a head-on collision when passing is good; a 2 second gap is cutting it too close
- Switchbacks are made for cutting corners
- Horns are for blowing, and Romanians love their horns
- Being in the intersection when your light turns green is considered “good timing”
- First one in the round-about has the right of way, all the way around
- Parallel parking is routine
- If your car doesn’t fit in the parallel spot, just pull in as close as you can and let the tail of your car stick out into traffic – it’s ok
- A smart car can pull into a parking spot perpendicular to the sidewalk and still be within the lines of the parking space
- Diesel is about $7 a gallon
- A spalatorie is a car wash; an aspirator is a vacuum at the spalatorie
- You are apt to see a pedestrian, bicyclist, horse drawn wagon, smart car, small car, delivery truck and semi all moving down the same road – beware of all
Pedestrians
- Pedestrians have the right of way, unless there is a light
- People will wait for the pedestrian walk light, even if there is no traffic
- You better be looking out for them, cause most of them won’t be looking for you
Bicyclists
- Bicyclists DO obey traffic laws
- Using hand signals is a must
- They, too, ride in the road
- Helmets are not to be found
- Old people ride bicycles as well as the young
Clothing
- Bras are optional, no matter what your age
- Stripes, prints and plaids DO go together
- Men love their capris
- A man’s shoulder bag is stylish
- Knee high boots with short shorts is also stylish
People
- We’ve not met an unfriendly Romanian yet
- Those who don’t speak English will find someone who does
- They are very patient with our Romanian
- There are about as many Hungarians as there are Romanians in this part of the country (now we are learning some Hungarian as well)
- They are always out and about on the streets
- Children play at the parks until late at night
- Most ride the bus or walk
- I’ve only seen 3 people using a motorized scooter for assistance, and 2 had a visible physical disability
- There are very few fat people
Miscellaneous
- Weddings begin around 6p on Friday or Saturday and last until 7 or 8a the next morning. You must pay to attend. The closer in relationship you are to the couple, the more you pay. When the couple leave the celebration, a procession of cars will follow and honk their horns.
- Food is cheaper here (we ate a medium sized 4 meat pizza with a coke and tea for around $5)
- When ordering food, everything is ala carte
- Flowers are hanging from just about every window sill and balcony in the country (including ours)
- Foreign cars aren’t
- The tax rate is 24%, and is already added into the prices you see at the stores
- This is a very beautiful country!!!
