Observations About Romania and Its People

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!!!