A short walk and a fête

A short walk and a fête

My hometown Iași is in the North East of Romania. Look on the map Eastern Europe. Quite unknown, is an European town, the last one to the European Union border. It isn’t a metropolis : 300,000 inhabitants, with a first known document attesting the town before year 1400. It is all about history. And culture. We have the first Romanian university, but now they multiplied and the town has a youth vibe we miss during the summer.

 I give you a chance to have a taste of this Iasi I know and love and I take you on a short walk along one street, named after an important Voevod (meaning he ruled the country), Stephen the Great.

So it begins in front of the hotel build by the French architect Gustave Eiffel. Yes, the same as the tower, but built 7 years earlier, in 1882. And as the Americans know already,  Eiffel did the interior structural elements of the Statue of Liberty. Small world, isn’t it? Traian Hotel   is a neoclassical masterpiece and to add more charm to the place, an urban legend says that Greta Garbo stayed here in 1934 with a lover. 

 

And some old photos show how it changed in time.

1890

 

1906

1909

 

1917

 

1936

1942

1969

And if you don’t know or you don’t remember that Romania was a communist country, here it is a photo from 1977 to show a piece of this. On the building you can see the portrait of Nicolae Ceausescu,  the head of the Romanian Communist Party and the Conducator of the country. On the balcony, the speakers,  for celebrating in September 1977 the opening of scholar year. Between them, the man himself, Nicolae Ceausescu and the general secretary of the Romanian Communist Party  for Iasi County,meaning that he practically ruled it,  Ion Iliescu, whom will be the first democratic president of Romania  after December 1989.

But let’s enjoy the walk and don’t enter in the politics. The golden rule for a good party is not to talk about religion, politics and money. So, we look along the street  and  at the other end of the street, the Palace of Culture, which just have been restored and has some museums inside. But a visit there maybe another time.

I preferred the view with the  a hundred  years old tile trees, here in 2003.

This building is from the early 20^th century, as the old palace burned several times along centuries, the last terrible one was in 1880.

But you must see the changes outside the palace and how history  is more present you’ll think.

1930 

1943 

A peaceful place, with Germans in town  and cars were requisitioned for the Army and no fuel  for civilians.

Next year the scenery changes

1944

Yes, the front line in the World War II was in my hometown.

But  the Romanians are survivors , when they survive, and they  are looking for beauty in life. You’ll see flowers everywhere and a celebration for life wherever you look. The enjoy walk  includes a short stop to my favorite florist Darlington. It gave me a pink mood, as you can see.

Passing in front of the National Theater, build by two Viennese architects, Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, at the end of the 19^th century after the old  theater burned

And I can saw you an history in images. So, we start with 1900 and how it looked brand new. Look also at the people in the following images. Fashion changes and so does the transport.

1901 

1905 

1910

1915

 

And, as you know now, the Red Army was here  in 1944.

Next building is an old palace transformed in the City Hall.  It was built by  the architect Johann Freywald between 1800-1816, and after the fire destroyed it  in 1827, rebuild  between 1831.  The owner was the Rosetti-Roznovanu family. In the second half of the 19^th century a famous love story marked the place. The beautiful and cultivated bachelor  Nicolae Rosetti-Roznovanu fall in love with Maria, married to a powerful old boyard.  The son from a previous marriage of the husband fight and died for the honor  of the family. After the bloody episode the two lovers could marry, not without difficulties from the head of the Orthodox Church whom had the place just across the street!

Maria Rosetti-Roznovanu as an old woman. 

They sold the building to the Mayor in 1891, and the palace was  used as a Regal residence, and in the World War I as hospital and for the Government, as Romania was partly occupied by Germans and the capital was moved to Iasi.

Across the street, the Mitropolia, where the Mitropolit lives and preys since ever. The Mitropolit is the head of the Orthodox Church for the entire province. Mitropolia is a place of pilgrimage for Christians as Saint Parascheva is here.

1910 

1924 

1941 

 

You can see the actual Church which is a Cathedral and on the left, the building housing the Mitropolit.

Germans on the street.

You can see the Stephan the Great street. The Mitropolia and, near us, a jewel  of architecture, Thei Ierarhi, monastery build in the middle of the 17^th century. The photos was taken in 1944. WWII, Germans.

But we return to the enjoy walk of this day. And I stop in front of something you all will recognize as I think we all have the sin of good chocolate, exceptional Belgian one in this case.

The team.

The event was cover by the talented Gabriel Hritcu. Thank you for the photos.

 In my hometown (you can find it as Jassy or Iassy)  Leonidas celebrates two years. The party was a joy for children and grown ups, with clowns, actors and…chocolate. Exceptionally for the event a ganache with a nut on top. 

I invite you all to visit the place, there are so many things, places and people to discover. Enjoy!

                                                           

I thank Adrian Serghie and his https://www.facebook.com/iasifotografiivechi/  where you   can find more beautiful old photos.

Povestea scurta o gasiti aici http://ralix.ro/ciocolata-leonidas/