Is anyone still using phone booths? To make a phone call I mean, not as a space for sticking posters or for taking a nap. Last time I used one was circa 1996 and I’m guessing I’m not the only one in that respect, since everyone in Bucharest from the 8 to the 80 years old, from the cleaning lady to the CEO seems to have at least one cell phone.
I often wondered about the story behind this apparently abandoned building on Calea Victoriei. Which is why yesterday I decided to do more than just wonder and searched the web for answers. What I found was a great article (in Romanian) which talks in detail about the history of the building. It was built in 1938 after plans by architect Radu Dudescu (also the chief architect for the new wing of the National Bank of Romania) as the House for Pensions and Loans of the employees of the National Bank. A beautiful building, too bad that nowadays it’s in such a bad shape.
A new addition to “reflections” series: the top of the Adriatica Trieste building reflected in Dâmboviţa river. To see all the reflection photos click here.
This is a shot from two years ago but very much in season 
Taken in Operei Park.
Upon my return to Bucharest a few weeks ago I was told by a friend that the repaving of the Old Center was finally over. Since this has been going on for quite a few years I didn’t want to believe it. Which is why when the first ocassion came along I took a stroll around the Old Center and … lo and behold, my friend was right. With some minor exceptions – ike the Splai entrance on Şelari – the paving of Old Center is finally over. No more walking on wooden planks or crossing the street through dust or mud, depending on the weather.
And if we linger a little bit more in Cişmigiu Park, waiting for the dark, we can catch a glimpse of the lighted back of Kretzulescu Palace.
More than two years ago I wrote a post about Romania’s “national poet”, Mihai Eminescu. Here he is again, imortalized by this bust part of the Writer’s Rotunda in Cişmigiu Park.