Monday, May 28, 2007

Sibiu...a journey to the past, a journey into the future

Sibiu is truly amazing, relaxing, inspiring...if I were a writer with writer's block I would go to Sibiu and probably come back with a literary masterpiece.

Everything is different in Sibiu, the distinct sensation that you step into another territory, a territory of peace, culture and great ambiance...the buildings are renovated and very pleasantly coloured, the streets are full of bohemian terraces and trees. A lot of parks offer the greenest grass and the most comfortable benches, especially if you come from a 5 hour long train ride into a compartment with a serious lack of air.


Brukenthal Museum offers an impressive collection of Illuminist art and other art-currents-art-works (sadly there are not well organized and tend to make your brain numbingly-tired after watching two whole floors of paintings), the Tower of the Council has a delightful view of the city and it also makes you dream of a big house of your own, with a big attic with a glass ceiling, a wooden spiral staircase and pillows all over - a place of your own where you can write or read or work on your computer and look at the sky above, on clear spring days and find funny shaped clouds...

The Evangelic Church is a Gothic cathedral situated in the main square, that breathes serenity, it even has an organ - but I didn't have the great privilege of hearing it live, maybe next time...because there will be a next time.

I retraced the steps of the lovers that sweetly lie on the Bridge of liars and I saw a fantastic exhibition of simulating-lighting-objects (flower pots in wire spheres, white undershirts on hangers above the heads of the visitors, huge transparent umbrellas without handles, metallic spheres hanged like flowers).

The publicity in the main square is barely noticeable, they actually custom made all the logos to fit the cultural air that flouts about. All the logos are shrunk (Vodafone, Orange, Banca Transilvania, BRD) to be demure and not to pollute the cultural atmosphere.

The terraces are very well arranged...Sibiu has the most delicious non-alcoholic cocktails I have ever tasted (Green Apple - a balmy summer drink, Kiwi-kiwi - that needs no introduction and is great, Green Frog - very light and refreshing, Florida - a fruity madness) - all these have been tested and cannot, under any circumstances, be a danger to your health or your taste papillas :D.
The food is also delicious, exquisite chocolate ice-cream and a like-grandma-would-cook chicken-a-la-Greek-soup.

The trip ended with a five hour train ride with air-conditioning, soothing music, a lot of empty seats to sleep on and amazing landscapes just outside the window, frame by frame, green mountains and the clearest sky that this spring has given us, filled with my favourite kind of clouds (Cumulus).

If you want a relaxing, intellectually stimulating and fresh-air weekend, go to Sibiu, a Romanian city that deserves to be The European Cultural Capital of 2007.
Posted by Lumi at 11:36 PM
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4 comments:

Adelaida said...

Imi place cum ai descris fuga noastra la Sibiu, un oras fermecator in care pana si capacele de la canlizare si stalpii felinarelor sunt branduite cu Sibiu-2007... O sa vedem la anul daca grija pentru detalii se va pastra si dupa ce orasul va inceta sa mai fie capitala culturala europeana...

Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 11:48:00 AM GMT+3
Lumi said...

Corect. Insa am o vaga impresie ca le place prea mult ce au facut pe acolo ca sa nu pastreaze (macar o parte) cativa ani...sper...Ar fi pacat sa nu o faca, pentru ca au muncit muuult de tot la renovari, restaurari, customizari etc. :D.

Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 1:00:00 PM GMT+3
Anonymous said...

sa stiti ca si brasovul e frumos

Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 2:22:00 AM GMT+3
Lumi said...

Stim, stim :D

Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 11:01:00 PM GMT+3

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