Bucharest

One of the highlights of our time in Bucharest for
me was meeting a hero of the Revolution of 1989 which resulted in Romania becoming free and independent from its Communist domination.

Egmond Puscasu with flag from Dec. 27,  1989

 At 15, Egmond Puscasu participated in the bloody confrontation in the downtown plaza between government troops and civilians seeking an overthrow of the government.  The troops were well armed whereas the civilians were fighting with bricks, rocks and molotov cocktails.  Many buildings were set on fire. The 15 year old lead a group of about 200 teenagers and watched as some of them were killed in battle.
He told us he was very, very scared, but that his family had a history of hatred for the Communists because his grandfather had been a political prisoner during the regime and was forced into a labor camp.  He was wounded in the arm but kept fighting. He saw Ceaușescu helicoptered off of a rooftop.   The area is now known as Constitution Square.  This is the memorial in Constitution Square that pays tribute to those who fought and died here in Dec.  1989.  The white spire represents freedom. The black cloud Communism, and the red the blood of the heroes who shed it.

Greetings from Romania

We arrived in Bucharest Saturday after the long flight across the Atlantic.  Our hotel was lovely.   We met our guide for this part of the  trip to Transylvania.   Today we took a tour of Bucharest,  the capital of Romania.  It's population is 2.2 million.  80% of the population is Christian Orthodox.
Here are some photos from in and around the capital.

Parliament Building...2nd largest building in the world after US Pentagon 

Clinic funded by Olympic gymnast

Former Communist Party Headquarters and roof from which 

Ceaușescu fled the country during the Revolution of 1989

Bucharest is a city of contrasts with buildings remaining from the Soviet area and newer construction.   It is an education center with many universities and several lovely parks and green areas throughout.

Orthodox Church

Romania was ruled by the Ottoman Turks for over 500 years , ending with independence in 1878.
After WWIi, Romania came under Communist rule which ended with the Revolution of 1989 and when the dictator Ceaușescu fled the capital.   Today, Romanians remind us that they are a young country,  working on the arduous task of creating a free society.