Discover Romania
Romanian songs of the week: ‘Young at heart’ and ‘Say hello’ by Fractures
We stumbled on this new Romanian band called Fractures on Facebook, while searching for some music inspiration – thanks to the guys at decat o Revista, who invited this band to one of their events. Calling themselves an indie, pop and post-punk band, Fractures bring a clean sound, feel good music. The song ‘Say Hello’ [...]
Rachel’s recipes: Romanian strawberries, basil and buffalo sour cream and yoghurt
I was so happy to see Romanian strawberries this weekend… so many beautiful easy recipes…and it’s well worth buying the local ones, because they do have more fragrance and taste than those flown in. I bought some gorgeous strawberries at the Matache market and topped up with extras at the Autogara market in Baneasa. It’s [...]
![[PHOTOS] Romania’s new National Library headquarters](http://www.romania-insider.com/wp-content/themes/zenko/scripts/timthumb.php?src=http://www.romania-insider.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMAG1270.jpg&w=130&h=90&zc=1)
[PHOTOS] Romania’s new National Library headquarters
The National Library moved to its new home at the beginning of May. We paid a visit to the glass and steel headquarters close to Unirii Square in Bucharest. Although still not 100 percent finalized – phone lines not working, Internet not yet working and no plastic cards to create subscriptions, the National Library promises [...]
Romanian writer Mircea Cartarescu’s book gets nominated for German International Literature prize
Romanian writer Mircea Cartarescu was nominated for the International Literature prize in Germany for his book ‘Orbitor II. Corpul’ (“Der Körper”- in German, and in English ‘The body’). Winners of the German award will be announced on May 23, and prizes will be awarded on June 6 in Berlin. Cartarescu’s book was selected from 141 [...]
Barbara Knowles Fund organizes haymaking course and festival this summer in Romania’s Transylvania
The Barbara Knowles Fund and a Norwegian fund are sponsoring a haymaking course and festival in Romania’s Transylvania this summer. The course will take place between July 12 and 21 in a village close to Miercurea Ciuc, in Central Romania, while the festival is in August, between August 19 and 26. The International Haymaking Festival [...]
Romanian Brancusi’s bronze gilded head sculpture sells for USD 12.6 mln at New York auction
Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi’s ”Prométhée’ sculpture, a gilded bronze head, was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for some USD 12.6 million yesterday (May 2 ). The work of art was conceived and cast in an edition of four in 1911. The starting price for the piece was USD 4.75 million but went [...]
Alternative Romania: Hand loomed rugs vs. metal shark, People’s Palace church vs the woods
Romania can be surprising in many ways, and sometimes we’re around to see and capture it. Here are four bits of an alternative Romania, as we happened to see it. This is a loom that still works, and perhaps one of the few remaining in Romania, where the tradition of creating hand made products, the [...]
Romania Insider stories: The last peasants
In the Maramures, the northern edge of Transylvania bordering on Ukraine, life hasn’t changed very much in centuries but it is about to change utterly. Such tractors as were to be found here under Communism were long ago sold off and horse-drawn plows are universal. Old women in black scatter seed in the fields. This [...]
Romanian song of the week: ‘Nature Falls’ by Grimus
Romanian alternative rock band Grimus’ song ‘Nature Falls’ has hit the top of the music charts on radios in the country, leading the pack of Romanian songs on Radio Guerilla. We feature the song in this week’s RO song to give a little taste of Romanian rock that has the chance to be listened by [...]
Romanian recipe: Poale’n brau cheese pies
This recipe is from the Moldova region of Romania (North of the country), and if the literal translation is …well, not very appetizing – let’s just call it an amazing cheese pie. ‘Poale in brau’ roughly means ‘the bottom of the skirt raised to the belly band’ and to some extent illustrates the form of [...]
Peter Barta: Romanian entrepreneurs think they know it all, have hard time learning from mistakes
Romanian entrepreneurs usually think they know everything before starting a business, but they lack the entrepreneurial education and culture, even though they are good in their areas of expertise. The Romanian business scene is not a level playing field for Romanians and foreigners, as the latter get better adjusted to local realities and adapt. Learning [...]
Buzau Geopark targets UNESCO membership and transforming region into top ecotourism spot in Romania
”A landscape that could only be dreamed up by the Brothers Grimm.” That’s how a British journalist with The Guardian described the Buzau region after a week bicycle touring through the Buzau Mountains. Of the few visitors to the area, most share the same impression and are surprised by the spectacular sights hidden just 130 [...]
Romanian song of the week: ‘Wow’ by Inna
Romanian singer Inna, already famous internationally, has recently launched a new song and video, that, based on her track record so far, will surely become widely popular. The song itself is of the disposable pop dance variety. Used, or perhaps overused is the vocal auto-tune/vocoder effect, popularly known as the ‘Cher effect’ after its use [...]
Romanian Easter recipe: Drob de miel (lamb haggis)
A traditional food that is found on many Easter menus in Romania is called ‘Drob de miel’ (Lamb haggis). Lamb- based recipes are popular at this time of the year among Romanians, but while a lamb broil is easier to make, the drob recipe is a bit more complicated. Let’s learn how to cook it. [...]
Romanian song of the week: ‘Ochii din vis’ by Loredana Groza & Dragos Chircu
Loredana Groza is one of the best known Romanian pop singers, who has always re-invented herself. This time, she tries a duo with the young singer Dragos Chircu, whom she coached at the first edition of the Voice. Although Chircu was short of winning the Voice, he landed a singing project with his coach. And [...]
Italian low cost carrier Air One launches Bucharest – Venice flights this summer
Air One, the low cost division of airline Alitalia will enter the Romanian market this year, with the first flights scheduled for July. Air One will fly two times a week to and from Bucharest, connecting the Romanian capital to Venice. The price of a return trip is of around EUR 150, with flights scheduled [...]
Romanian language lesson: Easter greetings in Romanian
The Romanian word for “Easter” is “Paște“. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] The Latin etymology “Paschae” caused different forms of the word in other Latin languages: Italian “Pasqua”, French “Pâques”, Portuguese “Pascoa”, Romanian “Paște”. The form “Paște” was considered a singular form in Romanian; the plural form is “Paști”. The most commune greeting [...]
First edition of festival celebrating centennial of Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache held this year
The centennial of Romanian conductor and composer Sergiu Celibidache will be celebrated this year through the first edition of the festival bearing his name. The festival “Sergiu Celibidache 100″, which marks 100 years since his birth, will be organized between May 3 and July 7 in Romania. It will include a series of masterclasses, movie [...]
Art in Bucharest: Ion Rodos- the woodworker artist who teaches youngsters to ‘earn an honest living’
Capturing the essence of Romania in downtown Bucharest might be a challenge. Together with the guides from the project ‘Art in Bucharest’, we take Romanian artists one by one, discovering their works of art and studios. Check this section for more stories of life and art in the capital city. By Simona David-Crisbășanu, founder and guide, Art in Bucharest [...]
Back in the saddle: Bike sharing centers in Bucharest re-open this week-end
Should the weather be nice this week-end, bicycle fans have reason to rejoice, as several bike rental centers are re-opening. Three of the six existing Cicloteque bike rental centers reopen today (April 6 ) in Tineretului, Titan and Herastrau park, with 100 bikes available for users daily between 12,00 and 20,00. The remaining three centers [...]
Romanian artist Nicolae Grigorescu’s ‘Young peasant girl’ painting sells for EUR 45,000 in Paris
Two works by the Romanian painter Nicolae Grigorescu were sold this week at an auction organized by Boisgirard in Paris. The painter’s ‘Young peasant girl’ was sold for EUR 45,000, while the second work, namely ‘The shepherd and his dog’ sold for EUR 27,000. ‘Young peasant girl’ had an estimated price between EUR 40,000 and [...]
Palm Sunday and Easter traditions in Romania: blessed willow branches, egg painting and tapping
Easter, or the Resurrection of Christ, is one of the most celebrated Christian holidays in the world. Each country has its own way of celebrating Easter, through different customs and Romania too has its own wealth of traditions waiting to be discovered. For those who decided to spend Easter in Romania, let’s take a glimpse [...]
Job of the week: Eduard Jakab, sommelier of the year in Romania
For Eduard Jakab, the Romanian who this year got the ‘Best sommelier of the year in Romania’ award at the Sommeliers Trophy, wine is more than just a drink, with him it’s a full time job. In an interview for Romania-Insider.com, he talks about his job and how his love of wine is a part [...]
Romanian language lesson: Indefinite pronouns and adjectives
The indefinite pronouns and adjectives are: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] ceva (something / anything) cineva (somebody / someone) orice (anything / whatever / any) oricine (anybody) oricare (anybody) altceva (something else) altcineva (somebody else) fiecare (every / everyone) alt / altă / alți / alte (other) un / o (one / a) [...]
Five RO entrepreneurs a week: Zebra Pay, Librarium, Papa La Soni, Maria Lucia Hohan, Pomello
Romania’s entrepreneurs are no strangers to success at home and abroad. Every week we’ll round up five local business pioneers to get the low down on them and their businesses. This week we chose five entrepreneurs who inspired us. Radu Ciorbea, Zebra Pay Radu Ciorbea, born in the Republic of Moldova, started Zebra Pay in [...]
Romania strikes gold, silver and bronze at European Gymnastics Championship, wins title after four years 
‘Magic mentalist’ wins ‘Romania’s got talent’ competition after flat-lining during live show 
Three trams collide, derail in Bucharest accident, at least 86 injured 
‘The Avengers’ epic movie almost covers production costs with first week-end box office revenues 
Athletic Bilbao files official complaint over Bucharest airport delays after Europa League final 
Wajiha Haris, Scheherazade Foundation president: “No” is never an option 
Romania’s Education Minister accused of having plagiarized three international research papers 
German STEAG buys wind farm from Romanian Monsson, plans EUR 200 mln investments 
Romanian actor Serban Ionescu left bed bound after catching Lyme’s disease from tick bite 
S Immo to put EUR 66 mln into The Mark – Bucharest office building with intelligent facade
