Bucharest, Romania

Peaches were originally known as Persian apples. In fact, that is where the name peach comes from: Persia. Even in the Romanian language, we acknowledge one of the ancient world's greatest empires when we say piersici. Look at other languages: In French, it is pêche, in Italian pesca, in German pfirsich, and in Finnish persikka. [2014]

Bucharest, Romania

All of sudden, on this hot summer day, are you ready for "the pause that refreshes"? In the capitalist world, which has included Romania since 1989, the power of suggestion is everywhere. Even more suggestive might be the power of neon. But that would be so retro. Both the "pause" slogan and the neon sign go back to the 1920s. [2014]
 

Bucharest, Romania

February is all about the number two, and 2/22 is a palindrome too! Have you ever boarded a trolley bus from the rear? Have you ever boarded a bus from the rear? Have you ever boarded a bus? The answer to all three questions from most Americans would be no (at least not since their school-bus days). Be sure to see tomorrow's post. [2014]

Sinaia, Romania

 
Peleş castle is part of Romania's cultural patrimony. In other words, it is a foundation of Romanian identity because it represents the best of the country's culture. It was built as Romania was winning independence from the Ottomans; it was restored and opened to the public after Romania threw off its communist rulers in 1989. [2014]

Sinaia, Romania

How do you know Sinaia monastery was a success? 150 years after being founded, it got a new, nation-building church. Find the three green entwined cords that circle the building. Three! Obviously a reference to the Trinity. Also, a reference to the unity of Romania's three regions: Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania. Sinaia is close to where the three meet. [2014]

Sinaia, Romania

As a monastery, Sinaia must have cells for resident monks. Of course, the brothers prayed and meditated, but they also performed other services by providing shelter and medical care as called upon. That's just what was needed along the strategic road between two of Romania's three parts, the road that connects Wallachia and Transylvania. [2014]

Sinaia, Romania

In the late 1600s, a Romanian aristocrat made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land that included a visit to St. Catherine's monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai. When he returned, he built his own monastery and named it Sinaia after the holy mountain. One of the first buildings to take form was the Old Church. [2014]

Bucharest, Romania

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Zoos: Flamingos, peacocks, penguins, and pelicans are centers of attention at almost every zoo. These Dalmatian Pelicans, vulnerable as a species, are among the largest birds alive. Put them on your must-see list for your next zoo visit. Geographically Yours has been to 48 zoos around the world. [2014]

Bran, Romania

It doesn't have to be Halloween to wear a mask. It doesn't have to be a costume ball or Carnavale, either. Nor a spaghetti western. Nor a bank robbery. It simply has to be coronavirus times. But, have you seen any masks that look like this? Or, do you think this is the horned coronavirus itself? See the horns on both? [2014]

Bucharest, Romania

What is May 1? (a) May Day, (b) National Chocolate Parfait Day, (c) International Workers's Day, (d) Save the Rhino Day, (e) all of the above. The answer from most Americans would be a; the answer from the bus driver here would be c, but the answer from Geographically Yours would be e. [2014]

Bran, Romania

He may be trying to protect himself from ghosts. That is how Halloween masques originated. And, there was always a debate about how much costumery you needed to do the job. In this case, though, the disguise has nothing to do with All Hallows Eve. He is in Bran, Romania, in a region known as Transylvania. Now, you know the rest of the story. [2014]

Brașov, Romania

Performance art is usually staged to make you think of something in an unconventional way. So, is this what you think of when someone says 'Transylvania'? Probably not. Here on the stage that is Brazov's plaza, these unwitting performance artists are asking you to re-boot your geographical imagination and think of their home more like they do. [2014]

Brașov, Romania

Americans sometimes wrap themselves in the American flag: both figuratively and literally. But, why would a Romanian do the same thing? Because he loves US, of course! Unless you've traveled around the world you have no idea how much respect the United States commands everywhere. Our job now is to keep it that way. [2014]

Bran, Romania

Out the window: Look! It's Transylvania, Dracula's home digs. Romanians today owe a debt of gratitude to British novelist Bram Stoker, who created a fictional milieu for Vlad the Impaler. The country's post-Communist leaders have superimposed that milieu on a real landscape to create a tourist magnet imbued with a powerful sense of place. [2014]

Bucharest, Romania

Why does everyone seem so satisfied with the omnipresence of surveillance? It might seem totally in the interest of security now, but they (not we!) are building a dystopian future that threatens privacy and freedom. And, now they want to extend that surveillance to our cell phones! Just say NO. [2014]

Bucharest, Romania

"Blue skies, smiling at me. Nothing but blue skies do I see." She must be a climate denier. In fact, her expression, posture, and apparent station in life point in that direction. Taking her cue from one arrogant (alas, guillotined!) queen, her response to global warming seems to be: "Let them buy fans!" [2014]

Brașov, Romania

Those who pass through St. Catherine's gate enter Brasov. Those who enter Brasov enter Transylvania. Do you know what that means? Halloween is exactly a week from today! [2014]

Bucharest, Romania

Here be bearded dragons. Their social nature makes them popular at zoos. In the wild, spikes scare away their enemies and long legs allow them to rise above the exceedingly hot desert floor. Bearded dragons have no economic value and neither does their habitat, the arid interior of Australia. That has kept them off the endangered species list. [2014]

Bran, Romania

Geraniums do well in window boxes as well as everywhere else. They are even more popular in Europe than in North America. The flowers always rise to the occasion by standing above their photocellur foliage that brings them food. [2014]

Bucharest, Romania

God to Noah:  "You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal, of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive." [2014]