The beginning of fall this year was similar to last year. I mean, there was no difference between summer and fall, the same warm, clear days. I thought we were in for another very long, hot summer. It wasn't...
As always, lovely days call for a walk. A new walk through the old places, the old part of the city.
More than 90% of the buildings in the city center are more than a century old. I like to photograph in black and white, trying to recreate the image and atmosphere of the last century.
Victory Avenue is the most beautiful avenue in Bucharest, in my opinion, and in the opinion of most of the inhabitants. Most foreign tourists are looking for this place, which becomes pedestrian on weekends.
Something strange seemed to be going on this Sunday that I'm talking about now. Lots of cops at intersections waiting for I don't know what signal.
I soon realized what was going on. I even remembered hearing on the news that the Cycling Tour of Romania was starting in Bucharest, but I wasn't paying much attention; I'm not a fan of this sport.
I was lucky to see the cyclists up close. It was a novelty for me, and I was impressed by the speed of the cyclists, their compact group movement, and the safety with which they rode, almost glued to each other.
People who came to this boulevard for a walk and a coffee weren't very drawn to the presence of cyclists...
... but this day was under the sign of cycling.
I met several times with the cyclists who only completed the first stage of the Tour of Romania in Bucharest, which required them to do multiple laps on the same route that also passed through Victory Avenue.
My interest left them for a while, and I focused on what there was to see and notice in the architecture and history of the place. It's the place in front of the former Royal Palace.
Here stands the imposing equestrian statue of the first king of Romania, Carol I.
In front of his (and the horse's) eyes is the former royal palace, which now houses the Romanian National Art Museum.
There's also a parking lot in this palace square. I don't think the king and the royal family could ever have imagined that there would be cars parked near their home. However, I also find it inappropriate that there should be a parking lot.
Right next to the parking lot is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, the Romanian Athenaeum, known for its unique architecture and great fame among musicians and music lovers.
Cars dominate Bucharest. There are so many that they flood the streets, and parking spaces are scarce. That's why I haven't driven in the city for a long time.
I hope to see the city turn Victory Avenue into a pedestrian-only zone soon.
As I said, I've met the cyclists a couple of times and have taken many photos. I think I'll show them soon, but I haven't decided yet whether to use all black and white or color images.
This is my entry for the #monomad challenge.
I rely mostly on photos in all my blogs. Words don't help me as much as photos.
I always start with photos when I want to write a blog. Photos remind me of places, events, and feelings that turn into words. The words have even less importance; they are a companion to the photos I want to show. This often makes the story uninteresting or common, yet it is necessary; otherwise, the photos would merely be a series of unexciting images.
I make this statement as a plea to those reading not to overjudge the text and to focus on the photos. The story provides context and necessary explanations and clarifications for the blog to convey something of interest to the reader.
A wise saying goes that a photograph is worth a thousand words, but I'm not sure. My opinion is that it depends on the viewer.
