There is an anecdote circulating in the country where I live, an anecdote that can also be used as tourism marketing, although it is far from being a flattering statement. It goes something like this...
It has been announced by scientists that the end of the world will be next year. You can come to Romania, where because the country is 50 years behind other countries... the end of the world will happen in 50 years!
Well, that's what they used to say in the last century. In the meantime, we have come closer to the end of the world, in line with the other peoples of the world.
I hope I haven't upset you by mentioning "the end of the world". That was not my intention. I wanted it to be an explanation of what I am about to show you. Market in Bucharest, a market that does not differ much from the markets of 50 years ago in this city, yet the capital of a country in the EU, namely Romania.
Obor Market
This market, the oldest and largest in Bucharest has been operating for over three hundred years, initially called the Old Men's Market (Targul Mosilor). It has evolved and devolved over time according to the evolution of the city and the country's form of government. The biggest changes were made in the communist and post-communist eras.
It has evolved and devolved over time according to the evolution of the city and the country's form of government. The biggest changes were made in the communist and post-communist eras.
Initially on the outskirts of town, slowly the town expanded, and blocks and other buildings surrounded the square. Of course, the market didn't mind because there were more and more customers.
I lived near this market for 25 years, until 2000, and that inevitably meant shopping there at least once a week.
It was a monstrous mix of stalls, shops, and pavilions where you could buy anything. A kind of supermarket and shopping mall, extended only on one level, in the time, and here I'm referring to the last century when in Romania there were neither shopping malls nor supermarkets.
Now there are many malls and supermarkets in Bucharest but Obor Square remains the same mix of stalls, kiosks, shops, and pavilions. Most people who come here to shop come by car, just like at the supermarket. What's new compared to the past is that now there are parking lots...
I haven't been to this market in about 23 years. Because I moved to another part of the city, a long distance away, but mostly because I never liked this market because of its immensity and because of the vendors, many of them rude and impolite.
After so many years we decided, my wife and I, to visit this market again and we chose, oh what an inspiration we had, a rainy day!
People stand in line, ignoring the rain, to eat a specific Romanian dish that is famous here in this market. A kind of skinless, grilled sausage called "mici" (small).
I ignored both of these "smalls", although they taste great, especially in such crowded places with experienced chefs and fresh produce. I also ignored the many pavilions, where there are hundreds of vendors selling vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and cheese...
...I ignored all of this for one simple reason. I came here specifically for the flowers. A good friend bought some roses here that we loved and wanted to buy some for our little yard. Our eagerness to have these roses as soon as possible led us to ignore the rather cold spring rain. So our search turned to the flower sellers' area.
Before we get to the flowers, I'll show you something else. Some vendors to watch out for in a market like this. The one who brings the merchandise...
... and the seller. They're dangerous because their natural tendency is their desire to deceive you.
This kind of "sellers" have monopolized, I think, at least a quarter of the market and this is one of the reasons why I avoid such markets, even if there is a lot of quality and even cheap merchandise. The cruel fate forced us this time to buy from these "sellers" because the roses we wanted were sold only by them!
Cut flowers, seedlings, and pot plants
The first thing we saw was the cut flowers. Mountains of lilacs. It was not our intention to buy them.
The interest was very close, a few meters to one side...
At last, a smile appeared on the wife's face. Although I avoid posting profile pictures of my wife, because her nose is a bit ... cheeky, now I'm forced, because of the joy on her face when she saw her favorite seedlings.
Here are the small seedlings sellers, with merchandise brought in from wholesalers, merchandise of average quality and low prices, however seedlings beautiful enough to color any yard or garden.
Prices range from $0.50 to about $10.
The problem changes with the big producers who sell their own greenhouse production here. Different quality, different prices!
Higher quality, more warranties, all this has to be paid for.
These lilies cost $30.
Japanese Berberis costa $15.
These seedlings cost $6-$8 each...
...and these oleanders cost $45.
Even though we didn't buy from this producer now, because we couldn't find roses, we chose some flowers that we will come back for soon. Only in this place!
Today is Saturday for most people but for me, it's Friday, #MarketFriday, this community is so beautifully guided and cared for by 
Here is what I bought during this walkthrough Obor Market, the most famous food market in Romania.
The two roses.
My wife loves roses a lot but she loves geraniums even more!
For two roses and four geraniums, I paid $35. I think I made a good choice!
Even though there were many flowers above, there is always another flower, #alwysaflower, as Denise says!