The city I live in is a big city with relatively narrow streets. There are, of course, a few wide boulevards, but most of the streets are already overwhelmed, especially by traffic and the number of pedestrians.
The city is Bucharest and it is the capital of Romania.
Although the city is more than 500 years old, its modernization started only in the middle of the 19th century. The modernization of the city and the country was mainly due to King Charles I, the first king of Romania.
The first area modernized was Victory Avenue. As luck would have it, most of the buildings on this avenue have been kept in good condition and many of them have been refurbished, making the image of this avenue largely identical to its image almost two hundred years ago. Many of the buildings were built at the initiative of the king, which is why the equestrian statue of King Charles I is located in front of the University Library, which, of course, was built thanks to this monarch.
The statue is located in Revolution Square, opposite the Royal Palace, in the most famous part of the city and of this avenue, Victory Avenue.
This avenue is my favorite and I walk it from one end to the other every week, both for the pleasure of walking and for the pleasure of thinking about the history of the country and the city. There are many buildings and monuments here that are important to history. The modernization of the country, royalty, liberation from communism, the present society, and dreams about the future.
I mentioned in the beginning that this city is very crowded, it has already become an ordeal to drive and very unpleasant for passers-by.
The City Council has taken a very good initiative. Every weekend from May to September, Victory Avenue is pedestrianized. A haven for walkers, kids, dogs, and cyclists.
Between the old buildings, newer ones have been inserted, like this Novotel hotel, but this one fits well into the landscape, in my opinion.
Every weekend I cross this avenue. Not because I don't have other places to see. It's because I like to walk without having to avoid cars. Plus it's the most beautiful place in the city, according to many. Not only a good place to walk, but it's also a good place to relax. Countless cafes, bistros, and terraces invite you to rest, drink and eat.
For me, this place represents the link between past and present. That's why I sometimes choose to illustrate it with black and white photos. As a reminder of the past and a reminder that color (in photography) has not always been!
This is my entry for the #monomad challenge!
