South West England, UK: The Cornish Bit
November 10, 2023
București, Romania; The Church Tour
November 18, 2023București, Romania is becoming known for its contemporary art scene.
București
București offers a selection of murals alongside cryptic spray paint advertising. I took far less pictures than I should’ve but below is a selection of the pieces I saw during my brief stay.
Whatever your take is on the description of ‘Art’, you will find it here. Historic monuments, paintings, statues, graffiti, modern art; București knows no limits.
Even at Popcorn Hostel, there was a blue woman with pink hair that had been skilfully created in the garden. I loved swinging in the hammock by this, such a relaxing space. My breakfast was also enjoyed facing this view, it made me crave my art supplies but I had to make do with coffee and cigarettes (I do not promote smoking and have since quit, I just liked the shot).
The Streets
Bland office buildings came to life with colourful faces and access gates shone out with bold vibrancy.
Whether looking up at buildings or down at my feet, there was art wherever I looked. Even waiting at crossroads, I was finding myself lost in random graffiti on the posts and floor.
On the opposite end of the scale, I found there were many statues that also drew my attention. The horse was rather realistic, it’s a shame the picture from the front was blurred so I only have his rear.
Wandering around, I noticed more and more. Park benches with ornate iron additions, fancy lampposts, even drain covers were a work of art. I’m disappointed by English drain covers after seeing the attention to detail on European ones!
Next to the subway, just along from the stunning Cărturești Carusel, there is an historic monument depicting Romulus and Remus with the she-wolf. A statue I saw in many locations across both Romania and Italy, I presume due to the Roman influences. I've yet to fully dive into the history regarding this legend, I found myself side tracked by the Dacians and their history.
The Park
Finally, I was joined here by a new-found friend I had made at the B13 hostel in Sibiu. Between addresses, Alex was in the area and offered me a mini tour of București.
Just a short ride on the metro, Herăstrău Park was easily accessible so we began there. I believe the conversion rate resulted in me paying just over 50p for that journey.
Alex became one with the statues, standing beside them on their plinth along the Aleea Cariatidelor (I won’t embarrass him with that picture), and we strolled around munching snacks and observing multiple busts. If you're bored of street or classical art, take a moment to admire the natural beauty on display, especially the blossoms in the Japanese Garden if you can.
Surprisingly for some, my favourite image in this post is that of Robin Hood on an ice cream stall in Herăstrău Park, purely for the fact it’s my favourite childhood movie. Already having a wonderful day, it brought back a delightful childish memory that I forgot I had.
The fancy clock is located by the Arcul de Triumf, which, sadly, my phone couldn’t capture very well in the lighting. It was an impressive monument to see, even in the rain.
Side Quest
To emphasise București's artistic nature, we joined some of Alex’s friends that evening to make the most of an art exhibition. I didn’t need the free glass of wine to encourage me, but it was welcome after being on my feet all day.
A wonderful selection of modern art, I found it thought provoking and it was lovely to see some young artists getting the recognition they deserved in various specialties. I know my next visit will have some more structured art-led locations incorporated.
Conclusion
Aside from incredible graffiti, thought-provoking spray paint and beautiful scenes created by nature, you will be pleasantly surprised by the multitude of statues that seemingly adorn every corner.
So, to summarise, București is much more than just the party capital of Romania. Give it a visit!
Gallery
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, central Romania. It’s known for Germanic architecture in its old town, the legacy of 12th-century Saxon settlers.
București
București offers a selection of murals alongside cryptic spray paint advertising. I took far less pictures than I should’ve but below is a selection of the pieces I saw during my brief stay.
Whatever your take is on the description of ‘Art’, you will find it here. Historic monuments, paintings, statues, graffiti, modern art; București knows no limits.
Even at Popcorn Hostel, there was a blue woman with pink hair that had been skilfully created in the garden. I loved swinging in the hammock by this, such a relaxing space. My breakfast was also enjoyed facing this view, it made me crave my art supplies but I had to make do with coffee and cigarettes (I do not promote smoking and have since quit, I just liked the shot).
The Streets
Bland office buildings came to life with colourful faces and access gates shone out with bold vibrancy.
Whether looking up at buildings or down at my feet, there was art wherever I looked. Even waiting at crossroads, I was finding myself lost in random graffiti on the posts and floor.
On the opposite end of the scale, I found there were many statues that also drew my attention. The horse was rather realistic, it’s a shame the picture from the front was blurred so I only have his rear.
Wandering around, I noticed more and more. Park benches with ornate iron additions, fancy lampposts, even drain covers were a work of art. I’m disappointed by English drain covers after seeing the attention to detail on European ones!
By the subway, just along from the stunning Cărturești Carusel, there is an historic monument depicting Romulus and Remus with the she-wolf. A statue I saw in many locations across both Romania and Italy, I presume due to the Roman influences. I’ve yet to fully dive into the history regarding this legend, I found myself side tracked by the Dacians and their history.
The Park
I was joined here by a new-found friend I had made at the B13 hostel in Sibiu. Between addresses, Alex was in the area and offered me a mini tour of București.
A short ride on the metro, Herăstrău Park was easily accessible so we began there. I believe the conversion rate resulted in me paying just over 50p for that journey.
Alex became one with the statues, standing beside them on their plinth along the Aleea Cariatidelor (I won’t embarrass him with that picture), and we strolled around munching snacks and observing multiple busts. If you’re bored of street or classical art, take a moment to admire the natural beauty on display, especially the blossoms in the Japanese Garden if you can.
My favourite image is that of Robin Hood and friends on the side of the ice cream stall in Herăstrău Park, purely for the fact it’s my favourite childhood movie. Already having a wonderful day, it brought back a delightful childish memory that I forgot I had.
The fancy clock is located by the Arcul de Triumf, which, sadly, my phone couldn’t capture very well in the lighting. It was an impressive monument to see, even in the rain.
Side Quest
In the evening, we joined some of Alex’s friends to make the most of an art exhibition. I didn’t need the free glass of wine to encourage me, but it was welcome after being on my feet all day.
A wonderful selection of modern art, I found it thought provoking and it was lovely to see some young artists getting the recognition they deserved in various specialties. I know my next visit will have some more structured art-led locations incorporated.
Conclusion
Aside from incredible graffiti, thought-provoking spray paint and beautiful scenes created by nature, you will be pleasantly surprised by the multitude of statues that seemingly adorn every corner.
București is much more than just the party capital of Romania. Give it a visit!
Gallery
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