Warm Sunday in Cluj and Othello

After a rainy start, today turned out to be another great day. Unusally warm (70 degF), sunny; that brought again everybody outside. After a good lunch at Baracca, I went quietly walking the city.

This past weekend, they opened up part of the square in front of St Michael's cathedral after renovation.

The statue is still under repair, but it really makes a big difference in the center.

Monument celebrating anti-communist fight (erected in 2006). Dec 1st is the national holiday in Romania, to celebrate independance. This year marks of course the 20th anniversary of independance.

One of the many buildings of the Babes Bolyai University in Cluj. With 50,000 students, it makes it the largest university in Cluj. This buliding is the Chemistry building, bordering the city park.

Fall has defnitely caught up in the city park.

The footbal hall of fame? A Zeppelin memorial? A coconut celebration? Don't ask me, I don't know either.

A solitary tramway

Viennese restaurant.

Not your typical Romanian folk singer.

To end the day, I had a ticket for Verdi's Othello at the National theater, and I have to say that the opera was absolutely fantastic. Iago was diabolical as expected, Othello was maybe not Placido Domingo, but I thought the singer was absolutely great. The orchestra was also perfect. Next week I go back for Il Barbiere.

I took a couple pictures with my phone,quality is not that great, but I thought it's a great small theater. I paid a whopping $10 for a center seat 2 rows from the stage.

At the balcony, all seats are in "loges". Delicieusement vieillot!

Ciao Cluj!