Ciao Cluj!: December 2009

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Paris-Cluj; It's a small world after all.

I guess you can see from the pictures below that I was not in Cluj this weekend. I took WizzAir to go from Cluj to Paris for a whopping 25 Euros one way.
On Sunday I went to the Musee Jacquemart to see an exhibit of flemish painting: Bruegel, Van Eick, Memling, etc... I then realized that the paintings all came from the Brukenthal collection which happens to be hosted in the Brukenthal museum in Sibiu, 100 kms from Cluj! I had to come to Paris to see paintings that are 2 hrs from here! Anyway, I have to check when the collection comes back to Sibiu, because that museum in Paris was very crowded. Here are two fabulous paintings I saw there:

Bruegel: the massacre of innocents.

Van Eick: the man wih a blue turban..

I was also strolling Montmartre area (near Sacre Coeur) and took a few pictures. Enjoy!

One of the few old subway entrances left. Here, place des Abbesses.

You know I like doors...

Le Bateau Lavoir in Montmartre was Picasso studio while in Paris.

Le Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre. Actually one of the 3 left. Renoir did a famous painting in the area called Bal du Moulin de la Galette.

Place du Tertre. More japanese here than in Tokyo.

La basilique du Sacre Coeur.

Ciao Cluj!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

December in Cluj

So I'm back in Cluj after having spent Thanksgiving in Boston with family and friends. I actually came back on Dec 1st, which happens to be Romania National Day. Many events took place during the day which concluded with a "retirement with torches" followed by fireworks on the piata next to my appartment. Today, I went to the art museum, and took more pictures of the Christmas decorations. One thing for sure is that the city does not spare anything when it comes to ligths decorations.

Today is the second turn of presidential elections in Romania. The results so far are 50% each. This promises to take a long time...