The journey to childhood places is always exciting for me. Childhood and the way I relate to life then remain one of the most beautiful parts of my life.
The trip from Bucharest, which is in the southeast of Romania and Falticeni, a small provincial town in the northeast of the country meant the sudden transition, in just half a day, from summer to autumn. In the south it is still summer but in the north autumn has already arrived.
I left my childhood home sixty years ago because my parents moved to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, where the chances of having an easier and richer life were much higher. For my parents, I did not understand these things and I was left for many years with nostalgia for my birthplaces and longing for my grandmother and many of my playmates.
Then the city "overwhelmed" me and modern life made me forget the simplicity and freedom of the country.
My grandmother and parents died. Fortunately, my much younger brother decided to move into the house in Falticeni. So I still have reasons to visit these magical places for me at least once a year. To visit my brother and to enjoy his three children, whom we love very much.
I saw again the sight with which I awoke every morning before my eyes. Less the cables for electricity and internet that are now everywhere.
The little ones are always the center of attention and were the cutest.
The region that starts beyond Falticeni, to the north, is called Bucovina. It was duchy during the Austrian Empire. One of the most beautiful places in Romania, with wooded hills and mountains. In fact, forests are the most important, the name Bucovina comes from the German word Buchenland which means Beech Country!
Bucovina is famous in Romania and is also known in the world for its monasteries. Many of them are part of the UNESCO heritage.
These monasteries are at a distance of 30-50 km from Falticeni, so easy to get there. We did not miss the opportunity and made a short trip to the most famous monastery, Voronet.
I have to write about monasteries separately because there is a lot to say and show. Now I want to show a reality that exists at the entrance to historical monuments. As it is in the seaside resorts. An aggressive trade with souvenirs and more.
In this post for #MarketFriday, you know, 's challenge, I'll show you what the stall alley at the entrance to Voronet Monastery looks like.
Most of the objects on the stalls are handcrafted, wooden objects because wood is an abundant material here and most of the objects in the households of the peasants in the area are made of wood.
Clothes are also present. Shirts, the famous shirts called "ie", bought by tourists, especially foreign tourists. In the past these shirts were made in every family by women and only such shirts were worn by women. Pottery also provided all the pans in the peasant household. Now they are used less but they are bought because they are decorative.
There must be something specific to Bukovina. Because here we are in the north, with hills, mountains and forests, the climate is cold, with heavy and long winters. Fur clothes are indispensable, they are called "bundite" ...
Another object specific to Bukovina and Moldova are the masks. These masks are used in various rituals and winter holidays, New Year. Drive away evil spirits ... even though they look like evil spirits. There are probably evil spirits ... evil and evil spirits ... good!
Beyond shopping, if you are not attracted or passionate, you can still spend your money on cart rides.
This was a tourist market, we find this in all tourist attractions, some are better organized and more attractive, others on the contrary, with a lot of kitsch objects. But as people's desires are very different, there are buyers for everything. This year, however, sales were not good at all due to the pandemic and the few tourists who still risk such trips. Of course with a mask on the face!
The monasteries in Bucovina are like small fortresses, they are surrounded by large defensive walls. Inside the walls, besides the monastery and other religious constructions, there are also gardens full of flowers. Because has to end, now a flower from Voronet.
