"If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair", says an old song, San Francisco, sung by Scott McKenzie.
I could say, paraphrasing: "If you go to Bucharest, make sure to wear some light shoes and walk in Herastrau Park."
In the largest park in the capital of Romania, there is a lot to see and do. Starting from the classic stroll to relaxing on the grass, benches, terraces, and restaurants. Boat rides or a tour of the statues everywhere.
Here is a special monument dedicated to the Founding Fathers of the European Union, the twelve politicians who envisioned this union of European states.
The monument consists of a round central part with the yellow stars of the EU flag printed on it. In the middle of the circle is a flagpole on which the flag is hoisted. Around the circle are the busts of the Twelve.
Paul Henri-Spaak, Konrad Adenauer, Walter Hallstein, Robert Shuman, Jean Monnet and Sicco Mansholt
Johan Beyen, Altiero Spinneli, Alcide de Gasperi, Pierre Werner, Joseph Bech and Jean Rey.
This monument was made by Romanian sculptor Ionel Stoicescu and was inaugurated on Europe Day, May 9, 2006. I like it and find it very useful to learn about those who envisioned this union between countries.
It's winter now and few people choose the park for a walk. The snow is not big, winters are getting shorter and lighter and I like to see a little bit of snow still pristine.
In cities, only in such places the snow remains unpolluted by cars or not cleaned for traffic reasons.
The park in winter has its charm, mostly because of the lack of people. Other times there were crowds of people on the alleys or lounging on the grass, and lots of children.
The water birds do well here, especially when the lake water is not frozen and they still find food.
One side of the park was used for a large open-air museum, the Village Museum.
A part of the lake separates us.
A central part of the park, where the above-mentioned monument is located, is called Rose Island. In summer all the columns that you can see in the photo below are covered with climbing roses.
For a long time I thought that's why it's called Rose Island, without thinking about what the word "island" means. After many years I realized that this piece of park really is an island, because it has a bridge at both ends!
Right in the middle of the island we find the monument.
It's a friendly monument.
It is friendly in the way we can interact with the exhibits. We can touch the statues and children play there.
I'm asking if there’s a similar monument in the EU, and I’m told that logic makes me believe there is.
After passing the monument area and freeing myself from my interest in it, I was left to look at something truly beautiful. Nature!
Especially trees. The branches of the trees are unfurling in the sky, painting remarkable pictures.
I saw two works of art in the park. One man-made and one nature-made. The man-made has an important meaning.
The one made by nature is particularly beautiful!
I love traveling as much as a dog who lives in an apartment loves to see his owner put his hand on the leash. Like that universal dog, I suffer the same way—that is to say, I regret that the owner puts his hand on the leash too seldom!
I like to tell about my travels and share them with anyone who can and wants to read. I like that when I write, I remember. When I see the photos, I teleport with my mind and relive the beautiful moments once again.
I write mostly about the sea and the big city where I live, which often gives me the impression that I am traveling through it, and about other cities in my country, Romania.