Hello friends, in this post I'll tell you about my trip to Iași. I came here through Panda Tours and opted for a shopping tour. The program costs 21 Euros and is without a guide. I started my tour from the center of Iași, in front of the Culture palace. There's also a museum here.
I took the local tram, line nine and crossed the pedestrian crossing. Flower beds filled with various flowers emitted a delightful fragrance. A concert was scheduled to take place here and preparations were in full swing. Saint Paraskeva day was being celebrated and I noticed a long line to the church dedicated to her. The temple is located up this street.
I decided to take a different route and walk to the Culture palace, stopping by the shopping center. I passed by the arena where concerts are held. A church stood here. The weather was nice, around 22 degrees, maybe a bit more.
I encountered the statue of Saint Stefan and then reached the Culture palace. Next to it near the Palas shopping center, a fair-like atmosphere prevailed. Souvenirs and national items were on display, though magnets were not available. As a collector of magnets, they usually catch my attention first. Magnets were being sold in another section.
Unbelievably Transylvanian dishes were being sold here. Transylvanian cornmeal, usually consumed with tea, is prepared this way. However langos was not very common here. They were preparing cornmeal here. There was also a Starbucks here.
I continued walking and visited the shopping center, where various exhibitions were displayed on the first floor. There was a wide array of products available here. Our journey took 5 hours because this time we came through Liași not Leușeni.
Our next stop was the square near the shopping center. Here the Culture palace is prominent. There's a fountain, but it was under restoration when I visited. Behind is the Palas shopping center and in front is the Culture palace. Next to it is a larger fountain. The sides of this fountain create a kind of waterfall. There is a broader flow of water above the fountain. Grassy areas and benches were available in the back, providing places to sit and rest.
I arrived at the Culture palace. I exited from the rear entrance, so I could see the back of the palace first. Gothic-style windows and roof were visible, just like the building itself. There were cobblestones laid almost like our pedestrian paths.
Medieval-style decorations adorn the area next to the clock tower. You can see the monument of Saint Stefan here. Inside there's a sculpture of a medieval bird, resembling an eagle. The entrance fee to the Culture palace was 60 lei. With varying prices available. On the right side, there is another area where you can find a coffee machine and a terminal for food and drinks.
On the second floor I saw the Kanta Kutzina monument, but it's not very clear. This monument is like a seated monument. There's a concert hall here too. Henry Coandă Hall. This is a music hall, entry is prohibited from here on. There's an art museum and library, but I didn't go in.
Bird sculptures adorn the surroundings. Artistic panels feature statues of Stefan or Petrus I. In the middle is a forest with various animal figures.
A little further ahead is the Voivode Hall. This is where voivodes used to sit because it was the capital of the old Principality of Moldavia. You can see all of them here. There are names like Dimitri Throne. The sculptor who made the statue lived in the 19th century. I saw patterned windows, not like the other museums, you can touch these patterns.
An art museum is housed in the Culture palace. It features writings in English or Romanian and encompasses many different paid-entry rooms, each showcasing various paintings. Next to the stairs, there are bird-like figures similar to eagles. These figures look like guardians.
Some works from the palace are exhibited here. I then descended to the lower floor, where a room with the words "What feelings are you experiencing?" caught our interest, quite intriguing. I left the Culture palace and can see the monument of Stephen the Great in front of me. Cannons in medieval style and the monument of Saint Stephen are here in all their splendor.
I crossed over from the Culture palace and entered the pedestrian street. A crowd had gathered here, along with various exhibitions and vendors. It wasn't as crowded when I was here before. Hats, national costumes, cakes and other products were being sold.
I arrived at the Three Holy Monasteries and it was quite crowded here too. There's a wall here where wishes are made, like the Western Wall in Israel. I approached the altar area, there are places here to light candles.
I continued walking along the pedestrian street. This is the city center and very crowded. After the monastery, I came to an area with various terraces and shops. Magnets and other souvenirs are sold here.
Afterwards walking along the pedestrian street, I arrived at Vasile Alexandri Theatre. It's quite well-maintained and clean. The monument of Vasile Alexandri is here. It's a smaller version of the theater in Bălți.
I progressed deeper into the city. You can see the architecture of the buildings here. My goal is to show you the depths of Iași city. I came to Armenian Street, there are trash cans installed by the municipality here. There's also a kindergarten here.
Google Maps is taking me to my next stop Golia Monastery. This monastery is not included in any tour programs. This street is quite narrow and requires careful attention. I looked into the courtyard of the monastery. It's a well-maintained place. There's a shop next to the monastery, I bought a package of their own-made tea from here. I wanted to climb up the tower, but unfortunately it was closed. Google Maps says the entrance is open, but they are currently under restoration or closed for another reason. So, we can only enjoy the view from the outside.
The entrance to the monastery is quite beautiful, adorned with stonework. There aren't many people here, but there's still a nice atmosphere. There are places to sit and pray inside the monastery. It's a bit smaller than the other monastery, but still impressive.
Then I decided to go to the Botanical garden. I reached the botanical garden on tram line number 13 with one of Iași's new green-colored trams. As I walked towards the botanical garden, I saw various terraces and shops. There are signs saying "Do not step on the grass" in the parks and the grass is really well-maintained.
The entrance fee to the Botanical Garden is 15 ron, about 3.5 dollars. I hadn't visited the botanical garden on my previous trip, but now I was here. Alevtina Anastasiya Fatu founded this garden and we can also see a statue of her. Inside, there are various plants in the greenhouses, from tropical plants to cacti. Here we can see aloe vera plants that we used to put on our noses in our childhood. There's a plant known as elephant's foot in one corner. A garden full of interesting root structures and a variety of plants.
Cacti generally prefer less water and do not bloom. The cactus room here is quite interesting, there are many types of cacti and some are really large and striking. Some are small and delicate, while others look big and strong. Each one has a different shape and pattern.
As we walk through the botanical garden, we see the amphitheater and the water lilies here. Fish swimming on the water also attract attention. There's a big carp here. In winter I saw small goldfish here, now they've grown quite a bit. We finished touring the botanical garden and headed towards the center. Tram number 9 takes us directly to the center. In the center we passed in front of the Victory Monument next to the stadium.
The trees in the park are as well-maintained and beautiful as the botanical garden. Trees are kept alive with irrigation systems. The facilities and places on the walking path are quite attractive. I arrived at the pedestrian street of Iași. I felt the energy of the evening on the pedestrian street. I could see the Culture palace from a distance.
The magnificent lighting of the Culture palace stands out at night. I had dinner here and then headed towards the bus. With its lighting, it offered a very impressive view at night.
Best wishes to everyone. See you.