A tour to the outskirts of Bucharest – Bogdan –
“the tour guide come driver” arrives – “Call me Boogie” says he.
“I will tell you the way it is” says he – “I
have been a guide just one year” says he - he had been working on cruise ships
for 15 years – his English excellent – his demeanour jovial – pleasant – attentive.
He is true to his word – his background on
Romanian life – his political views -
all expressed in a delightful and direct way – he is worried about Romania – he
is worried about the upcoming election – we need people interested in democracy
says he – “I am a Christian” says he but he goes on to express his
disappointment in the Church – not enough support for the disadvantaged! – I wonder
about him – is he in anyway representative of the broader Romanian community? –
is his passion shared? – the answer comes with our meeting later in the day
with a museum guide - she also expresses her frustration with the current
political class – ‘the election is very important” says she – we get sense that
the Romanian community may harbour a responsibility to challenge the authority
of anyone that seeks to usurp the democratic process.
We visit church and palace – we drive past the accommodations
of the wealthy and decidedly un-wealthy – we visit museums and burial places – I
tremble at the cruel methods used by the
ancient Romanian defender Vlad Dracul - impalement
of the enemy on a long pole – entry through the southern bodily extremes – exit
through the northern orifice – be careful to not to rupture the vital organs
for they need to continue functioning until life slowly and painfully expires.
We return to Bucharest listening to Boogie
describe his mother and his father and his girlfriend,
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