Fanatic

The attitude of Romanian roads.

My Brothers Dacia

Stuck In Traffic

Spotted on Str. Coltei. A reaction to the ridiculous traffic congestion we have here in Bucharest.

Rock N Roll Graveyard...

Oh, I wonder what that is coming over the snow-capped mountain? Why, it's a sleigh filled with all sorts of useless crap you can only get rid of at Christmas, the season of kitsch and bad taste! And who's driving the sleigh into Bucharest? Is it santa claus? That would be an easy mistake to make, but no it's Shakin Stevens, who last had a hit in about 1984 when he sang rock n'roll style about a green door.

He's probably really popular here but the only reason I can think of going to the concert is to see, if due to old age or Parkinsons, he really is Shaking Stevens.

Anyway to prove that Rock N Roll never dies, here's a photo of a very cool car I saw on the Bucharest streets that looks like it stepped out of "American Grafitti" but is probably from Russia. (If anyone can identify it, i'd be intrigued).



Just to enlighten readers who aren't from Romania, this NYE we have the likes of Tom Jones, The Prodigy, Europe, Alphaville and Sophie Ellis Bextor to choose from. However things are looking up (a bit) for next year with Kylie, Lenny Kravitz, Iron Maiden, Radiohead and the wonderful PJ Harvey already confirmed to play.

Trabant Turbo

Trabants are a dying breed here. Originally from East Germany the Trabant was their answer to Romania's Dacia. Fifteen years ago 99% of all cars on Romania's roads were like this. Nowadays they are getting bumped out of the way by arrogant idiots in 4x4s. I walked past this customised trabant yesterday and had to stop and take some photos. The owner, a pretty 20 something girl, came out to speak to me, obviously proud that someone was taking an interest in her pimped vehicle. "Wow", i said, "front spoiler, rear spoiler, go faster stripes, bucket seats, racing car steering wheel- this thing must go pretty fast?" "60km per hour" she replied "downhill, with a tail wind" she added.