Apariţii în presă

Day Five





Today we travel to the famous province of Transylvania. We will cross the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, stop at Sibiu, a 12th century Transylvanian Saxon town and drive on to Alba Iulia, (All-bah Yoo-lee-ah), where we will spend the night. Our little party will be in two vehicles. Jan and I, along with Donovan Rypkema and his assistant Caroline will travel in a sleek van with Catalina Preda and a driver. Following us will be a second car with my friend Cristina Hertia and several others from the Ministry of Development.



Today is mild, perhaps in the high 50s. But there is drama afoot. Leaving Bucharest, we notice hundreds of buses coming into town. They are lined up as far as the eye can see. Local police are trying to control the jammed traffic.



Catalina explains it to us: There has been considerable unrest. Romania, like the rest of the world, is suffering from the current recession. People are complaining about wages, lack of services and reduced income. Thousands are converging on the capital for a mass protest. The government, a parliamentary democracy similar to the British model, may change. Everyone will be waiting to hear what the prime minister has to say later today. A vote will be taken. We are very glad to be heading out of town, swiftly moving toward the peaceful countryside.



The outlying parts of Bucharest remind me of our American suburbs. Perhaps a little shabbier. Big-box retailers have different names, but similar products. Suddenly I am surprised to see a familiar name: IKEA. Scandinavia has come to Romania.



As we head north and slightly west, we cross agricultural lands which remind me of the cornfields of Indiana. Croplands here are farmed a little differently. Five or six long rows of corn alternate with rows of other grains. A lone harvester winds along the rows. Rangy woodlots are interspersed with the crops. The land here is flat, with small settlements in the far view. As we slowly move toward the hills, the landscape changes. Over a slight rise we can see a panorama: To the left, a semicircle of forest, just coming into glorious fall foliage. Peasant villages nestle in the middle and far views. 



The houses in these peasant villages are built close to the road, but only a garage door and a fence can be seen. The bulk of the living space is cloistered within an enclosed courtyard. There is usually a barn for cattle at the rear of the lot. It all seems very efficient in a climate which can turn bitterly cold in winter.



Day Five - Later



The air is crisp and cool but very pleasant as we drive into Sibiu. People are dressed for the weather in warm jackets and boots. I am glad to have my down coat. .



The mayor of Alba Iulia, the Honorable Mircea Hava (meer-scha Hah-vah) has planned a dinner for us at the best restaurant in town. The evening is another example of incredible Romanian hospitality. We are seated at a long table (the mayor is across from me and Jan) in a private room. Beautiful place settings and tableware greet us. Waiters immediately bring wine, water and generous helpings of food. Frankly, I am a bit nervous. One of my goals for this visit is to establish a dialogue which will lead to a "sister city" exchange with Madison. Alba Iulia has emerged as a possible candidate, although it is a fairly large city. I truly want to impress this mayor. But, of course, he doesn't speak English and I am totally inept when it comes to Romanian. We are saved by our translators, Catalina and Nico (you may remember him from the conference). Nico is an official of the city and is sitting next to the mayor. Jan is very good at this exchange, having worked for Cummins Inc. in China for many months. The mayor is quite interested in her comments about American industry and business. 



Tomorrow morning I will make my official "presentation" to the mayor at the city hall and we will tour the city.



Day Six



Today we will meet with the mayor. I have a packet of information about Madison for him. In addition, I have a letter from Madison's mayor, Tim Armstrong. In it he "extends a hand of friendship" from our city to theirs and and his hope that we can begin a long relationship of international exchange. We also have a miniature key to the city for him and an autographed copy of the Bicentennial history, "Madison on the Ohio."



We are directed to a conference room and gather around a large table. After a few minutes, Hava joins us. It is time to make the presentation. Jan has coached me, reminding me that when speaking for a translator it is important to keep it simple, straightforward and clean. Short sentences. I begin by reading Mayor Tim's letter. It is then translated into Romanian. I propose that, although we differ in size, Madison and Alba Iulia have much in common. We value our heritage, we encourage visitors, we support our local artists, we foster education about heritage conservation and practices. These are all areas in which we can learn from each other and which can become the basis of community exchanges. I then propose that we begin a dialogue to develop the specific areas of exchange, which might lead to a formal "Heritage Cities" agreement. I ask that he grant permission for us to work with one of his people, perhaps his assistant Nico, to develop such a program.



A harrowing silence occurs. Then, with a twinkle in his eye and a big smile, Mayor Hava speaks. In Romanian. Catalina translates: " I return the hand of friendship you have extended ... and more."



He agrees that we should begin a dialogue exactly as I have asked - and we are to work with Nico. Smiles are beaming all around the table. A consummate politician, the mayor has a great sense of timing. 



After this, a lively discussion ensues. It centers on issues we all share, especially heritage tourism. 



The next morning we travel by taxi to the airport. Coddled with glasses of wine, several meals and entertaining movies, it seems like a short flight. Amazingly it is only about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we are back in Madison. (Just in time to join the Halloween parties.) I am still soaring somewhere in the stratosphere, full of the sights, the ideas and the tastes of "Beautiful Romania." I think I will be floating for quite a while.