Movie Therapy at Turda Salt Mine

Join us for a movie at Turda Salt Mine!

What: When Day Breaks (Kad svane dan)
Where: Turda Salt Mine, 7, Durgaului Street
When: Friday, August 9
Time: 6PM

Veni Vidi Hunting in Cluj-Napoca

My friend Carmen and I teamed up for a Treasure Hunt competition during Colours of Cluj Festival. It took less than 5 minutes to choose a name for the team, MarioSisters - a silly one have to admit but it was a democratic vote, and to subscribe.

15 teams lined up and a volunteer was assigned for each team. We had to reach 7 check points, answer quizzes about each point, take pictures with specific objects and colours in case of penalty. The volunteer read a short story about the check point, quizzed us about the previous one, took pictures of us and handed the colored bracelets.

Itinerary started in the city centre at Casa Tiff, on Universitatii Street, and winded up in the same place. We strolled through the streets paying particular attention to iconic buildings and various architectural elements.

First clue took us to the Astronomical Observatory, where we were penalized for the wrong answer to the quiz and had to take a picture with something green. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

After we headed to the  house with the twisted chimney (a first-timer) on Motilor Street. We challenge you to find it!
Then we went to Hintz House - oldest pharmacy in our city, Museum of Pharmacy nowadays, in Unirii Square. Next clues took us to the 4-storey block of flats with only one balcony near Florin Piersic Cinema, the clock always striking 12:07 on top of the fruits-vegetables-cheese market, the Reformed Church on Kogalniceanu Street and Arta Cinema.

8 kilometers after and 111 minutes later we arrived back at Casa Tiff and the team was ranked fourth.
Of course we had a fight because of this!!! Kidding, we had more fun after the competition while walking downtown. 
  

Photos courtesy of Theo (our volunteer), Carmen & us.

Treasure Hunt in Cluj-Napoca

We are back and tomorrow we take part in the Treasure Hunt @"Colours of Cluj" Festival.

See you in town these days.

My Cluj-Napoca, your Cluj-Napoca, our town

We support the project Clujul meu si Clujul tau in which local painters show us how they see our city, Cluj-Napoca. What about You?

Puppets, comedy, books and garage sale in Cluj

Puppets: October 15-19
You are warmly invited to enjoy one of the best ways to defy gravity – the art of puppetry, at Puck International Festival on Puppet and Marionette Theaters, on I.C Bratianu Street.

Comedy: October 12-21

If you want to see the story of a war hero and petty criminal Limun who, through a series of humorous coincidences, agrees to protect Belgrade gay pride after the police refuse to do it, go and see The Parade, at Comedy Cluj International Film Festival. Or you are more interested in the of a cat living a double life in Paris?

Books: October 19-21
If you'd rather be reading visit the first edition of Bookfest in Cluj-Napoca, in Central Park.

Garage Sale: October 21

Garage sale is fun! Go to THIS one, organized by Stilistele, in Friends, on David Ferenc Street.

Elephant Parade

Colonel Hathi is bringing THE jungle patrol in Cluj-Napoca. 
The parade is this Sunday, starting 11 AM sharp, from Grigorescu neighborhood to downtown (see the map), along Somes river banks.

Enjoy!


View Larger Map

Cluj Marathon 2012

On Sunday 22, Cluj hosted the Marathon.

A lot more than last year, friends and acquaintances got into running and participated in the 4 races, marathon, halfmarathon, people race and even children race. Pardon, we did not! Neither Chuck Norris. Thus we have no tips and tricks for runners but some digests of what we've learned about how friends and family can best support their runners.

Let the runner find you.
It is extremely difficult to spot your favorite runner on the race. After the top 50, the crowds get quite thick, everyone looks the same and it's difficult to project when your friend will come by. What works much better is if your friend finds you. Tell them where you'll be, and they'll likely to find you. Even more, consider carrying something distinctive so they can spot you from a distance.


Come bearing gifts.
Usually what all your marathoner friends need from you is a big smile and words of ecouragement but there is a small chance they'll have a desperate look on their face, praying that you have in your possession whatever it is that they need (e.g., vaseline,  a bandage to cover a blister, spretzels, something to sip).
Be prepared, and you'll be a hero if they need you, but know they probably won't, and don't be insulted if they just blow by. This is their moment!

Almost finished.
DO NOT tell runners they are "almost finished" unless they are at Kilometer Marker 42.

Treat them gingerly at the end.
For most runners, the race is physically and emotionally exhausting and unnerving.

Talk, talk, talk.
Let the runner talk about the experience for several weeks. Be patient, is their time, let them enjoy it and relive it!
Results here.

Photos courtesy of several Friends and Cluj International Marathon.

Absolutely Fabulous Marathon this week-end in Cluj

On April 21st, tomorrow, the fabulous team Diana Enciu & Alina Tanasa will welcome you in our town at the Absolutely Fabulous Fashion Fair, from 12 to 8PM, on the 4th floor of Central Store.

More than 40 fashion exhibitors, fab gifts, great music and a very cheerful atmosphere is waiting for You!

Disclaimer: this marathon is not 26.2 Miles. The one organized on Sunday is the running marathon.

Enjoy Spring in Cluj

We think we've waited long enough for this to bloom. Enjoy Spring in Cluj-Napoca!

Photo courtesy of Carmen M.

Winter in Cluj

If You need more proofs that winter prevailed in Cluj-Napoca, here they are.

Snowy, snowy, snowy!!!

Stay tuned as more photos are about to be uploaded tonight by the courtesy of Carmen Marcu.

Winter has finally arrived in Cluj-Napoca

Winter got serious today in our town!!!

Luckily, a picture is worth a thousand words because we lack inspiration today.

Photos courtesy of various Friends.

Winter fun in Faget Forest

My friends got out of town for a little while for the Sunday ordinary walk on a beautiful, crisp January day, just after the first real snowfall of the season.

Walking into Faget Forest is already a tradition in our group. The essence of these walks is all about having fun exploring the forest and getting lost from time to time. Sometimes walking distances are not modest as we journey through the forest in the company of our local guides, C and Jo (C's dog), but...we survived till now!

Usually we combine the winter walk with an energizing snowball fight and sliding!

Leave behind the bustle of the city and step into the peace and tranquility of the forest. In the silence you can be one with the nature! Except when Jo is barking!!!

Should you have questions concerning winter walking in Faget Forest, do contact us, we happily send you in the forest with C and Jo.

Photos courtesy of Carmen Marcu.

The Way We Spent the Beginning of the Year 2012

Skating, skating, skating and searching out a few moments of ridiculous happiness.....

...with some good friends!

Happy New Year!

Photos courtesy of Carmen Marcu.

November's Festivals in Cluj-Napoca

November brought in town two festivals that we love: Temps D'Images and SoNoRo.

During 11-20 November, Festival Temps D'Images connects us to the reality and reminds us of us and of the time we live. Events will be organized at Tranzit House, Paintbrush Factory, National Theatre and Hungarian Theatre.

On 19, 20 and 23 November, SoNoRo will bring one Lisztomania evening at the Ehnographic Museum to celebrate the anniversay of the great piano virtuoso and composer (the actress Maria Dinulescu will read fragments of Liszt's writings), one Matinee with Dvorak, Antheil, Rolla at Tailors Tower, one New World evening with compositions of Philipp Glass, Edward K. Ellington, George Gerswhin and Antonin Dvorak in Diesel Club and Finale at Babes-Bolyai University with Dvorak, Bartok and Dohnanyi.

We hope that you'll be there again and  that you will have as much pleasure listening/watching all the artists as they have performing for You!

The boys are back in town (Cluj Arena update)

The new "Dr Mircea Luca" Stadium (aka Cluj Arena) was officially inaugurated.
"U" Cluj played at Home against Kuban Krasnodor. 

Welcome Home!

My cousin Andy was the representative of our family at this game. A representative with plenipotentiary powers:-P

 

Photos courtesy of Sanziana Craciun.

Earth Car Free Day in Cluj

If you have/rent a bike "be the change you wish to see" and join the Marching Bicycles, tomorrow, 22nd of September, from 5:30 PM. Starting point is in I.L. Caragiale Park.
The event is part of European Mobility Week and celebrates the Earth Car Free Day in our hometown.



Earth Car Free Day is an event organized in hundreds of cities and neighborhoods around the world, and there's not a government, international conference, or treaty negotiation in sight. Despite its somewhat drastic-sounding name, the goal of the day is not to take every car off of every street on our choking planet. The target is much more modest. It is, for those who wish to participate, a day of open reflection on the problem of cars and traffic in cities. It is also a day to encourage people and communities to learn about and even try alternative ways of getting around in their own cities.

Beer hunting in Cluj-Napoca

If you want to have some unforgetable beer experiences in Cluj or to taste as much as possible in the time you have, here are some places where you can go.


Boema - you'll be among beer geeks and you can explore the shelves or the menu to order some of the 100+ bottled beers on the list
Address: 4 Tasnad St., Manastur Neighborhood

Fabrica de Bere - if you want to drink URSUS from the source
Address: 2-6 Calea Manastur St., close to city centre

Ludwig Bavarian Bierhaus - to taste the beers that they make since it is VERY possbile that you will NOT have seen them anywhere else in town
Address: 4 Stefan Octavian Iosif St., city centre

Republic - for going deep into the fascinating world of Ceské Pivo
Address: 25 Emil Isac St., city centre

If you feel like having something to eat, you can also try the tasty snacks and food in all these places.

Here is a map with the locations.

This tiny guide was not intended to be authoritative:-) We just want to give you the possibility to discover as many places and beers as possible during your visit to Cluj. If you have any questions or, better still, suggestions, this is your space.

Chess in Central Park in Cluj

Some years ago, I discovered chess and the nice people who regularly play in Central Park in our town. On a good day you have 15-25 people playing chess (or observing the chess players). Much fun for everyone!
Games are normally timed but there are some players who play longer games.

I’m a duffer so I wish you happy playing!

Summer Nights in Cluj-Napoca

If you are in town for the summer, after surviving the hot days, the payoff is enjoying the Summer Nights in Museum Square. During week-end, the entire square is turned into a stage for music, dance, theatre.

Sitting in the outdoor cafés drinking cold rosé or just laying on the small steps of Carolina Obelisk or under the trees could be a reward for you and your friends.
 

St Michael Church tower is open this week (15-21 August)

The St Michael Church tower is no less than 80 metres high! After 166 woden steps, your athletic efforts will be rewarded with a breath-taking view of Cluj-Napoca and its surroundings.

Admission Hours: 11AM - 5PM
Free entrance!