Elena Udrea

Marx, Engels & Lenin: Where to put them?

by Craig Turp November 23, 2011 Bucharest

 A few weeks ago we asked What’s wrong with Ceausescu Tourism? Nothing, was the general answer, unless of course you work for the anti-PDL/Elena Udrea branches of the Romanian media, who find it all a bit too much to say anything praiseworthy about our Minister of Tourism. This week’s moral conundrum is slightly more controversial: [...]

25 comments Read the full article →

Wild Carpathia: Saving Romania from the modern world one helicopter at a time

by Craig Turp November 4, 2011 Romania

 Only half in jest, Romanian president Traian Basescu earlier this year told a group of investors that while Romania was a wonderful country offering much to see, the poor state of its transport infrastructure meant that the best way to see the country was ‘by helicopter‘. We know not if the Middle Eastern investors he [...]

24 comments Read the full article →

What’s wrong with ‘Ceausescu Tourism’?

by Craig Turp October 31, 2011 Media

 Why do we do it? Why do we watch questionable talk shows on questionable television channels (in this case Antena 3) knowing how loaded the content is, how subjective the guests are and – to all intents and purposes – knowing exactly what will be said. Last night the subject was a report that had [...]

15 comments Read the full article →

The Romanian National Institute of Statistics didn’t get the memo about the terminal decline of Romanian tourism

by Craig Turp September 5, 2011 Bucharest

 Oh dear. The Romanian National Institute of Statistics (INS) has gone seriously off-message. According to its latest figures, published today, the number of tourists in Romania in July of this year was an impressive 22 per cent higher than in July 2010. The number of foreign tourists was almost sixteen per cent higher. In the [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

The idea that tourism can ‘save’ Romania is too simplistic

by Craig Turp September 4, 2011 Business

 Shortly after the Romanian revolution of 1989 graffiti appeared on the streets of many cities in the country saying ‘Monarhia salveaza Romania‘ (The monarchy will save Romania). You still see the slogan occasionally, although these days it’s usually written with a heavy sense of irony. Without irony however is the current trend amongst certain parts [...]

17 comments Read the full article →

Bucharest’s brand: It’s not Paris but it’s not sh*t

by Craig Turp August 29, 2011 Bucharest

 Thought-provoking stuff from The Economist this week in the form of this article discussing the damage done to London’s image and brand by the recent riots in some of its suburbs. What we found most interesting was the comment that ‘And how many non-Canadians recall that the centre of Vancouver was hit by riots in [...]

17 comments Read the full article →

Photo Opportunity

by Craig Turp August 17, 2011 Romania

 Dear Bucharest Life I read on the internet today that Elena Udrea, the Romanian Minister of Tourism and Regional Development had sparked outrage amongst Romania’s chattering classes for wearing a flashy, expensive Dolce & Gabbana dress at a time when Romanians are being forced to endure a regime of austerity. I therefore wondered if you [...]

33 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →