Anyone got a better one?

The end (sfârşit) of the First World War (primul război mondial) saw the union of all the regions inhabited by Romanians. The provinces of Transylvania, Banat and Bessarabia were added to the country to create what Romanians called România Mare. During the reigns of Ferdiand (1914-27), Carol II (1930-40) and Michael (1940-7), efforts were made to develop Romania. Modern highways (şosele) were built, a public bus, rail (calea ferată) and air system were introduced, and electricty (electricitate), gas (gaze) and water (apă) were brought to towns. More schools (şcoli) and hospitals (spitale) were also constructed. However, despite these advances the life of the peasants in the villages remained largely unchanged. Before the outbreak of the Second World War (al doilea război mondial) 80% of Romania’s 18 million people lived on the land (pământ).

In June 1940 the Soviet Union seized Besserabia and two months later Romania lost more territory, this time to Hungary, when, under pressure from Germany, she was forced to give away the northern part of Transylvania. At the end of the Second World War in 1945 Soviet troops occupied Romania and the first steps were taken to communize the country. This involved the abolition of all institutions and the creation of new ones, and the imprisonment of all those who opposed this process. The complete subjugation (subjugare) of Romania to the Soviet Union was marked by King Michael’s forced abdication (abdicare) in December 1947 and the proclomation (proclamare) of the Romanian People’s Republic.

The Main Candidates

Traian Basescu

Traian Băsescu (Romanian pronunciation: [traˈjan bəˈsesku]; born November 4, 1951) is a Romanian politician and former Merchant Navy officer. He is the current President of Romania, after winning the office in the 2004 presidential election, and being inaugurated on December 20, 2004. Prior to becoming President, he was the Mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004.

On April 19, 2007 the Romanian Parliament suspended Băsescu. As the Constitutional Court of Romania acknowledged the Parliament’s vote on April 20, 2007, Băsescu remained suspended as president until a referendum which took place on May 19, 2007 confirmed that the impeachment should not stand: 24.75% voted to impeach Băsescu, and 74.48% to maintain him. Băsescu is the first president in the history of Romania who has been officially suspended.

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Here are some pictures of stray dogs / puppies in Navodări next to the RomPetrol factory. We found them on the ‘dig‘ (Romanian for dam, or pier). Au murit de foame (they were starving, dying of hunger).

Very short video: Stray Puppies Eating