Author Archives: Eric Sorlien

Ambassador Hotel Bucharest New Years Menu Dorobanti Restaurant 1983 Here is the translation: Tarts with Fish Eggs Biskaia Tarts – I don’t know what it means… Crab Cocktail – I don’t know what it means either Terina (paste) made from Hunting Meat Liver paste in aspic Poultry gelatin Consommé with meringue Beluga a la russe,Continue reading “Happy New Year 1983”

I had two major goals in Romania; one, to see Dracula’s Castle in Bran, Romania and the other, to see Ceausescu’s Palace in Bucharest. The latter did not go to plan. I arrived by train on March 11, 1990 in Bucharest from Brasov, Romania having seen Dracula’s Castle.. My friends in Budapest urged me notContinue reading “Not What I Thought”

Created by Vitrometan Factory in Medias, Romania. Once employing 3000 workers in the 1980s, they now have 200, who make items for Ross and TJ Maxx. Photos by Florin Andreescu from “Palatul Parlamentului” 2009 Ad Libri

31,214 bulbs are how many bulbs that have been replaced in a recent conservation effort in the Palace of the Parliament. The Palace has 2,800 chandeliers consisting of 7.7 million cubic feet of glass and crystal. When I visited the then named, “Palace of the People” in March 1990, the Palace had been open aboutContinue reading “31,214 Light Bulbs”

As told by Balazs from Oradea. He was 13 years old in 1989. “I remember very nice birthdays and christmasts – but of course as child is always good when you get gifts. We usually got toys when wa was small but later other  I remember one of my favorit gift whas a huge lotContinue reading “December Remembrances”

On Christmas Day 1989, after a two hour trial, both Elena and Nicolae Ceausescu were executed. Three paratroopers with their service rifles shot them dead. Elena Ceausescu said to one trooper, “I was like a mother to you.” He responded, “What sort of mother were you who killed our mothers?”

December 24, 1989 Christmas Eve Warfare continued at the main train station, Palace Square and around University Square. But people could be seen carrying Christmas trees and giving gifts. In the late eighties the Christmas holiday had been supplanted by a celebration of Ceausescu’s birthday. The army was making gains against the heavily armed SecuritateContinue reading “Calling it Christmas Again”

December 23, 1989 Messages of support were coming in from world leaders to the apparent new government. General Stefan Gusa, speaking to a mass crowd declared that Securitate secret police had been disbanded and appealed to troops to remain loyal to the people. He said, “Securitate bodies in Romania no longer exist.” The people wereContinue reading “Confusion”

December 22, 2019 Today, Sunday, Revolutionaries, authorities and citizens remember the dead with an honor guard at the memorial in Revolution Square, a march, religious services and a short speech by President Iohannis opening an exhibition on the Revolution. 1,142 balloons representing the dead were released. December 22, 1989 By now the cities of Brasov,Continue reading “The Tyrants’ Escape and Capture”

December 21, 1989 Many Romanians say this day is the most important one in their lives. After 5 days of fighting in Timisoara, The Revolution has reached Bucharest. In Timisoara the death count would reach close to 100, with 400 injured and a thousand arrests. Many people were surprised by the uprising, even though thereContinue reading “Revolution Comes to Bucharest”