Vrancea

Typical street scene in the summer

by kek4la

This is how a street in Focsani looks like during the summer. It's very nice to see all the green trees and it also spares the eye from all the gray buildings.
After the earthquake of 1977, 4-5 storey apartament building have been built at a high rate in Focsani until 1990, when communism collapsed. As seen in the picture, people having apartments at the first floor of the flats often opened small shops there. Also, after 1990, the number of cars grew very fast, so you often see them parked on sidewalks.

...history....

by alirom

Focsani, city in east central Romania, capital of Vrancea County, located about 161 km (about 100 mi) northeast of Bucharest, the country's capital. Focsani is situated on the Milcov River in the rich agricultural lowlands east of the East Carpathian Mountains. The city serves as the commercial center of Romania's principal grape-growing region; wine has been produced here since the 15th century. Other industries produce dairy goods, furniture, and clothing. Railroad and highway connections extend through the city.
Focsani has museums of history, ethnography, and natural science. Historical structures in the city include two 17th-century churches. In 1789 Focsani was the scene of a battle in which a combined Austrian-Russian army defeated forces of the Ottoman Empire. In January 1917, during World War I, the city was taken by German and Austrian forces.

Unirea High School

by kek4la

"Off the beaten path" is an improper expression, being that the whole city of Focsani is off the beaten path. But anyways...
This is the Unirea(Union) High School. I studied here from the fifth grade until graduation.
In 1859 the provinces Moldova and Muntenia united to for Romania. Focsani was on the border of the two provinces, so it was marked by the event. Consequentely, Focsani now has Unirii Square, Unirea Hotel, Unirii Boulevard, Unirea HS, so on...
The high school was established in 1866 and it moved in the current building in 1900.
The building has been undergoing renovation works for 8 years now. Aparentely, the work is aproaching its end.
It has become tradition for the students to scratch their names on the red bricks that cover the building.

My home town

by kek4la

I've lived here for the first 19 years of my life. It's a small place. Lots of flats, a small park, a teather in renovation for at least 15 years now.
If you've gotten this far, you probably have a guide with you or are a romanian. There's not much to do here, in the town. I really can't think of a tourist atraction.

Feb 2005:
So I'm back with new pictures of Focsani!
I have to say that finally the renovation of the Municipal Theater has ended. The building looks very nice now.
I hope you will enjoy the pics!

Summer of 2004

by kek4la

Your average street in Focsani.

Unirii Boulevard.
In the background, Unirea Hotel, the biggest in Focsani. On the right, Mara supermarket.

A recently renovated church on Unirii Boulevard.

Unirii Boulevard

This intersection is called "Big", because of a store here called like that. The name of a store is actually an abrevation and has nothing to do with the english word.
You can see Unirea Hotel on the right, and the County Administrative Palace in the back.

"Big" intersection. The sign on the left states that there are 180 kilometers to Bucharest.

Unirii Square. Actually, it is situated behind the trees. You can see the obelisk and "Sf Ioan" Church's tower.