Today my sister and I had lunch at a very pretty little French bakery in Bucharest – Paul. This bakery is apparently as old as the Eiffel Tower (the original bakery in France – the one in Bucharest is less than a year old – at least the one I know).
I like to stop by Paul’s because they have macaroons (not to be found at the less expensive French Bakery) and really really good bread (my favorite is the one with the olives). Today we had two sandwiches (one with prosciutto for my sister and one with smoked salmon for myself), a latte and a Fanta, plus the obligatory pain au chocolat. Delicious! (A bit pricey, but worth it)
So as we were sitting (on some pretty high chairs that I almost fell off of a few times), enjoying our lunch, in walk some pretty colorful people. My favorite of these was a couple that came in halfway through our meal and put on a great show. First of all, she was a blonde (with FAKE LASHES and fake nails) who made the lady behind the counter go through almost everything on display (and that’s a lot – especially since they have EVERYTHING written out – with the ingredients – by each of their products). The best part came when she was trying to decide on a drink – she asked for a San Pellegrino (which is one of many recognized mineral water brands) – the lady helping her replied with the available mineral water choices (which did not include San Pellegrino) – the blonde then proceeded with the question that made me wanna turn red for her – saying that she wants Nestea San Pellegrino!!!!!! (San Pellegrino does make an iced tea that they sell in aluminum cans – but it has nothing to do with NESTEA). And this lady prancing about in apparently nice clothes, clutching a shiny cell phone, and parading some overpriced handbag – is the perfect example of Romanian stupidity. People like her want to seem cool, refined, sophisticated and disinterested, but they come off as ignorant clowns.
The newly elected MEP Elena Basescu (also, Romanian President Basescu’s daughter) is being called the Carpathian Paris Hilton (despite her hometown being closer to the Black Sea – and despite the exaggeration of comparing her to Paris Hilton’s status)… Will she be shunned by her colleagues in the European Parliament? Probably, because she doesn’t belong there – she belongs in a posh nightclub, running Bucharest’s nightlife – and not being part of our country’s foreign relations front. But still, she insists “The media portrayed me as an uneducated woman but I showed during this campaign that I was worth more than that,” as related by RFI radio. Yea… that campaign was financed with money that should’ve gone to youth programs – to better gymnasiums – to real programs (like after-school or sports). So, as far as some of our ministries are concerned – she is worth A WHOLE LOT – paid for by the Romanian people (because that election WAS NOT CHEAP).
But who can say anything (that hasn’t been said yet) – most Romanians already know this – and this is why they do not vote (and why it was easy for Ms. Basescu to obtain 4% of the vote with only her own people voting).
Anyway.. got loads to do today – trying to finish up an article about my sister’s experience as a basketball coach in Calarasi – so look for that soon!!!