Day: March 14, 2011

Dracula’s Backyard

In the Chindia ruins complex, past the old church there is another church, a smaller one, with a graveyard on the side. As the castle was ruled, among other voivods, by Vlad Dracul (Drăculea) and his son, Vlad Țepeș (the Impaler, the famous Dracula), I like to call it Dracula’s Backyard, since for sure it was the backyard of the two Vlads.

dracula's backyard

Now, I wonder, those graves… is something happening there at midnight?

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Orthodox mural paintings at Tirgoviște

Part of the complex of the voivodal palace in Tirgoviște there is the old church which has inside remainings of the old orthodox mural paintings:

Chindia

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The ruins of Tîrgoviște

Being in Tîrgoviște for Tudorița/Paștele Cailor, couldn’t miss the ruins of the voivodal palace there (last time when I visited it, it was… back then in primary school). It made me a bit sad for hot having my sword handy… but since it is a museum, they would have not allowed me anyway.

There is the old church, with old painting on its walls:

Chindia

The ruins of the castle where Mircea cel Bătrîn, Vlad Dracul, Vlad Țepeș and many others ruled:
Chindia

And of course the famous Chindia Tower:
Chindia

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Paștele Cailor at Tîrgoviște

I was familiar with the expression “Paștele Cailor”, meaning “Horse’s Easter”, as a date when nothing will happen (as in, for example, I will such Bill Gates dick at Horses Easter) and also knew a couple of explanations for it. This year I learned another one in a photography trip with Orasul.ro: is a festivity of the small Bulgarian community in the City of Tîrgoviște, happening after the winter when the horsed are taken out for the first time. It is also called “Tudorița”.

So together with a bunch of other photographers I attended the event this year, which, of course was pretty much about horses:

pastele cailor/tudorita pastele cailor/tudorita

And it was also about the people in that Bulgarian community and their traditions:
pastele cailor/tudorita pastele cailor/tudorita

And, as we are in Balkans, it was also about food (don’t remember the name of those small breads decorated with pepper seeds):
pastele cailor/tudorita pastele cailor/tudorita

And of course it was about contests, to see who has the best horses and who is the best driver:
pastele cailor/tudorita pastele cailor/tudorita

And it was a lot about local divas, sitting and smiling in the carts, in their pretty and colorful costumes, for all of us to admire:
pastele cailor/tudorita pastele cailor/tudorita

And of course it was a festivity for the kids to enjoy (“give me the camera to take a picture to daddy” said the little princess):
pastele cailor/tudorita pastele cailor/tudorita

And not last, it was a festivity for us, the photographers, who were there in great numbers trying to capture everything:
pastele cailor/tudorita pastele cailor/tudorita

And on top of all, it was a really beautiful hot and sunny spring day, a pleasure to be outside.

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