THE WATCH

IT`S NOT EXPENSIVE TO BE GOOD        

It is - believe it or not - easy to love Romania. It is an extremely beautiful country with a lot of contrasts. In all ways. And there is plenty to do for all kinds of tourists. Young and old. The lazy or the active tourist. Romania has mountains, beaches, rivers, big cities with urban wibe, whatever... There are a few drawbacks however.Things are not always working as they should do. It may be service, it may be the sanitation, the tidiness, the timing. And when faced with that many Romanians complain about lack of money and funds, which may be true - but several times it is something else: THE ATTITUDE. The will and the drive to do a little bit extra. To not follow the crowd of indifferent people but be the change. And this is free. The big monster in this country is the indifference. There are reasons and maybe even good reasons for this indifference, but if things are going to be better and good, we all have to do our little extra and change our attitude. All at no financial cost. | Thor

HOW TO STOP SMOKING IN ROMANIA                        

Romania is full of surprises - and Romanians are different in many ways. 

Regardless the reasons and situation, Romanians are creative and find their own way to solve any problem forced upon them. Fifteen years ago people said that any Romanian was a mechanic - if he or she was an owner of a Dacia, the Romanian car label that is still around. Though today owned by French Renault and quite a success on the European car market after the financial crises made people looking for good cheap cars.

This creativity brings me to the ambitions of the Romanian Health Authorities. And the dangers of smoking.

Smoking is a bad habit that seems to please many Romanians, obviously too many.Even though EU rules apply when it comes to adverts, and most Romanians are very aware of the dangers of smoking, it seems like getting rid of the habit is not their first priority. People smoke everywhere, and many kids aged 10 - 12 still smoke behind the dustbins next to the block without much interference from parents. Smoking is now banned in trains, banks, shops and malls - but in restaurants the room for nonsmoker is yet a tiny part of the enterprise - and just put there to obey the law. And prices on sigarettes have doubled in just a few year, still without the intended efffect on smokers. - Probably in order to alter attitudes, the authorities have launched many campaigns - and we found the poster below at a major train station recently. It may alert the male smokers in a way that is not seen elsewhere. - Text: " Smoking is not really your only pleasure, is it? " Maybe this ad scare will help. Right?  | Thor

ROMANIAN RAILWAYS ARE GREAT - BUT   

Travelling with Romanian railways is mostly a great pleasure. Trains leave and arrive mostly on time and there are rail links to almost any town in the country. Times and even prices can easily be found online on www.infofer.ro in several languages. The site seems to be exactly as updated as the ticket desk assistants on the railway stations. Train sets are modernised and updated regularly, even though still many lines use old wagons, especially on the local lines. 

The IC trains are great value and often include a restaurant wagon. There are not so big difference between second class and first class not even when it comes to price, however the passengers may be more fashionable by Romanian standards. Travelling by train in Romania brings you closer to the natives and you can easily chat up your fellow travel companions in the compartment. English is spoken by young people everywhere and by the mature people in the first class compartments.

There is also a special train police that roam the trains now and then to ensure passenger safety and remove any free riders or persons making trouble in some way or another. Trains are smokefree, however this is difficult to handle for one of Europe`s most tobaccoloving populations, so smokers run to the train doors at each station for a smoke before the train moves on again. Even some tend to smoke in the space between the wagons risking a ticket from the train police ranging from one month`s salary and up - in Romania that is.

There is one thing that is not that nice though. The toilets are a disaster and seem to be neglected by everyone from the managers of the railways to the cleaning personell. It is sometimes so disgusting that you would like to leave the train at the next station. Leftovers, water and human fluid may be splashed all over the place, doors lacking locks, even toilet windows smashed, not to be opened or even open non stop without possibility to be closed. Paper lacks regardless and it smells. Apart from IC trains this is a general problem.  Even when addressing the train staff they just look another way or they produce a statement about their other duties.

Why is it so difficult to fix this??
| Thor

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