Eating out

Back on the level in Piata Mica, this is the view across the walkway that goes down below the bridge. In the background is the Evangelical Cathedral (I’ll show a lot more of that later – it’s a very striking and impressive building), and the orange building on the right is the Casa Luxemburg.

The umbrellas all cover tables used by diners and drinkers – pretty much all the establishments along this stretch of Piata Mica were restaurants and bars. In the ground floor of the yellow building in the middle was my favourite restaurant – I’ll feature that sometime too

22 May 2007

walking back

Walking back up to Piata Mica.

22 May 2007

Fresh and faded

This is a close-up of the house from a couple of days ago. I just loved the bright fresh red flowers against the fading green paint.

22 May 2007

Piata Mica through the bridge

This is looking back the other way under the Liars Bridge, towards Piata Mica. You can see Turnul Sfaturilor (Counsellors’ Tower) and a slightly wonky Casa Luxemburg (I was sure it was straight when I took the picture, but obviousy not!).

22 May 2007

Faded glory

Just past the Liars Bridge, on the other side and heading to the lower part of the old town, was this old house (which presumably is a lot of separate apartments). All of the buildings in the three main squares and Str. Balcescu had been restored in time for Capital of Culture, but clearly the restorers hadn’t quite reached this one. I think it’s a lovely looking building.

22 May 2007

Liars Bridge close-up

This is a closer look at the structure of Podul Minciunilor. I’d not noticed the coat of arms before, but it’s the same as the coat of arms on the manhole cover from a few days ago, so I presume it’s the coat of arms of Sibiu.

22 May 2007

Looking up (2)

Turning round from where I was standing for yesterday’s picture, this shows the Casa Luxemburg (the red building in the foreground), which is a hotel and also has a restaurant and a tourist information place on the ground floor.

22 May 2007

Looking up

Getting a bit closer to the bridge from yesterday’s picture, but looking up, I was struck by the colours of the red roof and blue sky. This building is on Piata Mica, and the ground floor was a museum, although I never managed to visit it.

22 May 2007

Liar’s Bridge

This view is heading away from Piata Mica towards Podul Minciunilor, or the Liar’s Bridge. The first time I came to Sibiu (and when I came back for a week in October last year before heading back to Glasgow) I stayed in a hotel just round the corner from here. This under-bridge walkway starts in the middle of Piata Mica, and descends while the square stays on the level.

Legend has it that if you tell a lie while standing on the bridge it will collapse. Though the former Communist leader Ceausescu gave a speech from it and lived to tell the tale, so I’m not sure how convincing the legend is! According to the Rough Guide to Romania, Ceausescu really disliked Sibiu, and only visited it the once.

22 May 2007

Manhole

Even the manhole covers in the city centre declare Sibiu’s status as Capital of Culture 2007. These were (I think) installed in 2006 (certainly there were a lot of them around in summer 2006 when I first visited Sibiu).

22 May 2007