Foreword
Sacrificing Romania's traditions
By Vivid writers: Danielle Dayen and Julian Ross
In its race to modernise, the Romanian government has decided that tradition, and those who cling to it, are expendable
Posted: 25/06/2007
The 'national highway' that runs through the middle of Danielle Dayen's village in Transylvania.
Certainly not if the current government continues on its present course. Between new laws that make crucial aspects of the traditional Romanian lifestyle difficult to sustain, and overly strict - often downright ridiculous - interpretation of EU law, the government seems dedicated to making its country's rich traditions a thing of the past.
One does not have to travel far outside of any Romanian city to see that most of the population still makes their living off the land, through farming and forestry, using horses for both labour and transportation. Most of these people continue to use traditional methods of agriculture by choice and necessity; modern equipment is not only impractical for the small plots of land and rough, often mountainous terrain - it is prohibitively expensive. As is a car for many. It is not that these people eschew modernisation - they enjoy mobile phones, satellite television, and the internet - they simply choose to stick with what works - and what they can afford.
Yet in its race to modernise, the Romanian government has decided that tradition, and those who cling to it, are expendable. One recently enacted law (Article 71 of the highway code) forbids horse-drawn vehicles from travelling on national highways (except within towns or villages, where drivers must wear reflective vests). The law also applies to those on horseback and to cyclists. It is a law that persecutes the majority of Romania's population. The bureaucrats seem to have failed to consider that in many areas of the country the main road connecting the local towns and villages is the only road available, and therefore, was designated as a national highway during communist times.
Rather than persecute people using horses, the government would be wise to spend its time improving the existing roads, building new ones, enforcing speed limits and road safety, and even investing in dedicated paths for horse-drawn vehicles parallel to the national highways. Making it more difficult for people to make a living will not only increase unemployment, it will rob Romania of one of its greatest assets: tradition.
The traditional lifestyle of the villages, combined with the country's bounty of natural resources, is what makes Romania an attractive tourist destination for foreigners. By focusing only on resorts on the Black Sea and skiing, Romania has not even begun to tap into its potential as a cultural, outdoor, even "eco" destination. As professionals in the tourism industry (and foreigners ourselves), it is clear to us that tourists are looking for the kind of pristine natural beauty and interesting, diverse culture that Romania has in abundance. Today's tourists are travellers and adventurers who are looking for authentic experiences. They want to ride through the mountains and cycle from one point of interest to the next, meeting the local people, and experiencing the culture and customs first-hand. They are not looking for more over-developed "attractions", nor to be encumbered by over-protective laws. They have those at home. They are looking to escape that and experience something new. And that is what Romania can offer - and reap the benefits in increased tourism revenue while maintaining its traditions.
If the government insists on pushing the horse-drawn vehicles, riders, and cyclists off the roads, or making them wear garish reflective vests, they will not only be damaging the traditional way of life, but eliminating what is unique and attractive to travellers. Romania's potential as the next great travel destination will be squandered and its people will once again be the ones who suffer for the ill-conceived actions of the government.
Danielle Dayen and Julian Ross run the Stefan cel Mare Equestrian Centre at Lunca Ilvei, in Bistrita-Nasaud. Find out more at www.riding-holidays.ro
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