Have you ever asked yourselves how do the foreign ambassadors see the Capital of Romania? Where do they like to take their visiting friends? Or what places in Bucharest fascinate them? “Ordinea Zilei” has challenged the foreign ambassadors at Bucharest to look at the city with the eyes of the tourist who has gotten here, a tourist eager to visit as many places as possible.
And thus, we have discovered the image of a Bucharest of diversity, a city in which there are infinitely many places expecting be found. But also, a city that should capitalize more on its strengths, in order to position itself higher on the top of touristic destinations.
“There are still rather many those who don’t know how much Bucharest has to offer, and therefore I believe that the answer to this question is a simple one: branding. It’s worth knowing that branding means more than just an ad made to the city. I was one of the people who started up a branding process for Tel Aviv – “Tel Aviv, a Global City” – because of which Tel Aviva got to be what it is today, an amazing mix, a cosmopolitan and liberal metropolis attracting millions of tourists all over the world, every year. This is what Bucharest needs too, a branding process, and I would be more than delighted to put my shoulder as well, offering of my experience, to the rising of Bucharest at the level it deserves. That is because the Bucharestians really have something to be proud about” – His Excellency Mr. David Saranga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel.
“Bucharest Is a Cultural, Creative, Dynamic City”
His Excellency Mr. David Saranga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel, accepted the challenge of “Ordinea Zilei” to speak about nowadays Bucharest. Thus, we have the opportunity to discover the way a foreign diplomate sees the Capital of Romania. The image he sketched out to us shows us a friendly city, a city in which culture is well represented, a city in which people make the difference over other Capitals of the world.
“In my opinion, Bucharest is a Capital with an impressive architectural heritage. It is a cultural, creative, dynamic city, in which you can never get bored. There are culture, art, film and theatre, history, music, literature Festivals, anything on every one’s taste, be him a Romanian or a foreign visitor,” declares David Saranga.
The portrait of Bucharest, in his vision, involves first of all the people about whom he tells us that they are the ones differentiating Bucharest from other Capitals. “It is a truly European Capital in which the people are special, warm, friendly, inquisitive and creative. I have friends for 20 years in Romania, and continue to make myself friends even now, when I am the Ambassador of Israel in Bucharest,” adds David Saranga.
Herăstrău Park Reminds Him of Central Park in New York
When he came at his post in Romania, in January 2019, David Saranga knew very many things about our country. Also, he knew very well the Romanian language. 20 years ago, in our country he started out his diplomatic career, at that time as Vice-Ambassador of Israel. Thus, his return to Bucharest granted him the opportunity to revisit places dear to him.
To the Ambassador of Israel, Bucharest is a city with numerous wonderful areas. Among these, he also has a number of preferred locations. “The first one would be Herăstrău Park, an oasis of relaxation in the middle of an urban congestion, reminding me of Central Park in New York, a place in which I enjoyed very much to go at the time I was at the post in the United States. Furthermore, Herăstrău Park reminds me of Tel Aviv, the city I was born in and in which I live, since I constantly see people doing sport, jogging being, by far, the preferred activity,” specifies the foreign diplomate.
He also enjoys the area of Grădina Icoanei / The Icon’s Garden – Dacia, on whose streets he prefers to stroll in order to admire the wealth of Art-Deco buildings. “In fact, this style makes me think again of Tel Aviv, of a special architecture. In that place, there are no less than 4000 buildings with Bauhaus Architecture, because of which Tel Aviv became a UNESCO heritage in 2004. 20 years ago, when I started out my diplomatic career in Bucharest, as Vice-Ambassador, I was living in this area and that is why it stayed with me ever since,” recounts David Saranga.
Lipscani Street also seems fascinating to him, since it kept the charm of the old city. “As you know, here, in the past, the Jewish merchants were trading, and left their mark on the area’s architecture. Today, only a few buildings still keep the Jewish nature, the rest having been remodeled in other architectural styles,” points out the diplomate.
During the moments in which friends visit him from abroad, the first stopover he makes with these ones, as part of the strolls through Bucharest, is The Bucharest National Opera House.
“My friends are great culture lovers, and they know that, as I go with them to the shows at the Bucharest National Opera House, I offer them a wonderful cultural experience, of a high quality. Of course, the gastronomical stage in Bucharest needs to be deepened as well, and I do this every time my friends arrive in Romania. Diversity delights them, and I am glad I can afford them the chance to delight in the tastiest dishes. Usually, we go to the Caju Restaurant where the Chef is the famous Joseph Hadad. This one succeeded to perform a delicious amalgamation between the Israeli (Mediterranean) Cuisine and the Romanian one. Another special place is Linea / Closer to the moon where, along with friends visiting me, we look at the beauty of Bucharest at the sunset. And in order to admire a fantastic skyline of the Capital, we go at 18 Lounge, where I have the opportunity to explain to them the history of the Casa Presei Libere / Free Press House. Moreover, they can admire Herăstrău too, from up high,” nuances the Ambassador of Israel.
In order to discover Bucharest, we invite you to go into the Instagram account possessed by David Saranga. You can find it HERE.
