To take a respite from the commotion of a crowded, overpopulated metropolis, the best place to stop and enjoy a moment of quiet and fresh air is a park. Nature can be a real haven in a bustling city.
Cluj-Napoca has a wonderful park located in the center. Shrouded by the leafy branches of rich trees and flowering shrubs, it is a truly bucolic setting. Coming in from the center, you’ll be surprised at how little noise there is here. You can no longer hear the screeching of tires on the asphalt and the car horns are now a distant memory. The hustle and bustle of the city is kept out on this secluded island.
It is called The “Simion Barnutiu” Central Park, but it is also known among the locals as “The Big Park”. Covering a surface of 13 acres, it is the largest park in Cluj-Napoca and one of the most popular locations for people during the summer.
There is a very truly feeling you get on a summer evening as you are nearing the park. The way leading up to it is scattered with fragrant flowers. The smell they spread is almost unearthly; it takes you back to a long forgotten moment. As you come up to the entrance, you are awakened from your reverie by a child running into the street. But your panic is washed away quickly. There was really no danger. No cars are in the street.
There are many people at the entrance: sitting on benches, talking, relaxing. It is almost eerie to see such a big crowd outside at 11 p.m., but here it is. Nobody is afraid, because the park feels completely safe. There are bright lights everywhere. Nothing bad can happen on this peaceful summer evening.
As you join the people, you get this wonderful sense of community. You feel like you know each and every one personally. A warm smile tells you that you can just join in the conversation and no one will mind.
You take a seat on a bench and you see Lake Chios. You are drawn in by its glossy surface reflecting the sparkles of light. As you approach it, you notice your reflection is its deep greenness. But the image is quickly ruffled by a duck bathing a few meters away. You watch it go underwater and come up again. After these quick ablutions, it moves quietly away to the small island in the middle of the lake. This is the place where the ducks take refuge during the night.
You can even “Ride a white Swan”[1] on the lake. But be sure to “ride it on out like a bird in the sky ways/ ride it on out like you were a bird!” You start from the small docking area next to the Chios terrace, you paddle towards the island, go around it and then return. The whole time, you have to be careful not to smash into the other boats that may be ahead of you or coming straight at you from the other side. The traffic definitely isn’t regulated here, but it sure makes for an amusing mess!
People hang on the edge; children run to the water to feed the ducks. The adults come along, to take pictures. It feels like this summer night could last forever: like it could be frozen and elongated; stretched to span days.
But, alas, it is soon time to turn in. It’s way past the children’s bedtime and the parents have to get up early to go to work. The warm night has taken its toll on you as well. You go to bed and fall into a deep restful sleep and dream about the ducks swimming and splashing the water. [1] The name of a song by the British band T-Rex.
International editions: