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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Romania, Cisnadioara (Michelsberg) Fortress and Church

Short briefing:
The Cisnadioara Church and Fortress is located at about 12km of Sibiu and 5 km of Cisnadie; it was built around the 12 and 13-th centuries on the Michelsberg (or Michelsdorf) hill; its construction is entirely of stone, providing 3 chambers which ensure an impressive acoustic, while the architecture is romanic, having an aspect of a basilica. Initially, the plans involved the construction of 2 towers, but the construction of them was stopped. Inside the basilica are placed commemorative plaques with the names of officers and soldiers German and Austro-Hungarians who fell in the autumn of 1916 in fighting around Sibiu. The plateau where basilica is built was surrounded by walls of stone, with height of 4-6 m and 2-3 m out inside.

Way of access:
by air: Sibiu (Hermannstadt), Romania;
by road: Sibiu -> DN 106A -> Cisnadioara;

Images:

Entry to Cisnadioara Fortress
(at the bottom of Michelsberg Hill)

Climbing to the basilica

Entry to basilica from North
(at the top of Michelsberg Hill)

Basilica from front

Little tower in frontside (Northside)

Inside basilica

Briefing found inside

Inside

View of commemorative plaques

Cross inside

Window in the West walls

Door in the Westside

The Southside

Wall entry in the Westside

Fountain in the backyard

The backyard (Southside)

The Southside

View of the Southside entry

View to Cisnadie (Eastside)

Eastside

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Romania, Sibiu, Artmania 2011 Festival 12.08 - 14.08.2011

Location
Artmania 2011 took place as always in Sibiu - Romania, in the following locations:
Piata Mare (old center of Sibiu),
Piata Mica (near Piata Mare) and
Sibiu Arena - Dumbrava (7km of Sibiu, in a forest called Dumbrava, on the road DN 106A at about 3 km of Rasinari village).

Program
12.08, Piata Mare:
Helloween
Tarja Turunen (ex Nightwish)

12.08, Sibiu Arena - Dumbrava:
Ethernus (RO)
Reckoning (RO)

13.08, Piata Mare:
Republica
Sonata Arctica
Lacuna Coil

13.08, Sibiu Arena - Dumbrava:
Guerillas (RO)
Truda (RO)

Notice
Other bands were present, but, unfortunately I missedém: Lacrimas Profundere (12.08, Piata Mare), Interitus Dei (13.08, Sibiu Arena - Dumbrava), Byron (14.08, Sibiu Arena - Dumbrava), so the program above refers only to the bands I listened.

Impression
Here is a self made top of how the bands presented at Sibiu:
1. Helloween - even if I am not a fan of the genre, I consider Helloween the best band at Artmania 2011 - the germans really know how to make a concert; it was probably the best presentation in Romania, 2011.

2. Lacuna Coil - being at their first apparition in Romania, the italians performed all the well known songs, as: Our Truth, Enjoy the Silence, Closer, Heaven's a Lie, Swamped, To Live Is to Hide, Cold Heritage, The Secret, aso. Cristina Scabbia was at its best; personally, I had a feeling that the sound had technical problems, I think it wasn't so well synchronized as it was at Helloween, Tarja or Arctica Sonata;

3. Tarja Turunen - the apparition was expected by the large public and that's because Nightwish was at Artmania in the past years; Tarja comported well; however, my personal opinion is that it was a commercial presentation - the rest of the band existed just for the decor, perhaps chosen by Tarja so that she may be considered an "one man army"; also, the setlist contained some old Nightwish releases and some remakes upon Bonnie Tyler and Bon Jovi;

4. Sonata Arctica - I am sure not a fan of the genre, but I liked some songs as Replica, Fullmoon and Don't Say a Word; with a clear sound and a good vocal, Sonata Arctica was well received by the public;

5. Truda - very good scene hardcore, you are lucky that you don't understand the chords (romanian language) - just joking, they have very good chords;

6. Guerillas - NU metal at its max, probably the best romanian NU metal band;

7. Republica - I was there just to hear Ready to Go, which was very well interpreted;

8. Ethernus - it was OK, the guys have some to say, but there is also some work to do;

9. Recknoning - the guys will soon present their first album.

Next, images:

Helloween

Tarja

Ethernus

Reckoning

Sonata Arctica

Lacuna Coil

Guerillas

Truda

Camping at Sibiu Arena - Dumbrava