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Archiver > BANAT > 1997-05 > 0864256073


From: John Donis <>
Subject: Re: Romanian visit-where to go? (fwd) (fwd)
Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 19:07:53 -0400
References: <970521.111639.EDT.34MFM2M@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>


John Donis took a video camera on his
> trip to Romania and attracted a LOT of attention, to say the least. John,
> please tell everyone about that! You can still take it, but be aware of
> the possibilites.
I HIGHLY recomend that you do NOT take a video camera! The tape recorder
could be a problem as well. On arriving at the airport I had to open
everything. You will be asked when you arrive at customs wether you are
carrying a video camera or personal computer, you will have to fill out
registration papers and keep them with you, make sure you know the brand
name and serial number for your equipment. I had to empty my bags on a
table, then I was escorted into an office were it was difficult to keep
my eye on my bags. I had to explain why I was in Romania,where I was
going and why did I need to have this camera and what was I planning to
film. And while this was going on a guard ,with a machine gun I might
add, insisted that I give him my viedo tapes. I looked at him dumb
expression pretending I did not know what he wanted. But all the time
wonder if this was a good idea seeing as he controlled the door out of
the airport. REMEMBER you not in the States or western Europe, this is
Romania! And the eastern block mentality is alive and well, and most
Romanians I spoke to don't think much of this "life" after the
Revolution. They want Communism back!
I brought the camera to film my family in Italy which was my next
destination. I had to show my plane ticket to Rome and thankfully there
was an older gentelman who filled out the registration papers that
believed me but the younger guards continued to drill me.I finally
finished with the "registration" and then I had to put all my stuff back
into my suitcase and got past the security guard with another dumb
expresion.
I also hired a cab to take me to some of the villages, BAD IDEA!
The securitate (they are now called police , only the name has changed)
saw this taxi from the city and knew something was strange then he saw
I had a camera and insisted I was a spy and on taking me back to
headquarters for questioning. I'm NOT joking! Remeber theses towns are
on the frontier and they are very sensitive about their borders. Well,
thanks to the efforts of my taxi driver he was able to convince the
securitate that my grandfather was born in this area and I was just
returnning to my roots and not hear to photograph banks and military
instalations. All of this in Romanian I had only a vague idea of what
was going on and as for banks and military instalations, I never saw
anything but houses, churches and farm animals. Even though he was
convinced I wasn't a spy he insisted on staying with us to make sure. I
could get out of the car and photograph the churches, which were closed
except for Hatzfeld, and nothing else. Finally he insisted that we take
him back to his headquarters in Gross St. Nikolas, and yes I did have to
pay for that little extra part of the ride as well.
I would not call my vist a pleasant one but I am glad that I went. The
research in archives and to find the house were my Donis home in Klein
Jetscha from 1800 til 1880 and that they were from Austria and not
Germany as I had thought is something I will never forget and cherish. I
use this photgraph of the family home as my background for my computer.
I don't mean to scare anyone with these stories and others probably
nevver had anything like this happen to them. I highly recommed going.
It brings the past alive when you see that your ancestors were real
people living in the real world, living through and affected by history.
Bon Voyage
John Donis

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