You can be walking along one of Botanica's busy streets, with trolleybuses
passing, cars waiting at crossings and people coming out of the shops.
Then you reach Valea Trandafirilor.
The trees take over, and the paths lead you down into the park, but you still hear the city behind you, especially near the entrances.
Walking further inside, the sounds are changing..
Footsteps on the paths, people talking, children calling to each other and birds somewhere in the branches.
A few people are walking quickly, obviously going somewhere, while others are taking their time.
And there is always someone sitting on a bench, watching everybody else
do the walking. 😄
The paths are wide in some places and narrower in others and tall trees stand along much of the way, with benches underneath and patches of grass between the paths.
You pass people with shopping bags, parents pushing prams and elderly walking together, sometimes just talking, and other times hand in hand.
Some greet each other as they pass, while at the same time others are busy talking on their phones.
Occasionally a bicycle comes from behind, and you step aside and in the more calm corners, you can hear the leaves moving above you.
There are places where the branches almost meet overhead, and others where the sunlight reaches all the way down to the path.
After rain, the smell of damp earth and leaves is particularly noticeable, but it has its charm and can make you more relaxed and calm after a busy day.
Autumn changes the colours considerably.
Yellow leaves cover the paths, especially beneath the larger trees and some are still hanging from the branches, while others collect against the benches and along the edges of the lakes.
On a damp morning, the paths can be wet and slippery, and the smell of fallen leaves follows you through the park.
People wear jackets, scarves and warmer shoes and there are fewer children outside on colder days, but the regular visitors are still there.
Some move briskly with their hands in their pockets, others stop for a conversation, apparently not particularly concerned about the temperature.
Somewhere along the path, someone is sweeping leaves that will probably be replaced by another hundred before lunchtime.
Later in the day, people begin returning home through the park.
Some are still exercising, couples walk together, and parents try to persuade their children that it is time to leave.
The light disappears first beneath the thicker trees and around the lakes, the water becomes darker, and lights from the surrounding areas begin appearing through the branches.
You can still hear conversations, footsteps and the occasional bicycle passing and when you get near the entrances, the traffic becomes louder again and then suddenly you are back among the streets and apartment
buildings of Botanica.
It feels like to get from one world to another.
Valea Trandafirilor has three lakes, and sooner or later, one of the paths brings you down to the water.
Here, people often and tend to slow down.
Some stand near the shore looking across the lake others sit on benches, talk or watch the ducks moving through the water.
The trees grow close to parts of the shore, while other stretches are more open and on a quiet day, you can see their reflections in the lake.
When the wind blows, small waves break up the reflections, and the reeds move along the edges.
You may hear a duck before you see it and if you stop to photograph one, there is a good chance it will turn around and swim in precisely the wrong direction and you can find yourself being disapointed. 😄
The further you walk, you begin to hear children playing.
Some are running between their parents and the play areas, others are on bicycles or scooters and occasionally travelling at speeds that seem rather ambitious for their size.
Parents stand nearby talking, while grandparents sit on benches with
bags, jackets and whatever else the children have decided they no longer need to carry.
There is laughter, an occasional argument and the familiar sound of a parent calling a child's name for the third time.
It is a place where you see families spending an ordinary afternoon together and sometimes the adults look considerably more tired than the children.
For many residents, Valea Trandafirilor is simply part of their neighbourhood and they know the paths, the benches, the places where children like to play and the shorter routes through the trees.
For someone visiting Chișinău, walking here gives a chance to see the city beyond its boulevards, monuments and central squares.
People are walking their dogs, meeting friends, taking their children
outside, getting some exercise or sitting by the lake with a coffee.
You can spend an hour here or considerably longer, without noticing it and if you find a pleasant bench beside the water, you might decide that the rest of your walk can wait until another day. 😄
Away from the busier areas, the park becomes different again.
You pass trees with thick trunks, patches of bushes and smaller paths leading between the greenery.
Birds move through the branches, and in warmer weather, insects can be seen around the flowers and plants.
A few people walk alone, someone sits reading, a couple passes with a dog that seems determined to investigate every tree along the way and you also notice the less polished parts of the park.
Leaves gathered in corners, worn patches beside the paths, tree roots pushing through the soil and benches that have seen quite a few seasons.
They are part of the surroundings and exsperience too.
În Valea Trandafirilor poți închiria o hidrobicicletă, te poți plimba pe aleile parcului sau poți sta lângă lacuri.
Pentru copii există locuri de joacă și atracții, iar la terase și chioșcuri găsești cafea, înghețată și gustări.
Sau poți pur și simplu să te așezi pe o bancă, să savurezi o cafea și să privești ce se întâmplă în jur. 😄
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In Valea Trandafirilor, you can rent a pedal boat, walk along the park's paths or relax beside the lakes.
There are playgrounds and amusement rides for children, while the terraces and food stalls offer coffee, ice cream and snacks.
Or simply find yourself a bench, enjoy a coffee and watch what is happening around you. 😄
