Day Twenty-One: Patriotism Day (Anailuj)

Before I start I just want to point out that Jimi Hendrix had a gorgeous voice. Obviously he was one of the best guitarists ever, but I just think that his mind-blowing vocals get talked about enough. His voice was like melting chocolate, and I think it's especially evident in the song Angel that he should be just as appreciated for his vox and his guitar-playing. That's all.

Anyway, today I was especially patriotic about Hungary. It's capital, Budapest, was a center of Renaissance Humanism (after it had to be rebuilt because it was pillaged by the Mongols, but who wasn't pillaged by the Mongols?), and it has all sorts of nice buildings and vampirey history.

Hungary also has wonderful food with lots of paprika and dumplings, which ahve a funny name but are the BEST. It also has gypsies! Lots of gypsies! I love gypsies! They have great music! I'm pretty convinced that my ancestors were gypsies and vampires. Unfortunately, both vampires and gypsies tend to get a bad rap all over Eastern Europe. Only the vampires have done anything to really deserve the bad reputation.

Other people from Hungary include my great-grandmother, who I was named after. She was one of 9 kids, and she was the only one who got to leave Hungary to come to Canada to work for her aunt. She got married to my grandfather there, then he smuggled her over the border into the US. And that is pretty badass.

First thing I would do if I visited Hungary: Enjoy a spa bath that ues the natural thermal springs that are all over the country.
Second thing I would do: Track down some vampires and convince them to make me one of their own. This typically doesn't work, which is why being an expert on the extermination of the undead always comes in handy.

Anyway, yay for Hungary.

Day Twenty-One: Patriotism Day (Yellenahs)

Today is Patriotism Day! I choose to be patriotic about Moldova. Never heard of Moldova? That's okay, me either.

Moldova is a tiny little European country between Romania and the Ukraine where the people enjoy stuffed cabbage rolls and have really beautiful architecture. They're basically Romanian. The area has been attacked by pretty much every group of armed men ever, and the history reads like a history of Middle Earth. I'm actually 99% positive that Tolkien stole all of his ideas straight from Dacia/Thracia (the early conquerors of Moldova...2000 years ago), complete with strange words like Burebista and Muntenia.

It's probably also full of vampires (not glittery vampires, real bad ass suck your blood whither in the sun vampires) because as a former part of Dacia, it was probably also part of Transylvania, and therefore Dracula resides here. WHICH MAKES IT THE BEST COUNTRY EVER.

I'm having so many patriotic feelings about Moldova I can hardly contain myself. I feel like it's probably a pretty interesting place, with a rich history and culture. I'd like to go there someday.

Except for that it's the poorest nation in Europe. But it's got a low unemployment rate. They'll probably do okay. At least they have vampires.

This is their national anthem. It's beautiful. You'll feel most patriotic if you listen to the national anthem while staring at a map or picture of Moldova. Try it!