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Our reliable soup co-ordinator Csaba has organized a soup date for today in Gheorgheni - called Gyergyószentmiklós in Hungarian and Niklasmarkt in German.
By the way, in Transylvania it is naturally usual to mark the nameplates bi- or trilingual, according to the ethnic and linguistic composition of the group living at a place. In terms of Weltanschauung in its different forms, Gheorgheni is an example for tolerant, peaceful coexistence down to the present day.
The city is home of an Armenian- and a Greek-Orthodox church, a Catholic- and two Protestant churchs as well as a synagogue.
We are invited by Csergö Tibor András , headmaster of the Tarisznayás Mártin Múzeum. The museum presents an exhibition of historic cultural and folkloristic exhibits to document the development of the city. Latterly, also a mineral show takes place at the museum, a loan of a passionate gatherer.
On first sight, Gheorgheni is not a lovely city, cause it looks neglected and seems to be in need of renovation in all curves and ends.
We find out, that Tibor runs for the mayor position at the council elections, that's why he is pinched for time. So we go together with his assistant Levy to bring the soup to Tibor's mother Iren. She is willing to cook a soup without knowing exactly what the project means. Tibor hurries to fullfill his obligations and Levi stays to help with the conversation between us and Tibor's mother, who is cooking a potato-tarragon soup with great verve.
Levi shows us Tibor's manifesto for the elections and I ask him to translate the most important issues. Amongst other things he calls for the renovation of the old tower blocks, the redesign of the city centre, improvement of the parking situation and measures to calm the conflict between Sinti/Roma and the other residents.
I don't know the manifestos of the other candidates, but I ask myself, which sensible politician would not put all those issues in a claim.
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