The Great Market Square

One of my most favourite places in Oradea is the December 1 Park, the former Great Market Square, which is about 5 minutes away from the main square. I remember going to that park a lot when I was a freshman at the university. I used to find myself there at least twice a week. The park itself and my most heart-warming feelings of romantic experiences are tightly woven together. As a freshman, I was invited for a walk here almost every night by the person who has become very important to me over the past two years. The December 1 Park was the place where we got to know each other better and then kept going there for long walks.

There were occasions when events were organized there, and I could admire various handmade objects in small bazaars, and then I usually closed the event with a generous candy floss. On other occasions, I sat down on a bench with my friends, and we watched the people walking there, then we made drawings of them with one or two quick dashes, while wondering what might be going on in their minds. Then we got lost in the depths of our own thoughts.

I have a lot of memories linked to this place because I really enjoyed spending my time there. It is beautiful, relatively large, and well taken care of, so, ideal for long walks. At one of the many entrances of the park, there is a beautiful fountain and at the other end there is the Unions’ Culture House. It is quiet, clean, and there are plenty of benches where you can sit down with a hot chocolate in winter or with a cold drink in summer.

If I only had to name one place in Oradea that means love, friendship, fun, and nostalgia to me, I would definitely choose this park.

By Tímea Márton, 3rd year English major

Photos by Arnold Szabó and Tamás Szabó, 3rd year Fine Arts-Graphics majors

 

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