Day 61 | National Museum of Romanian History

Day 61, Bucharest, Romania—One thing I did on our down day is read about Romania’s history. It was surprisingly interesting and it hit home pretty hard as many significant events took place during my lifetime. We learned even more when we visited the National Museum of Romanian History today. 

The Romanian Revolution of 1989
Nicolae Ceausescu had been the communist president of Romania since 1964. In the 1980s he started building the Palace of the Parliament, an outrageously large building (3,390,000 sq ft) with over 1,000 rooms. It the second largest administrative building in the world, next to the Pentagon.

It’s a beautiful building but it cost the Romanian people a lot. The dictator caused thousands of people to work 24/7 on the building and it also lead to a very difficult life for the people. Food, water, heat, and electricity were rationed and living conditions were horrendous.

Freedom of speech was also taken away, as there were consequences if one was caught complaining about the circumstances or leadership.

In 1989, this began to come to an end when the people fought back and Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were shot on Christmas Day.

I just can’t imagine living like this...it seems like this would have been long ago, but it happened during my lifetime.
(Photos of the Palace are in Day 65, here.)

Trajan’s Column
The museum had a copy of Trajan’s Column, which now stands in Rome next to Trajan’s Market. The column commemorates the victory of the Roman Empire over the Dacian army in the Dacian Wars. This is an interesting piece of Romanian history because Dacia is modern day Romania. The copy of this giant column was displayed in pieces at this museum. It was really interesting to see the pieces up close and also to make connections between different places we’ve visited.

As with all countries, there is so much history...so many pieces that fit together that make the country what it is today. And there are so many details that we will never even know about. 

It’s really been a gift that we’re able too see these places and get a glimpse a tiny piece of history in real life.

It also puts me in amazement that God has been there the entire time and knows every single detail about it all. I know that He always has been and always will be, but reading about how much has gone on and getting a small understanding of how many people have lived, has made me even more in awe of Him. He’s been there. He’s known all the details. He’s known all the people. He’s orchestrated uncountable parts of life that fit together. And yet He still knows every detail about me. And you. He is amazing!

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 
You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 
Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 
If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139:1-10 (ESV)

Our first Romanian dinner!