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    Photos from Romania

    There are [5] photos from Romania

    Quasi-illiterate and in very poor health, Agripina has lived in the Delta her entire life, drinking water from the river because she’s never had running water indoors. With no power for a refrigerator in her house, she must dry salted fish to preserve it for the winter, when her leaky roof will be a poor defence against temperatures well below zero – to say nothing of blistering winds. Should she be unable to afford enough salt in the summer, Agripina risks getting food poisoning at a time when most of the Delta will be frozen over and the ambulance could take even longer than the usual 5 hours to get to her. Views[288] For the Lippovans in the Delta, religious holidays are the highlights of the social calendar. For this young girl, the Feast of St. Mary (celebrated according to the Julian Calendar, 13 days later than the regular calendar) is an opportunity to don traditional dress and celebrate centuries-long traditions defining the identity of her community. Lippovans worship according to rites dating before 1652, when they fled to what is now south-eastern Romania after being the target of brutal persecution for the temerity of refusing reforms instituted by the Russian Orthodox Church. So important is faith in these poor communities that every family strives to afford a religious painting (icon) decorated with gold-leaf, which then becomes an heirloom passed from one generation to the next. Smoking is forbidden inside the Lippovans’ homes so as to not damage these icons. Views[740] Beekeeping is one of the very few activities available in the Delta besides fishing. Known simply as “uncle Bee”, this man watches his handful of hives from the cool shadow of his shed, where he takes umbrage from the scorching heat that can easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius in late August. Whereas fishing might be marginally more social, beekeeping is a solitary occupation in a corner of the world where solitude grinds the joy out of life. Views[270] In a village where alcohol abuse and other afflictions fell many by middle-age, 94-year-old Haralambie stands out not only for longevity, but for a life of genuine achievement. In this photo he shows off medals awarded to him during the communist regime for being the top-producing fisherman of his community. Haralambie has grown an increasingly longer beard as he grew older – according to Lippovans’ customs, this is a requirement in order to be admitted to heaven. Views[350] The rhythms of fishing define life in the Delta. A fisherman’s day is almost over by sunrise, when he gathers his nets and takes stock of the catch. By the time most city dwellers get to their offices, fishermen here have finished a day’s work. Almost daily, fishermen in the Delta catch prized specimens that will command premium prices on supermarket shelves, and yet they receive a pittance for their work. To make up for this, they often poach endangered species such as sturgeon. Views[287]
     

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