Islamabad The National Day of Romania was celebrated in the Marquee Hall at the Marriott Hotel in different manner than the usual, with an enjoyable evening of lively music and song taking place after the official proceedings of welcoming the guest of honour and cutting the cake were done with. The reception was hosted by Ambassador of Romania Emilion Ion, and Special Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Waheed-ul-Hasan was the guest of honour, with a large number of people -- both from the diplomatic community and Pakistanis -- attending the affair. The ambassador has been here for a number of years and is a well known and popular personality. The venue was decorated in keeping with the occasion -- flowers and drapes in the colours of the Romanian flag, while a video screening kept guests informed about the sights and sounds of the country. Before the official ceremony Ambassador Ion called all European envoys on to the stage, as well as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo Martin-Saravia. The national anthem of Romania was sung by a visiting Romanian vocalist, Tudor Turcu and the ambassador's pretty granddaughter, 13-year-old Ilona Cristiana Ion, who is also visiting these days. She looked cute, wearing a typically Romanian head dress of colourful flowers, with a confidence not often seen in children. The Pakistani national anthem was sung by Irum Rehman and all three of them did a good job. Dinner was served with Romanian specialties; some Pakistani dishes and snacks like sandwiches etc, so there something for everyone's taste. Later, those who had to go on to other events went off, while the rest stayed on to enjoy a live concert by Tudor and Ilona, singing popular songs in Romanian and English. Tudor had a great rapport with the audience and encouraged them to clap and sing along and Ilona displayed the same confidence as she had earlier. Needless to say, with a rare treat like this, all those who love 'selfies' had a whale of a time clicking away and probably sending them off so their friends and relatives knew what a good time they were having! Romania is a central European country known for the forested region of Transylvania, preserved medieval towns such as Sighisoara and many fortified churches and castles, notably cliff top Bran Castle (think Dracula!) The area is ringed by the Carpathian Mountains, which are popular for trekking, climbing, skiing and bathing in natural thermal spas. The culture of Romania is a unique culture, which is the product of its geography and its distinct historical evolution. A country is only as good as its people and you'll find Romanians in every region to be open, friendly, proud of their history and eager to share it with visitors.
