Short chronology of the Romanian presidential elections in Bonn:
- 7:30 wake up, have a short breakfast, dress up and leave
- 8:50 Tram 1 towards Cologne train station
- 9:00 first news via telephone about the situation at the consulate: at 7:10 about 200 people in the queue
- 9:33 Regio train towards Bonn
- 10:05 Bus 601 towards the Romanian consulate. At that specific station all the people inside get off
- 10:40 set up in the line, large queue, cloudy weather smiley faces, new people, young and old, the sweet mother tongue
- 11:40 we are at the half of the queue and not because we walked to much, instead many people came behind. The people walk around and take pictures
- 12:00 an annoying rain starts, I zip my fleece, we play word games
- 13:00 the rain continues, our hair doesn't make it, I take out the chocolate
- 13:30 after some timid progress we turn the corner and see the consulate building
- 14:00 some of us set out to find something warm to drink and some toilets, I zip my jacket
- 14:30 the people begin to boo and yell "thieves", the other come back with goodies
- 15:00 the rain calms down a bit, we get near the consulate gate, we move slower and slower, angry people, parents with children step in front
- 15:30 more and more people with children, I think 10 of them voted with the same child, angry people that demand the resignation of the consul, we step on Romanian land
- 16:00 I am also angry, I put on the gloves, we move extremely slowly, people boo, they yell "faster!"
- 16:30 we are near the door, the people are out of patience, behind me people with flags boo, they don't know if they are going to make it
- 16:50 I take out the ID card and the declaration, we are so close...
- 17:00 I enter the consulate. they check my papers, I go in front of the committee, I sign my declaration, I take the seal and ballot, enter the cabin, get out of the cabin, sign, receive my ID back (15 seconds in total). Some other people weren't so lucky (2 minutes - apparently it's hard to write down a PIN). In the room are 7 cabins, but only 3 seals.
- 17:02 I get of the building after a tiring day and 6 hours of ... waiting
- 17:05 the way backwards, huge queue, darkness, cold and moisture, unhappy people
- 17:27 the bus towards the train station, warm inside, the germans ask what's the fuss about
- 17:53 Region train towards Cologne, warmth
- 18:20 Tram 1 towards Junkerdorf comes just in time, sad smile...
- 18:45 Home + hot shower
Now that we've voted, let's see what comes next...
Good night!
R.C.
P.S. Congratulations to all the people that endured the harsh conditions and succeeded in voting, but also to the people that waited only to have to door closed to their face!
- 7:30 wake up, have a short breakfast, dress up and leave
- 8:50 Tram 1 towards Cologne train station
- 9:00 first news via telephone about the situation at the consulate: at 7:10 about 200 people in the queue
- 9:33 Regio train towards Bonn
- 10:05 Bus 601 towards the Romanian consulate. At that specific station all the people inside get off
- 10:40 set up in the line, large queue, cloudy weather smiley faces, new people, young and old, the sweet mother tongue
- 11:40 we are at the half of the queue and not because we walked to much, instead many people came behind. The people walk around and take pictures
- 12:00 an annoying rain starts, I zip my fleece, we play word games
- 13:00 the rain continues, our hair doesn't make it, I take out the chocolate
- 13:30 after some timid progress we turn the corner and see the consulate building
- 14:00 some of us set out to find something warm to drink and some toilets, I zip my jacket
- 14:30 the people begin to boo and yell "thieves", the other come back with goodies
- 15:00 the rain calms down a bit, we get near the consulate gate, we move slower and slower, angry people, parents with children step in front
- 15:30 more and more people with children, I think 10 of them voted with the same child, angry people that demand the resignation of the consul, we step on Romanian land
- 16:00 I am also angry, I put on the gloves, we move extremely slowly, people boo, they yell "faster!"
- 16:30 we are near the door, the people are out of patience, behind me people with flags boo, they don't know if they are going to make it
- 16:50 I take out the ID card and the declaration, we are so close...
- 17:00 I enter the consulate. they check my papers, I go in front of the committee, I sign my declaration, I take the seal and ballot, enter the cabin, get out of the cabin, sign, receive my ID back (15 seconds in total). Some other people weren't so lucky (2 minutes - apparently it's hard to write down a PIN). In the room are 7 cabins, but only 3 seals.
- 17:02 I get of the building after a tiring day and 6 hours of ... waiting
- 17:05 the way backwards, huge queue, darkness, cold and moisture, unhappy people
- 17:27 the bus towards the train station, warm inside, the germans ask what's the fuss about
- 17:53 Region train towards Cologne, warmth
- 18:20 Tram 1 towards Junkerdorf comes just in time, sad smile...
- 18:45 Home + hot shower
Now that we've voted, let's see what comes next...
Good night!
R.C.
P.S. Congratulations to all the people that endured the harsh conditions and succeeded in voting, but also to the people that waited only to have to door closed to their face!
