A bright idea
The largest chandelier in the Parliamentary Palace in Bucharest weighs about 1.5 tons.
The Parliamentary Palace in Bucharest is huge. It’s the largest building in Romania and has the second largest floor space in the world. Only the Pentagon in Washington DC is larger. Can you imagine lighting this place. For starters , it has about 3000 tons of crystal in chandeliers. As the tour progressed, I noticed that many of the chandeliers had energy-saving lightbulbs. So I had to ask—How many lightbulbs are there and how many use the energy savers?
Ana Maria, the lass who led our tour, wasn’t quite sure how many lightbulbs there were—she suggested millions and I believe her. It turns out that ALL the palace lightbulbs are energy-savers. Not long after the building opened in 1994, the electricity bill ran about million euros a month. Quick somebody—change the bulbs! According to Ana Maria, the savings have been incredible—the monthly bill is down to 180,000 euros.
This grand hall has 12 chandeliers and another 16–20 lights on the walls.
I promise to write more—and add photos too—about Romania’s breathtaking Parliamentary Palace. It truly is an amazing and beautiful building. After the tour, Poor John took the time to tell the guide that the Romanian people should be very proud of this structure. Although pleased, she also seemed a bit taken aback. Perhaps because the dictator Ceaușescu originally commissioned the palace for personal use.
If you have time, check out the Madman’s House and A grand avenue in Bucharest.
And don’t forget to pick a number before 29 February 2012.
People are too upset with the ones inside the Parliament and tired of seeing them voting just what works for them,that’s if they’re at work or not sleeping…if they don’t even show up to work why do they need so much light?
Thank you Adina for making that point. I can’t imagine how upset the people must be, but I certainly know and understand that they should be.
Wow Peggy! What a beautiful building. However, I take Adina’s point about the people inside and how the building came to be. Looking forward to more photos.