Boys kick-boxing on the main street of a village where rich gypsies build grand houses. The houses are simply a display of their wealth, often left standing empty. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

An elderly couple stand in front of their home, made uninhabitable by flooding on the Vedea river. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

A car approaches a Reghiu village along a riverbed, after floods had washed away the bridge on the only access road. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

A traditional funeral ceremony. Funerals are social events that all of the people from the village attend. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

A woman returns home with a goose under her arm. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

Orthodox priest Constanin Milos blesses a seminarian. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

Villagers join in a feast celebrating St Nicholas, a major patron saint of the Orthodox church. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

A man about to descend from the top of a haystack formed by the centuries-old method for drying the hay. Given the lack of machinery, most farming work is carried out by traditional means. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

A couple sit in their unheated living room. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

A young boy on the way to work sawing firewood for locals in Odobesti and surrounding villages. Dictatorship and nationalism isolated Romania from Western Europe for decades. The country missed the first round of European Union expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004, as it had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms. The European Commission later noted an improvement but wanted to see tighter controls on standards of food hygiene and a rooting out of corruption. Romania faced natural disasters as well as economic hardship, as it was struck by avian flu and by floods that affected some two-thirds of the country.

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