A mini-moon will be on display in Cluj Napoca. It is based on NASA photos, and will look like the moon might have if Gru from Despicable Me really succeeded in shrinking the moon to 1/500000 of its real size.
The “artist” who made this small moon model is none other than British enthusiast Luke Jerram. Luke Jerram’s mini moon has been to Cluj before, and it will be here again from the 28th to the 7th of December. Even though it is half a million times smaller than the original, this model is so large that it is known as the “Museum of the Moon.” It is big enough to look like it is about to destroy Gru’s spaceship.
So, where are they hiding this Moon “model”? Apparently, it will be among the exhibition “Lights On Romania.” This exhibition will be in the center of town. In the photos from previous years the moon was in Piata Unirii, the main square inches away from the towns physical center.
Other events linked to Lights On Romania include an alternative Christmas Market, a pig farm, and a conference on “The Culture of Nightlife.” (I thought the fun of nightlife is that it wasn’t a conference? Why does there have to be a talk or conference about everything in Cluj?)
You can see the lights in at least two ways. One, is to walk around town, looking for them. Another is to take a “Light Bus” that shows you a tour. The Light Bus will leave 20 Avram Iancu (a parking area near the entrance to the old cemetary, which is just a little south of the center) every night from the 28th of November to the 7th of December at the following times:
17:30, 19:00, 20:15, and 21:30 (In American, that is five thirty pm, seven pm, eight fifteen pm, and nine thirty pm or nine thirty at night.)
Bus tickets cost 60 lei, with half-price discounts for seniors over sixty and children under 18. Children up to five years old ride for free, but should be accompanied by a paying adult.
The guided tour will be in Romanian, but you don’t have to be superfluent in Romanian to appreciate the model of the moon and other light artwork along the way.
More information and ticket purchases available (in Romanian) at: https://lightsonromania.com/lightbus/