Author Archives: Fatca Pop

About Fatca Pop

Fatca Pop is a dreamer, adventurer, cook, and blogger. Fatca was a hairdresser, company secretary, and teacher.

The genius system of Romanian queueing

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Fatca Pop

If you immigrated to Cluj in the past couple of years, you might be disappointed that the immigration service is in a cold and wet garage, and that you wait outside the doors on top of a couple of parking … Continue reading →

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Scam ATMs are in Cluj

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Fatca Pop

The famous Euronet ATM machines, featured on “The Honest Guide” of Prague, have been spotted in a mall in Cluj.  Areound the same time we found that machine, police saw someone wanted for murder in France.    Fortunately, police picked … Continue reading →

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Transilvania Open 2026 schedule

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Fatca Pop

The Transilvania Open, considered by Faclia de Cluj to be the most important tennis match in Romaia, began at the BT Arena in Cluj today, 31 January, at 11 am.  8 singles qualifiers. Tickets for some matches in the first … Continue reading →

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More Nestle products taken from the market

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Fatca Pop

You might have heard of cereulide.  Cereulide is a toxin that recently was found leaked in baby products.  Some sourses  said to come from an acid that was brought in from a supplier in China, others warn that it is … Continue reading →

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100 Romanians I never heard of

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Fatca Pop

I once saw, “Top 100 Români de Pretutindeni” translated as “Top 100 Romanians from everywhere.”  The translation appears to come from a self-published author who happened to get on that list. But what is that list?  I think “Pretutindeni” can … Continue reading →

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La Mulți ani România

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Fatca Pop

On the 24th of January, Romania celebrated “Little Union Day,”  the anniversary of the day when Prince Alexandru Curza oversaw the unification of Wallachia and Moldova. As with every 24th of January, traffic stopped for a small parade and a … Continue reading →

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“Free” bus rides are NOT completely free

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Fatca Pop

Some people might have heard that the bus is free in Cluj Napoca to those who do squats, seniors and students. First, it is not free to all students.  Secondly, see it more as you are eligible for free bus … Continue reading →

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New Rules for dual British citizens travelling to the UK

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Fatca Pop

According to the Independent, there will be new rules for dual British citizens travelling to the UK. Now, we don’t always know if the Independent is truly independent politically.  Some of their reporting on Eastern Europe in the past seemed, … Continue reading →

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History: Americans at home and in Romania

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Fatca Pop

So, Americans have recently celebrated 15 years of FATCA. Fatca is one of the strangest laws ever to get in the books, but some say it was started in Romania.  How?  With a tax agreement between Nixon and Ceausescu, that … Continue reading →

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Worst Hungarian lesson ever

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Fatca Pop

If you live in Cluj, you might want to learn Romanian before Hungarian.  And there are some adequate Romanian lessons that we covered elsewhere. However, Hungarian is a slightly easier language.  It doesn’t have genders, and therefore there are fewer … Continue reading →

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