Ron Mackay further recounts his experiences in Romania, a country teetering between Soviet influence and a desire for independence, offering a fascinating glimpse into a time of uncertainty and intrigue.
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Among many stories, Ron visits an RAF base in the UK where his brother was a crew member of a Vulcan bomber, Britain’s nuclear deterrent at the time. The RAF quizzes Ron in detail about the locations he has visited in Romania.
Back in Romania Ron navigates the intricacies of its society and shares stories of friendships forged under the watchful eyes of the Securitate, Romania’s feared secret police.
Ron describes his interactions with various characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. From a duck shooting party at a Communist Party hunting lodge to a tense encounter with tanks near the Soviet border, Ron’s stories are filled with suspense and unexpected twists.
As Ron reflects on his time in Romania, he offers insights into the political and social dynamics of the era. The invasion of Czechoslovakia and Romania’s subsequent stance had profound effects on the country’s internal policies and its people’s psyche. Ron’s decision to return for a second year, driven by a fascination with the culture and a desire to deepen his understanding, underscores the allure of a place fraught with danger yet rich in human connection.
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Related episodes:
- Cold War, Warm Hearts – Hitchhiking behind the 1960s Iron Curtain https://pod.fo/e/2098ae
- A Childhood under the eye of the Secret Police https://pod.fo/e/a4730
- My life laid bare through secret police files https://pod.fo/e/12e45f
- A Hungarian childhood in Cold War Romania https://pod.fo/e/1190aa
- Escaping from Cold War Romania https://pod.fo/e/11ad63
- Emanuela – a Cold War Romanian Childhood https://pod.fo/e/f0376
- Reporting the 1989 Romanian Revolution https://pod.fo/e/1ea8c
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