Once you get out of the city, Romania's verdant countryside is compellingly beautiful and rustic. Many Romanians keep a small farm in the country, to which they retreat on weekends, and where they grow beautiful fruits and vegatables, and savor a bit of peace away from the environmental and economic problems of the cities. There is a very active gypsy music tradition specific to the south of Romania. City groups have very eclectic repertoires, with Serbian and Turkish influences, while the rural groups still play 19th-century Romanian ballads and dance melodies. You will see these everywhere, even in downtown Bucharest.
Gas is very expensive and farmers find they can better maintain a horse than a truck.
Bank presidents and government officials pockets millions in sleazy deals, while the average citizens continue to suffer from inflation, ridicuclous taxes, and a deteriorated infrastructure.