The Solar Clock from Mamaia, Constanta (Romania) is one of the decorative sculptures and timekeeping instruments located on the resort's beaches and promenade. They are crafted from Baschioi stone by local artisans and they indicate the approximate time to tourists through the play of shadows cast by the sun onto engraved lines. It seems that the sundial from Mamaia (as other resort cities) was created and installed on the seafront during the communist era, somewhere between 1960 and 1970. And from that point on the time put the mark on them and even if we are living in a new era, it seems that they somehow got forgotten by time and the city. The wind, rain and the sea sand chipped into their structure and without care they are showing the age and wear. But they are still a novelty and awake interests from the tourists.
The Solar Clock is built right on the promenade alley which is uncirculated and straight into the sand from the Black Sea. It use to have a stone pavement to reach it and go around it in order to read the clock based on the shadows of the instrument. The sand invaded that as well and the water stopped around it. This year at least they've added some sort of reed fence to protect it from sand and simply to showcase it better. It is far away from the nurturing it needs, but it is something in the right direction. I even thought of creating a petition and sending it to the city council to consider renovating it as I don't think it takes much. Is not a big monument so with some decent funds it can be put into the spotlight again and make it one of the attraction with history that the tourists can stop by and enjoy. But as I am just visiting the seaside during the summer, I haven't yet pursue this direction. But I will first see how I can achieve this and push it forward to the municipality.
Here are some aerial photos that I did on the Solar Clock from my flat. I think that this way the small monument is better put into the light, rather than getting close to it and highlight its wear. And it also brings a different perspective which is sometimes good to experiment with.
I think that such little monuments and novelties are what sparkle the attention of tourists and make them enjoy their vacation as they see something different. Not only that people can learn something new about it, they also could take photos and share experiences. So where the municipality can renovate such pieces, I am sure the "return" on that would be tenfold. And in this case it takes so little to do, just need some funding and organization to make it look nice. Doing some more research, it seems that only one Solar Clock remains and that's the one I presented through the pictures, located on the seafront promenade in the central area, across the street on the Melody ballroom. So that provides more reasons to preserve it!
