Bucharest 16 August

Hello Folks


Sitting in central Bucharest with the bustle of city life filtering through the balcony door. We have been here for 36 hours and have had time to form an opinion.
Romania and Bulgaria were forbidden countries behind the Iron Curtain most of my early life. When they broke free of the communist yoke, stories of hardships for the common person and places stuck in a time warp prevailed. Curiosity was a prime motivator for this trip...and the opportunity to explore by motorbike.
The flight here via Doho went wonderfully well until we reached Romania itself. The computer system crashed just as Tony reached the immigration booth. Thirty minutes later he joined me outside the Arrivals area, where I was waiting with a very patient driver sent by our tour company.  Ready for a nice hot shower in our hotel room, Tony moaned when the shower tap came away in his hand!! Fortunately the efficient and friendly maintenance man had it fixed in an hour.
Two hours after our arrival, we met up with a mate of Tony’s who belonged to the same motorbike club in Oz.  Mike is riding his MotoGuzzi through parts of Europe for 4 months. He remembered that Tony was visiting Romania and in an off “ per chance” he contacted us a week ago to say that HE was in Romania and had we left yet or already been? It was a hoot to rendezvous and share a drink and a meal. Mike had sussed out the area and discovered the historic centre of little streets was just near our hotel. Perfect place to wander to.


























We woke to a pleasant 25 degree day and after a decent sleep, considering our poor body clocks.

The ubiquitous red Hop on Hop off bus was to be our means of exploring this relatively vast city.
Tony had problems with his knee before we left Oz. We needed a strategy that was not going to be too testing.
Bucharest is a city in transition, emerging from its past. Centuries old Austro-Hungarian architecture mixes with solid communist monoliths and surprising pockets of modernist structures. There are significant numbers of wide, leafy boulevards and acres of grand parks and artificial lakes. These positives are interspersed with much-needed maintenance and freely spread graffiti. But infrastructure is happening and we have noticed that many roofs on the old Hungarian-style mansions and public buildings have been replaced and restored. Things are happening here.
Asia has not discovered Romania!! Seriously...hardly an individual let alone a tour group.

On the sight seeing side. We spent time ogling the ridiculously huge People’s Palace built by dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu and then sought out his personal mansion amongst the now leafy and quiet embassy and up-market precinct. Our young guide was excellent. He dispelled myths but clearly explained extravagances. Good old “ Power corrupts” reared again.
After a quiet aperitif and a simple but freshly cooked meal, we are adjourning for the night.
GREAT...photos not working well. Will publish now before I lose the lot Cheers K

Eating a meat laden meal with .Mike.