Bucharest

Romania

March 12, 2019

It was a beautifully smooth landing in Bucharest on a clear and chilly evening. But the moon looks scary!! I swear I’m not making it up but it has a foreboding aura about it….well we’re not too far from Transylvania!!!!

My driver picked me up right in the airport so it was easy to get to the hotel at this late hour Plus we got to see many of the beautiful old buildings and monuments lit up.

Arc de Triumf, just like the one in Paris

The beginning of the pedestrian only area of the Old Town where my hotel is

My room is so adorable, I made a special request for the top floor where there is only one room with the only balcony in this historic boutique hotel right in the middle of the old town.

Rembrandt Hotel

Simple and clean and comfortable room. But the terrace is why I booked it. Look at these views.

By the time I got settled and into bed it was 2am!

Good night Bucharest, looking forward to tomorrow.

March 13, 2019

After a not so great sleep, I decided to get up at 6:30am to see the city at sunrise. It was worth it, especially the copper topped buildings.

View from my terrace

My lovely terrace

Some of the old buildings not yet restored

Chilly morning!

I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning, so excited to get out and explore the city. But I was starving so breakfast first.

I love European breakfasts much more than American and since I have such a beautiful terrace I decided to brave the chill and have breakfast out there. It didn’t last too long before I brought it in but it was a nice start.

I love my private terrace!

Off for some sightseeing

Look at the beautiful old French inspired architecture juxtaposed with Communist Block gray concrete.

Statue of their beloved pre-Communism Monarch Carol I

This is the former Communist Center where Nicolae Ceausescu made his last speech on December 22, 1989

I remember clearly seeing the events of the Romanian Revolution play out on CNN. The dissent in the crowd, the uprising and finally the military switching sides to back the protestors. This was shocking because at this time their secret police force, the Securitate, were one of the largest and strongest in the Eastern Bloc.

Ceausescu and his wife narrowly escaped from a waiting helicopter and fled Bucharest.

Three days later, on Christmas Day, they were caught, put on trial, found guilty of genocide, abuse of power and damage to the economy, sentenced to death and immediately executed by a firing squad.

On to lighter topics, the Parliament of the People was commissioned by this megalomaniac which bled the nation dry during severely hard times of rationing of food, water and utilities for the people. It is the second largest administrative building in the world, the Pentagon being first.

The Roman Athenaeum is probably the most beautiful building in town and it’s where the philharmonic plays in all its opulence.

Some pretty areas in town, I didn’t take many pictures of the Communist architecture like these:

Now back to beauty!

Kretzulescu Church is an Eastern Orthodox Church right at one of the corners of Revolution Square.

Walking back to Old Town and getting hungry for lunch!

Caru cu Bere is a famous 19th Century brewery that serves traditional Romanian fare in an architectural landmark cavernous building from 1897.

I stuck with the classics:

Ciorba de Burta, a sour soup with beef tripe was delicious.

The very popular Sarmale is cabbage rolls stuffed with ground meat and Mamaliga, a polenta like side dish mixed with cream and cheese. I ate less than half and was stuffed but it was so good and the atmosphere of the restaurant made the experience so much fun.

Off the walk off my lunch and visit another church.

The beautiful Stavropoleos Monastery built in 1724 by monks. It is right in the old town and is a mix of Baroque and Byzantine styles. I loved the peaceful garden courtyard.