Sep 25, 2014: Shortly before I left on this trip I been reminded of the “Greeter” or “Welcome” system, which I had used before in Japan and Argentina. The results had been a little mixed, but I had spent a wonderful evening with my Kyoto greeter (see: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/moon-over-kyoto/ ) and had been pleased to be able to arrange for a greeter my first afternoon in Bucharest.
We met at my hotel, and I spent a delightful afternoon with the young woman volunteer (AC). A modern languages graduate, she spoke perfect English, and I was seriously impressed to learn that her other language was Dutch. She had just left her job to start a new venture as a tour guide, and we talked about travel as well as about life in Romania.
We visited the old, a nicely frescoed monastery, the newer, along Calea Victoriei, and the very new, in the form of an aggressively modern glass bank building reflecting its much older neighbor.
I had voted absentee right before leaving on this trip, unhappy to discover that I had to chose between 19 unknowns for a seat on the NC Court of Appeals, and now I learned that Romania had an upcoming Presidential election with as many candidates. But at least that was only the first round. The slate included a strong woman candidate, who had been Justice Minister, but I was told, not only by AC, that a woman stood no chance. The run off was likely to be between the enterprising mayor of Sibiu, and the Socialist candidate, Socialist apparently being misused as a euphemism for ex-Communist.
She told me about apartment living in Bucharest, and about the traffic. We walked past the monument to the Revolution, now 25 years in the past. We finished a walk through the heart of Bucharest with coffee at one of AC’s favorite cafe-restaurants, and I had intended to go back there for dinner, but in the end felt that I had walked far enough for one day.
I could swear before to see the title that is a romanian orthodox church. Interesting political itinerary.
FYI: the subject title said “Greeting Budapest” not Bucharest
Yes, I fixed it almost as soon as it went up. Slip no doubt the result of currently being IN Budapest.
I like the idea of the Greeter. It reminds me of what Kathie and I did in Calcutta (Kolkata) with hiring a couple of days with local people from Calcutta Walks. It’s such a great way to really get a feel for a place in a short amount of time.
Bucharest will be on my schedule in the future, but for now I have your Budapest, Vienna, Austria blogs bookmarked as I will be on a river cruise from Prague to Budapest. Thank you!
Stay tuned! I’m currently in Budapest and leave for Vienna tomorrow. Hope you enjoy your trip.
[…] “I never felt unsafe in Bucharest, although I did follow my usual big city protocol- money belt, (or hotel safe if there is one), holding onto possessions, and trying to stay aware of my surroundings. It is possible that some more desolate parts of the old city might feel dodgy at night, but they are easily avoided.” Mytimetotravel.wordpress.com […]