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Smith’s Site |
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Anyway, not a bad flight and a half hour coach trip took us to the Bucharest Hilton - very nice. Beautiful large room and quiet, considering we're in the centre of Bucharest. Wandered out to find something to eat and settled on a place called "La Mama". Shown to a table but it was a good 30 minutes before we could attract anyone to take our order. Another Viking couple sat at the next table and got served almost immediately, I'm 6'3" and 16 stone - surely not invisible! Anyway, the couple (Linda and Graham) had ordered what they thought were two small carafes of wine - ended up with 2 litres! Needless to say we helped them out (Edna shouldn't have!). One night in the Hilton and on board the coach after breakfast for the tour and trip to the boat. Firstly to a "Village Museum", a village re-constructed from about 85 Romanian dwellings - lots of wood and thatch - with a rather nice Church.
None of the houses were open so 90 minutes was ample time then, back on the coach and to the Cathedral. Rather splendid but, like a lot of the buildings in Bucharest, it was restored in 1958. There was a Service going on so we just stood in the entrance and looked in as we feel it's being intrusive to wander in when there's a Service on.
Back on the coach for a visit to the "House of the People". Wow! Built as the residence of Ceaucescu during the Communist regime this is, so Wikipedia tells me, the World's largest civilian building, most expensive administrative building and heaviest building. It is also VERY impressive. It had not been completed at the time of regime change and our guide told us that the new Government were in two minds as to whether to finish or abandon the (wildly expensive) project. They decided to continue, their decision will be accepted as correct by history. A decadent dictator's dream has been turned into a stunning Democratic Parliament building. Couldn't seem to be able to get a decent picture but there are plenty on Wikipedia.
Next, to a huge (alright, large. The House of the People was huge) restaurant, called "The Seagull", for lunch. Not bad, wine included and live local folk music. |
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Bucharest |
