Bucharest, Day 2
A latish start due to previous night out, Sunday was all about mixing business with pleasure - checking out some properties and fitting in a little sight seeing too.
You can really see the whole “little Paris” thing when you take a turn from the main concrete drags down the sidestreets – old French-style villas with a faded, turn-of-the-century charm. These villas are something reminiscent of Havana in places, with their crumbling facades and virtually slum-like dwellings behind. Other old buildings have been restored and look mighty impressive.
First work stop was the Funky Chicken Hostel in a leafy suburb 10 minutes walk from the centre of town. Michaela gave me a whistle stop tour of this basic hostel – 3 rooms, 18 beds and free cigarettes for guests, say no more!
On to Cismigiu Park, packed to the rafters with families – young and old - strolling in the afternoon sun. The park is centred around a large lake with swans, rowing boats and pedelos, with the odd tower block poking over the surrounding trees, reminiscent of a communist version of New York’s Central Park. Candyfloss, trampolines, face painting, clowns ensures this is the perfect place for kids! I took some time out and enjoyed some traditional Romanian cuisine - delicious sour beef soup at a restaurant overlooking the lake.
A short walk from the park took me to the infamous People’s Palace, built by Caucescu. Supposedly the world’s second largest building after the Pentagon, (and according to Wikipedia larger in volume than the Great Pyramid of Giza!) - and one of the most expensive - the Palace doesn’t actually feel that impressive or huge fro the outside. Unfortunately it was closed to visitors at the time, so my thoughts on it’s lavish interior will have wait until my next trip to Bucharest…
After an early evening siesta and dodgy Jean Caude Van Damme movie it was time for a stroll down the main strip of Calea Victoriei. The 4 lane strip through the city was frequented by boy racers speeding up and down in their porches, and an inordinate amount of prostitutes strolling around. The city seemed fairly lively for a Sunday, but after a quick bite and a beer at a local American-themed bar it was bed time for me!
