BUCHAREST SITES

                           Massive Buildings

       By 1862 the city had become the capital of the province when Walachia and Moldavia united to form the principality of Romania. The French remodeled the city in the late 19th century featuring large neoclassical buildings, fashionable parks, including the Arc de Triomphe on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, an avenue longer than the famed Champs-Elysees. This street is home to the city's mansion district

      The Arc of Triomphe initially was built of wood in 1922 to honor the bravery of Romanian soldiers who fought in World War I.  It was finished in Deva granite in 1936. The Arc stands 85 feet high and has an interior staircase for those who desire to climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city. Sculptures decorate the structure that was influenced by and reminiscent of the infamous French Arch in Paris. On the south façade the two bronze medallions with the faces of King Ferdinand and Queen Mary were replaced when the originals were destroyed during the communist era. On the north façade the bronze medallions with carved faces represent manhood and faith.

The Old City Center is slowly being restored, and includes the grand architecture of the Royal Palace, 1812-1815, small cafés, historic monuments and the lush green of Cismigiu Park, designed by a German landscaper in 1830. It is the city’s oldest park and now sports 30,000 species of plants and trees.

The Parliament Palace, 1884-1889, is the world's second largest building. The 12-story building houses 1100 rooms. It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build the monstrosity. There is a 328-foot-long lobby and four underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker. When construction started in 1984, the dictator intended it to be the headquarters of his government and called it the Peoples’ Palace. Today, it houses Romania's Parliament and serves as an international conference center. Built and furnished exclusively with Romanian materials, the building reflects the work of the country's best artisans.  Dazzling rooms, huge halls and quarters are used by the Senate. The interior is a luxurious display of mosaics, crystal chandeliers, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows and floors covered with rich carpets.  The crystal chandelier in the Human Rights Hall weighs 2.5 tons.      

The front of this massive building looks down the street of 42 fountains. The wide street leads off the square. In the wide strip running down the center of the road are 42 fountains in oblong curving designs. Decorative shrub groupings are between the fountains. It is most attractive. Some of the fountains were not working.     

The Military Club (Cercul Militar National) Standing guard imposingly, this neoclassical masterpiece was built in 1912 to serve the social, cultural and educational needs of the Romanian army. Banquets and official events are still hosted in the ballrooms, while the upstairs area is reserved for the army's library, as well as offices and classrooms for officer instruction. The main part of the building is off-limits to civilians, but the sumptuous restaurant and summer terrace is open to the public.

Impressions and Oddities

 The countryside is dreary, gloomy and bleak

Infrastructure is decaying

            It is common for women to hook arms on the street. Men hug men

            One leaves shoes at door.

            Love flowers!    Lots of flowers, geraniums, roses especially

           To sit at the corner of a table means no chance of marriage.

            Many homeless stray dogs, many abandoned when relocated from rural areas.

            Still has a lingering leper colony.

            Sour soup is common with the sour coming from lemon or fermented wheat bran.

            Coffee is served Turkish style, black, strong and sweet.

            Mid size cars.  Traffic in Bucharest horrific

            Saw very few people on the streets

            Beautiful wide boulevards

           Ugly A/C boxes on windows

           Graffiti in certain areas not attractive.

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

                                   An Interesting Visit

        Flying into Bucharest we saw acres and acres of green stripes ranging from lime green to a dark green. Obviously there are large agricultural areas near the city. Once on the ground, we saw roses in bloom everywhere, and soon learned that was to be the norm.

       As typical in many parts of the world drivers follow their own rules, often playing chicken. Here they didn’t drive particularly fast. Lights were not frequent and it was lucky everyone had good brakes and drivers fast reflexes! Pedestrians beware! However, Romanians do not drink and drive---even after only one drink.

       In spite of centuries of invasions, oppression and brutality, the Romanian people remain generous and welcoming. The traditional welcome includes bread, salt and tuicia, a potent homemade plum brandy. A rich cultural heritage remains and flourishes with little change since the Middle Ages. In rural areas farmers still plow with horses and harvest their crops with handmade wooden tools.

       We were told that Romania is emerging from decades of oppressive communist rule, 1945-1989, into a difficult and painful transition to democracy and a free market economy. The endemic practice of bribery and corruption is still prevalent. Everyone expects a handout and very often palms have to be greased to obtain what one wants, such as an appointment. Major crime is almost non-existent, but as always watch the pickpockets! 

        Romania was a prosperous country between WW I and WW II. The first oil well was producing in 1857.  In 1856 Bucharest was the first city in the world to be illuminated by oil lamps, and in 1884 Timisoara was the first European city to have electric street lights.

    We heard many horror stories of ,life under communism and the dictator, Ceausescu. I choose not to repeat them.

     Bucharest, in southern Romania, is the country’s largest city as well as its capital since 1862. Inhabited since 500 BC, the city today has a population of 2.6 million. The city is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, well kept parks and glorious Belle Époque buildings. The wide center road dividers are planted with flowers and small trees. The city has a mix of architectural styles that include neoclassical, 19^th century structures and monumental 20^th century edifices.

     In the 15th century and originally built with river stones, the thick fortress walls the Princely Court of Vlad Tepes, was established here and is  easily seen. It is thought to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.  Huge cellars cover a large area and are surrounded by restaurants attached to the complex through an underground maze.

     WW II and decades of repressive communism has worn the sheen off of the city, and Bucharest is still pretty dismal so at times it is difficult to see its historical charm. The Intercontinental Hotel towers above everything and is a good landmark for locating downtown.

     The city claims many museums, art galleries, exquisite Orthodox churches and unique architectural sites. New glass facades can be seen alongside old buildings, sometimes mixing well, sometimes not.

      Victory Avenue (Calea Victoriei) is Bucharest's oldest and arguably most charming street. Initially paved with oak beams in 1692 it was a link between Old Princely Court to Mogosoaia Palace. The street became Calea Victoriei in 1878, after the Romanian War of Independence. Between the two world wars, the street developed into one of the most fashionable in the city.   Along this street stand some of the city’s most stunning buildings including the Cantacuzino Palace, the historic Revolution Square, the Military Club, the CEC Headquarters and the National History Museum.    Revolution Square and the Palace of the Republic, now housing the parliament, are reminders of the last tyrannical communist dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu.

   Older parts of the city display an eastern influence with narrow streets and crowded bazaars. Late 19^th century influences tend to be French. Old box-window A/C units mar the façade of most buildings. Wrought iron balcony rails were on many buildings. In the university district particularly we noticed a lot of graffiti.

     When I looked up I couldn’t believe the massive coil of loose wires just hanging from the poles. I tried to get a picture as it was pretty hard to describe. And there were lots of such poles.

     The 1991 Constitution established Romania as a republic with a multi-party system, market economy and individual rights of free speech, religion and private ownership.

      It was easy to spot the American flag flying in front of the pink building which is the ambassador’s residence. The embassy is located in a more secluded area.

     The Old Court Church, 1558, is the oldest. The brick church was restored after an 1847 fire and again in 1928-1938. The entrance gates were added in the 18^th century.

       Romania has some crazy thing about their money. To use a credit card to have to get some sort of  code or something on it and since neither one of us did we ran into a bit of problem one day at lunch. In the end we left ample US dollars to cover the bill.

Language—a couple of common expressions

            Nu ma pot plange---I cannot complain

            Fac---sounds like our 4 letter word—means to make

            Multumesc---thank you

Some Well Known Inventions:

             The fountain pen

            Insulin discovered

            Jet engines for planes