Reflections on Romania ;-)

A couple of weeks ago, I tried to guide a Slovak friend of mine around Bucharest. Letting the difficulties I had in orienting around Bucharest aside, I have showed him around the Historical Center, Piața Unirii, Calea Victoriei and the second evening we had a pretty good meal in a Romanian restaurant in order to enjoy Romanian dishes.

After that, Juraj has sent me some impressions Bucharest made on him. I think they are very relevant, especially in the current debate on Romanian tourism. We could start with Bucharest which I regard as being the most unfriendly city with tourists in Romania.

The title belongs to Juraj and here are his reflections:

So to Bucharest and my impressions of her. You don't mind me giving her a feminine instead of masculine or neutral person, do you?

Bucharest called little Paris; a young girl that was born as a pretty cutie in the interwar period to the old aristocratic parents called Paris. I agree. After about 70 years, it has the spirit of a proud descendant of a long lineage of history, yet it looked as an old lady that has gone through a lot in her life. There were lots of vounds on her, that were caused by Ceausescu and her beautiful buildings are not being repaired and slowly falling apart.

I was told the skyline of Bucharest is full of cranes constructing new buildings, the question is where are these cranes? I certainly didn't see them in the centre where there were so many beautiful buildings that were getting no attention. That is sad. Also, I realized Bucharest did not want to take up the good manners of her imperial neighbours and take in the aristocratic looking cafes of Vienna and Budapest. I was very much surprised that there were almost no cafes downtown. For a little Paris I'd expect that.


Definately Bucharest has an image and influence on me as an old lady with a style of an aristocrat and trying to be true to her principles even though many things in history might have taken her off that course. In short I loved it, I came there with and open mind to suck up all information and news I could about the city and the contry and I was quite happy with the outcome as I left.

Pur discussions helped and so did the food ;-)

J.