In the continuation of my black and white nostalgia ride reading of my older posts, would like to update revise and new infusion of text on this wonderful city of Bucharest, the little Paris!! Hope you enjoy it
Well I have been lucky to visit Bucharest 6 times in the last 9 years,and even if slow down nowdays the memories will stay for a longer time. The pictures are in the individual posts on the sights here, this is my black and white rendition of Bucharest. Yes ,after leaving the chains of communism ,this city at least is stepping out, great renovations done and ongoing, lots of beauty to be recall the Little Paris, it once was, and warm friendly people all over. A new found backyard indeed. In Bucharest again, folks there recount of a time when the city was, also, call the Paris of the East. Indeed times have change a lot.
I usually come here on Air France, routine , Nantes, Roissy CDG, Bucharest Henri Coanda airport. and the same coming back. I always hire a Taxi 2000 here to my hotel. Couple times , I used TAROM, the national airline of Romania, for a nice flight to Bucharest ; the airport is actually in the city of Otopeni about 16,5 kms from Bucharest. webpage: http://www.bucharestairports.ro/
Over time past and in the future trips I stayed in 3 hotels in Bucharest. The first one was the Ramada Parc near Romexpo exhibition center. Great breakfast, good location, friendly staff, we end up talking football/soccer all night long the first night there. And its next door neighbor Ramada Plaza , a more modern upscale version. Next door, and connected thru the hotel you had the traditional Casa Doina restaurant gastronomic resto ,and the latest of International and Romanian cuisine.
The Crown Plaza Hotel, part of the Intercontinental hôtels group was also in the same park and even if not stayed I came here for its buffet. I did stayed once, wonderful indoor heated pool, sauna, gym room, great Grand Café bar for drinks and news/sports TV, then the Le Brasserie restaurant very nice, the rooms are big and well stocked, the elevator works fine and fast, checkin and checkout is smooth, just another wonderful IHG property.
I was taken on a personal car tour of the main sights in town late at night ,which was glorious. However, I did walk the pedestrian city center and ate at the historical wonderful Hanul lui Manuc , Romanian specialty of lamb steak and polenta with the local Ursus beer. This is the address Str. Franceza nr. 62-64, Bucuresti, Sector 3 ,webpage:https://www.hanulluimanuc.ro/en/
There is so much to see need at least a week to see it all. Many beautiful churches of the Orthodox Christian rite abound. The National Theater , the Arcul de Triumf or arch de triomphe Romanian ,royal palace, and many museums. Along Calea Victoriei street you have one resto, bar, cafe one after the other.
I had plenty of lunches at the Cafe inside the World Trade Gallery shopping complex, friendly staff who speaks English, on a cafeteria style foods that are very good and not expensive with Best chef cafe on Bdul Topografiei or boulevard Topografiei. Then pay a visit to a wonderful place sure to come back to it, the taverna Sarbului the terrace ambiance and friendly service in addition to superb local cuisine and good friends made it special, I could have stay here longer! webpage:https://www.tavernasarbului.ro/en/
Right around in the same area you have the Romanian-American University, a great location, very modern facilities and it seems busy place as well with English spoken lol!. Then in the evening I went to the 18 Lounge on the top floor of the City Gate South Tower business center, wonderful views of the city of Bucharest,and great food. Lots of folks enjoying it with a mix of locals and foreigners as well. I had a tagliatelli st Jacques that was very good indeed,and a good capuccino. webpage: https://www.18lounge.ro/about_us_18
I did get one special night to go out with friends, and had a wonderful dinner at a wonderful very traditional Romanian restaurant in the outskirst of Bucharest. Restaurant Vatra Neamului, Balostesti, past Otopeni the airport city, along the DN1 road. This is very much use as well for weddings and anniversaries by the locals, as it is very traditional Romanian in food and decoration. We had dinner in the poets’s room as you have portraits of Romanian poets/writers going way back. Vatra Neamului, is a mix cuisine between ancient moldavian/romanian food, the food wich was served by our ancestors before us, and a trip to the time of Stefan the Great, Michael the Brave, and the unrivaled writer Mihai Eminescu. Wonderful find, enjoy it if you can there: webpage: https://www.vatraneamului.ro/
I did travel inland into cities such as Braila, Slobozia, Ploiesti ,and Galati, on good roads and plenty of gas stations with goodies to munch on at better prices than France lol! Another nice trip to come back to, and hopefully more time to see the inner cities wonderful architecture and ambiance. Memories to look back and enjoy and remember the good times, always thinking of a next time in Bucharest and/or Romania. Hope you enjoy the stories and see my other posts on Romania.
A nice private initiative on tourism in Romania: http://romaniatourism.com/bucharest.html
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 