I visited Bucharest in passing almost three years ago. This time, with a fresh pair of eyes, Bucharest seems to be more prosperous, from the cars on the road to the state of the roads. Reading some of the press reports, this is not surprising. The Economist in 2013 reported that "the average Bucharest resident was comfortably better off than the average resident of Manchester". An interesting fact, since economic migrants from Romania working in the UK are mostly in low-paid jobs.
Another observation is that the Romanians are friendly and hospitable, except once when a taxi driver from the Cris taxi firm trying to rip me off - he offered a fixed price fare of 20 lei when I knew that the journey could not be more than 5 to 8 lei. Such are the antics of taxi drivers the worst over (with notable exceptions such as Japan and Dubai).
The airport hasn't changed much: the passport check on arrival at early afternoon was efficient. There was a wait for the baggage, almost 25 minutes, but bearable. On departure though, the security check is still working without a conveyor belt, so it is a case of pushing the trays along, rather cumbersome and inefficient I would say. And, there was only one bureau exchange near the departure gates, so it is a case of take it or leave it.
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| International departure, Otopeni Airport, Bucharest |
I returned to Marriot Grand Hotel because I could not get a reasonable rate at hotels in the Old Town. It's near the Parliament but really in the middle of nowhere, with few restaurants nearby to choose from. The service was fine until I had to ask the hotel staff to repatriate an object that I left at the hotel through a colleague. They were very slow at it and it left a poor taste in the mouth.
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| View from the hotel window |
The streets near the hotel gave a glimpse to how the "ordinary" people live. It was wall-to-wall apartments served by local shops. According to Wikipedia, the worst areas to buy properties in Bucharest are in Sector 5, which is where the hotel is located. " Once a thriving industrial area, the sector is now in dire need of improvement.... They are mostly inhabited by the impoverished Roma and are rubbish-strewn hotbeds of crime, including drug trafficking". So I was relieved not to see any of these distressful sights.
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| Grocery shop - the fruit and vegetables looked good |
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| Ugly apartment blocks from the Soviet era, I assume |
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| An amusement arcade - and there were a few of them |
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| A mini supermarket |
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| The days of telephone boxes are over |
Contrast this with the Old Town - what a difference! The historic architecture, the old churches, the outdoor terraces and cafes and the romantic feel make the Old Town an appealing area of the city. At night when the buildings are lit up, it really drew me in. I must find the time to experience more of Bucharest and to see more of the Old Town.
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| Bucharest at night |
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| The Statue of Carol 1, opposite the Hilton Hotel |
The food though, was disappointing at the two Italian restaurants we ate at. I wanted to try some Romanian food but was told by the locals that the local dishes are too heavy for the summer. What I did learn is that pork is the main dish and that the best vegetable also happens to be pork. At least two locals waxed lyrical about growing their own vegetables at their cottage outside Bucharest - invariably the tomatoes are the juiciest, the strawberries are the sweetest. They painted a picture of a simple life, living off the fruits of the land, making their own wine, feasting on organic wholesome food.
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| The Stadio restaurant, nothing to write home about |
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| Apple Lemonade, a first for me |
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| Simple breakfast, simple newspaper |
And finally, the Tarom airport lounge at the Otopeni Airport. This is an absolute disgrace: a business lounge offering crisps, yogurt and biscuits as food. This has got to be the worst business lounge that I have come across in my travels. Even the makeshift British Airways lounge at Nairobi International airport attempted to offer some sandwiches curly at the edges.
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| Tarom business lounge - worse than a roadside cafe |
