Day 19: 22nd June. Bucharest.

Our train was supposed to arrive at 9am in the morning but we managed somehow to be in the right train at the right time - there was a delay of 4 hours because our track was one of those that the rail strikes for today had affected. This more or less crippled the countryside simply for some union to flex their collective muscle. Whatever the case, we proceeded on and arrived at Bucharest Gare du Nord at 1pm, hungry and not too tired, having had more sleep and rest than was usual for us the past 3 weeks.

Bucharest is one of those cities in flux - making that leap from crazy to trendy; and now is the time to jump in for the ride!
You never quite know what you're going to get.
Radu of Tiriac brought us out for dinner that evening and showed us the side of Bucharest that few people see; that extremely urbane, civilised, and even comfortable side.
Part of us wanted to run out and hit the streets and get a little bit rough, but we truly did enjoy the fine food and fine company. The Romanians are excellent cooks, and great hosts. You'd never be let down by that.

Our arrival by the Gare du Nord was easily navigated as I was here just six months ago.


This is the frescoed ceiling of the Stavropoleos Church, and it is quite a refreshing change from all the sculptures in the Western churches. Some of us were actually having too much of Churches and Museums. "Enough Already!"


This lady sold original furs from animals of all sorts, from foxes to witches to mooses.