Roaming in Romania (Last Days)

I'm off to Ruse, a border town in Bulgaria by the 1:30 p.m. train and then busing to a small town that has the best citadel ruins in the country (as a couple of Frenchmen have informed me). Heading off to see the People's Parliament Palace, a huge eleven floor, over 1000 room building that is modeled after Versailes Palace (but of'course a little bigger) that is the second biggest building in the world (next to the Pentagon which the Romanians don't count as it is has a hole in the middle). Now why does this country (or any other country) need to have such a building this big for it's parliament. Ah yes, nothing like a little dictatorship and a big ego. Ironically, Ceausescu never got to use it as he was shot before it was completed.

I spent the last two days going to the washroom every one to two hours but happy to report the storm is over and I'm ready to eat again. I should have told the hostel reception that I'll have my room in the toilet (so much for my "Indian hardened" stomach).

My last thoughts of Romania sitting here in the captial city of Bucharist is that:

1) I love this country. However, the lonely planet described Bucharist by stating "Forget Prague, Forget Budapest." This city is the Paris of the East. What was this guy thinking? This city is big, noisy, dirty and blocks and blocks of commmunist apartment style ugly square buildings. Although their are some helpful locals, they don't look happy in this drab city. Spend one day here if you must, take a picture of the parliment building and Arc the Triump and leave. As a Brazilian and American best put it, "Bucharist is like an ugly woman who needs a wash."

2) There are no buskers here. Yes, this is the first country where the Peruian Flute guys would not cut it. People simply don't have money to give.

3) They love crossword puzzles here.

4) There are loads of stray dogs running around.

5) Romania seemed to have a commie dictator style government and the Russian communism never really left a ugly impression on the people as in Czech, Hungary or Poland.

6) A lot of people make the sign of the cross when ever they pass a church, cementary or religious sight.

7) Come here before it joins the E.U. and hence, gets expensive. I really hope when they join the EU it gets better for the locals.


All the best.