Sharon's Blog: Back to Bucharest and Then Home

Sunday morning, and we leave for home in a few more hours. Our time in Romania and Bulgaria has been enlightening, stimulating, beautiful, adventurous, and more fulfilling than imagined. Some may have wondered why we chose to visit these countries as they are not common destinies for American tourists. We can now attest to the value of visiting here. The land is varied and beautiful, the people are open and warm, the food and drink are delicious, the history is full and rich while being sad and hopeful. Traveling on our own by car and later public transport in Bucharest was safe and easy. The roads were not the best, but we managed, and as a human GPS, I helped guide David who drove expertly so that we never really got lost and kept discovering new and wonderous places. Come here for a remarkable experience!

Highlights of our time in Bucharest included walking the streets and parks, sitting at cafes, attending an outdoor music festival, dining, and mostly absorbing the feel of the place and the vibes of the local culture. Only twenty-two years ago, the Ceausescu regime was overthrown, and Romania as part of the European Union is now transforming before our eyes.

Yesterday we roamed Bucharest by bus and metro and visited the beautiful parks here including an outdoor museum of Romanian culture. We were fortunate to be there during a festival of dancing, singing and handicrafts. The sky was overcast with threats of rain, but the storm held off and we relished in the view of Bucharest residents enjoying the festival.

We returned to our hotel, and the thunderstorm arrived giving us a backdrop for a peaceful afternoon nap. After the rain, we walked the streets again, had dinner, and ended the evening with decadence.