After nearly 30 years, I returned to Romania in February. Romania had been my regular childhood vacation destination - going there every summer (hiking in the Fagaras and Carpathian mountains, exploring the caves, swimming in the Black Sea) and even winter (skiing in the ski resorts of Poiana Brasov, Sibiu, Predal and Sinaia). In GDR times, already the travel to Romania was an adventure: 1000 km drive in a Wartburg tourist (car), 3 border controls and annoying my little brother.
Mid February, I returned to Bucharest for AIESEC Alumni Europe's planning weekend which coincided with AIESEC's International Presidents' Meeting. We met at an hotel outside the city centre which was quite big and did not convince us with its staff and restaurants. Nonetheless, that did not keep us from working hard and putting together a good plan for the year.
The second evening, we spent at a nice Italian restaurant - Resto Aperto. There we had the first good food and enjoyed several courses before returning for the gala night at the hotel. During the official part awards were handed over, speeches given and the 70 years of AIESEC celebrations started.
On Sunday, we met with AIESEC International on how to cooperate in Europe and finalized some plans before we said our farewells. Angie and I went to the old town and checked-in to our hostel for the night - the Little Bukarest Hostel.
From there, we explored the old town. This area is not very big and also there are quite a number of classic buildings that are nicely restored, there is still a good number of buildings that are left to rot.
We learned more about the city's history in the museum - especially, the time of before and after second world war interested me. As many European capitals, Bucharest features big avenues. Several of which have been built after the earthquake in 1977 that then communist president Ceausescu used as a pretext to enlarge roads and make way for buildings of his liking.
A building that we really liked in the old town was the book store and cafe: carturesti - on four levels you find books, CDs, DVDs and a nice cafe to spend your time. That's what I did of the following days as it had started to rain nonstop in the night and most museums are closed on Mondays.
Romania is definitely worth a trip. Although nowadays all products are available here, the country still ranks at the bottom of the list in Europe and a lot of the young people are looking for jobs else where. Empty shops, old cars and abandoned houses pay tribute to that.
In the afternoon, I took a bus back to the airport. As this was only a short trip, I hope to see more of the country in the next years.
Rio Grand Hotel
Mid February, I returned to Bucharest for AIESEC Alumni Europe's planning weekend which coincided with AIESEC's International Presidents' Meeting. We met at an hotel outside the city centre which was quite big and did not convince us with its staff and restaurants. Nonetheless, that did not keep us from working hard and putting together a good plan for the year.
Antipasti starter
AAE team
AAE team, AAI participants and PAI
On Sunday, we met with AIESEC International on how to cooperate in Europe and finalized some plans before we said our farewells. Angie and I went to the old town and checked-in to our hostel for the night - the Little Bukarest Hostel.
Chris & Angie
View from our room
Cafes in the Old Town
From there, we explored the old town. This area is not very big and also there are quite a number of classic buildings that are nicely restored, there is still a good number of buildings that are left to rot.
a church amid buildings
Van Gogh Restaurant - good breakfast place
Saint Anthony Church
Municipality Museum
inside
We learned more about the city's history in the museum - especially, the time of before and after second world war interested me. As many European capitals, Bucharest features big avenues. Several of which have been built after the earthquake in 1977 that then communist president Ceausescu used as a pretext to enlarge roads and make way for buildings of his liking.
Bucharest expanding over time
A building that we really liked in the old town was the book store and cafe: carturesti - on four levels you find books, CDs, DVDs and a nice cafe to spend your time. That's what I did of the following days as it had started to rain nonstop in the night and most museums are closed on Mondays.
Bookstore Carturesti
Romania is definitely worth a trip. Although nowadays all products are available here, the country still ranks at the bottom of the list in Europe and a lot of the young people are looking for jobs else where. Empty shops, old cars and abandoned houses pay tribute to that.
In the afternoon, I took a bus back to the airport. As this was only a short trip, I hope to see more of the country in the next years.
