It was also hard to see the street kids. In Iasi, I've seen a handful, some just begging. In Bucharest, there were more kids around inhaling aurolac (paint) in paper bags while sitting on the street. A lot of kids do "paint" because it takes away the pains of hunger and other things.
Despite the harsh street life you see, the sights were amazing! I got to ride in my first subway and train this weekend. I have now traveled in every type of transportation there is: boat, train, car, taxi, metro, tram...okay still waiting on the carriage but that's hopefully coming this fall. :)
I took just over 60 pictures...but here are some of the highlights.
The Funky Chicken Hostel (no joke) we stayed at. Downstairs, we stayed in a room with 4 sets of bunk beds that were like sleeping on wood with a light blanket under. We had to walk through another bedroom to get to and from the bathroom. It was awkward to say the least as the room smelled like liquor and they were all still out as we walked through to shower and get ready.
Had I stayed Saturday night, I would have shared our room with three Asian guys from Hong Kong....not sure but I think the honor code would have been in question with that sleeping arrangement!
The hallway of the sleeper train. Just big enough for one person to walk. You had to walk sideways to fit two.
Cismgu park...gorgeous. in which you can rent row boats for this little lake. It has tons of scenic places to sit. It is actually the park that Elder Ballard (I think) came with other officials to dedicate the country for missionary work in 1990 after the revolution in 1989. 
Me on a swing...I can't remember the last time I went on a swing...I think just under 2 years ago! The best part was that they were hard swings so they dont curve around your hips...not that this one hides them either. They also had a playground in another area with a race car..I took a picture as it made me think how much Spencer would love it.
These are homes in Bucharesti. There are "only" 11 floors because at the time that these were made, elevators only went up that high. I'm sure Ceaucescu would have made them higher if he could to leave more room for his buildings. He demolished several thousand historic churchs, buildings and homes to make his own "legacy".
The "House of the People"....basically the biggest reason why Ceaucescu starved and froze the people of Romania so he could build this and not go into debt. Thie biggest chandelier in one of the main halls weighs 5 tons. It was not finished before his death/execution by firing squad. As the guide said "it has everything Ceaucescu wanted except statues and pictures of him and his wife because we do not want to be reminded of that cult of personality"...a very tactful way of saying "we finished this but did not do it for him, nor to we respect him as a past leader.
After walking around the surrounding park looking for this for almost 2 hours, we gave up, and hopped into a taxi, only to find it was just to the left and hidden to the left of where we started from at the beginning. (the lake was massive and in 2 hours never made a full circle)But dang, indulging in American food more than I should have was totally worth it. Shirt: 69 Lei ($23), Dinner about 30 Lei ($10) Plus split dessert (yay for real ice cream and real, soft brownies): 11 LEI ($4)= a total of
110 LEI= $36 spent...impossible at a US Hard Rock Cafe. Our waiter was pretty dang cute too. Other girls have pictures of him with us. It was funny we'd start to speak English and realize he could understand what we were saying...oops!
I'd also like to add, including transportation, taxis, and hostel fees, food, suveniers, and a few museum entrance fees, I spent just under 600 Lei= $200. Can I say, once again how much I love Romania!?
1 comment:
Looks like a lot of fun.
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