I will try to keep this post a little more brief and the let pictures speak for themselves. So this is the phase of the trip where I am basically hanging out in Bucharest for a few days waiting for the arrival of the biking posse.

Sidenote, while in Bucharest I was able to see the Spain versus USA world cup match, was fantastic!

At first I admit to a little bit of boredom here, in the sense I feel like on some days you can only walk around for hours and look at all the old stuff so much. As I’ve spent so much time on this trip solo, I’m getting a little bit tired of hanging out with myself and me. However after I did a free walking tour here, I was much more able to understand the very interesting history of the city and why the architecture is such a mish mash of different styles.

In old cities like this that have buildings dating all the way back to the first world war and beyond; some bombed in the second world war, then some rebuilt, some remain; then many demolished and rebuilt in the boring communist style during those decades; it’s easy to see why in the older parts of town you see such a mixture.

One interesting fact is the hotel that I am staying in, the Novotel, was 18 years ago built on the site of an old opera house that was bombed and destroyed in World War II. The building right next to it, which is an American designed building pre-World War II monolith with the littlest bits of art deco features, was the actual target of the bombing. It was used as a communications and broadcasting center as it was one of the tallest buildings in this area. That building still stands unscathed. On the site of the Novotel now is a strange re-creation of the very front facade of the original opera house, with a mirrored glass modern building directly behind it. Again, a very strange mix of architectural styles.

Remaining history during World War II was pretty interesting as they sided with the Germans for the first part of the war and therefore were bombed by the allies. Then at some point when it became clear that Germany was losing the war, they switched sides and aligned with the allies, then were bombed by the the Germans.

Sidenote! When Michael Jackson visited many years ago, he spoke very briefly from the balcony of the parliament building. The parliament building, the second largest administrative building in the world, (Pentagon #1) and also the heaviest single building in the world, was ordered to be built by Ceausescu. He was executed before it was finished, and much dispute about whether to finish it or not, but they finally did mostly. Anyway concerts are held on the exterior plaza of that building now. Ed Sheeran will be here in about a week. When Michael Jackson visited, the only thing he said was Hello Budapest! So I guess the joke is that Bucharest and Budapest are somewhat commonly confused.

Kris and Herb got into town, I suggested we do the same walking tour I did the other night and joined them for that, it was the same guide. I was hesitant to do the tour a second time but glad I did as there was lots of different information from the first time and a slightly different route. She was great and so informative about the history of Bucharest. We met a guy from Reno in that group that told us about a lighted water fountain show that happens on the weekends, so after the tour we walked up and found that. It’s almost like a live rock concert, loud good music all around the square with wonderful rhythmic lighted fountain show all around you. Sort of in the ballpark of the Bellaggio fountain show if you’ve seen that.

The guy we met Corey, we saw him up at the fountains again by chance and so went out and had a drink after. He had a pretty interesting story, an IT guy and in his late 30s decided if he was ever going to travel, he better do it now, so he’s been on the road for a couple of years already. (Now in early 40s, it was interesting to hear him say about how important it is to get out and do the things you want to do in your life because you never know how long you’re going to live. Funny hearing that from a 40 something while I’m in my 60s!) He’s traveled extensively throughout the world, generally staying in hostels or low-budget places. Super nice guy.

Part of the conversation over drinks was about his seven years attendance of Burning Man. He’s now connected to a group of people who do giant art installations sometimes for a year in advance of the actual Burning Man event and then reassemble their work on the playa. Re-inspired me to try to go to that sometime. I think I’ve always been hesitant to go because of the perception of expectation that you be a participant or perhaps a contributor of weirdness to the event. But he suggested if you just go with the idea of being a participant, there are many opportunities to participate in a variety of events once there, that you don’t need to have some pre-planned connection with a group or team of any sort.

Shook hands as the night ended even though the old town was just coming to life with people around midnight. Chris and I would have brought the age demographic up quite a bit had we stayed. But it was time to call it a night and got back to the hotel for a good sleep. Chris was a real trooper staying up through his jet lag, but that’s the best way to do it. Herb had returned to his hotel earlier. So now another sunny day here, awaiting the arrival of Orlin at about 1 PM where we will collect ourselves, then go to the airport and pick up Paul and transfer two hours to the Transylvania town of Senaia. That’s also the location of the summer home of the late Nikolai and Elaine Ceausescu which we will see.

Tomorrow we will finally be on the bikes again for the next eight or nine days traveling around the Transylvania region, seeing villages and castles and no doubt the infamous castle of Vlad Dracula. Weather forecast is good and high 80s, so perfect riding weather!