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Abroad, Romania

Wanderers in Bucharest

posted by Dario
Jul 10, 2018 1377 0 0
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Past through the present’s lenses

I am a true wanderer on this Earth but it is good that there is someone who listens to me and is keen to take impulsive trips with me abroad. That was the case of this journey that I am now sharing with. Everything came from the fact that during the month of May there were a few non – working days around my birthday and there was simply no better chance to take a longer journey, far from Sofia and Bulgaria.

So I found myself in the capital of our northern neighbor – Romania, namely Bucharest. So many things I had heard of this city, positive and negative, that it was time to go and feel the city myself. So I spent four interesting days in the Romanian capital.

The purpose of the first publication for Bucharest is to show you the city and try to introduce you the feeling of a pedestrian who wanders and enjoys the architectural and cultural diversity that Romania provides. I will show you what impressed me and how I saw things while just walking. Numerous monuments, the most photogenic place, and of course the biggest painful pride of the capital.

We arrived late in Bucharest after a six-hour bus trip Sofia – Bucharest. We headed to the place where we stayed, in order to leave our luggage and, of course, we fled to the Romanian boulevards and streets to explore.

Table of Contents

  • Palatul Parlamentului (Casa Republicii – Casa Poporului)
  • Teatrul Național „Ion Luca Caragiale”
  • Present past
  • Arch of Triumph

Palatul Parlamentului (Casa Republicii – Casa Poporului)

Do not doubt that our first stop was the building that everyone had heard of or seen, and my curiosity was eager to see it live at last. The Parliament Building of Romania, the second largest administrative building in the world! We all enjoy it and sigh at it like tourists and we are impressed by its size but only the Romanians know and remember the dark story that stands behind it.

The parliament was built under the rule of the communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. As you might guess, colossal amount of money has been spent on building it, as well as many people being forced to participate in its construction, mostly opponents to the regime and prisoners. That is why, to this day, it is a painful pride because, even if the Romanians glorify it, the building remains an eternal thorn in their eyes.

As a lover of the various perspectives that every day provides, I was able to capture the Parliament at different times of the day to enjoy this world heritage for human history.

Curious facts:
After the fall of the communist regime in the state, it was thought that the people would get rid of the parliament building, which reminded of the regime’s darkest moments. But after serious reflections and calculations it turned out that it will take more money to detonate it up and destroy it rather than to finish it which has left them no choice.
Parliament’s building in figures amounts to: 270 m long, 240 m wide, 86 m tall and 92 m under ground. There are 12 ground levels and 8 underground. The rooms are 1100, with 440 offices, 30 conference rooms, 4 restaurants, 3 libraries and a concert hall.

This is just a superficial observation of the building and we did not visit it from the inside, because it is necessary to make a reservation in advance because it is only opened at certain hours and for groups with a certain number of people. More information and tickets booking you can find here.

Teatrul Național „Ion Luca Caragiale”

Continuing with the next day’s walk, along the hidden city corners, I found myself in front of perhaps my favorite place in Bucharest – the National Theater Ion Luca Karadjalle. Here, I found one of the most interesting and impressive scenes played by statues-artists but I leave with the pictures in order to get a better impression.

Ion Luca Caragiale is a playwrighter and poet

Present past

Like every big city Bucharest has an extremely busy everyday life that coincides with typical urban moods, big congestions, it even makes me feel that there is a much larger number of cars than people in this city and there is no emphasis on green spaces. The thing that attracted my attention the most were the knots of cables hanging around everywhere due to poorly organized infrastructure.

Apart from seeing the many statues scattered throughout the city the communist unrest can still be felt and seen on the buildings and in the appearance of the city. The straight and boring buildings, typical of this style, have become an irreplaceable part of the city’s sights.

As we strolled in the center, I forgot that there is one of those places that look like a fairy tale, the most photogenic place in the city. The corridor of many colorful umbrellas, which I have no idea why are there, but I can say that the installation is brilliant and attracts the attention of every city visitor.

Arch of Triumph

For conclusion, to me the most impressive monument in Bucharest is the triumphal arch (as other European cities). It is not a secret that during communist rule they tried to plan Bucharest similar to Paris, so today it is often called “Little Paris” or “Paris of the East”. The first arch was made of wood to commemorate the announcement of Romania’s independence in 1878. During celebrations the victorious troops marched under it. Then another temporary arch was built in 1922, after the First World War which was destroyed in 1935. The present triumphal arch was opened in September 1936 and is over 27 m tall.

Bonus: During my stay in Bucharest I had the opportunity to visit an incredible place that made my day – Cat Cafe Miau. A place where you can have a nice cup of coffee or fresh juice in the company of playful cats who will be curious to hang out with you. This is one of those experiences that you will definitely remember forever.

Useful information:
Tickets for the public transport:
A ticket that you buy in the subway can be used twice (and, importantly, the ticket is inserted with the opposite of the ticket arrow, there is no logical explanation for this manner);
Buying a bus ticket: You need to purchase a card that loads with as many bus tickets as you want;
In Romania prices are a bit higher than Bulgaria;
Most people do not know English unless you are in the historical center or talk to young people;
The city is big and get ready to go a long way if you enjoy walking around;

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Travel Blogger

Dario Dionisi



If you want to know something more about me – my soul is a traveler, my origin is Italian and my true essence is a faithful friend. I am always open to new ideas and will be very happy if you want to contact me at dario@beyondsofia.com

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Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Costa Rica! 🇨🇷

To many, Costa Rica’s charm lies in its lush rainforests, unspoiled beaches and abundance of wildlife. With breathtaking landscapes and a myriad of creatures – from toucans to monkeys to jaguars – it’s easy to see why. 

Where else can you hike active volcanoes, zip line through cloud-covered rainforests and surf warm turquoise waters within the span of just a few days? In this compact but diverse tropical paradise, exhilarating outdoor activities are abundant. 

Nature-seekers will roam thick jungles while beachgoers will sprawl across the powdery sands. It’s hard not to admire all the splendors this “Rich Coast” has to offer.

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Heading to the next stage of life ~ Since soon I Heading to the next stage of life ~

Since soon I will celebrate my 30th birthday, I’ve been reflecting back to the person I was when I entered my twenties, and while I still feel young at heart, I’ve evolved into a completely different person.

I must confess, I have mixed feelings about turning 30. While I cherish the memories and experiences I have gathered during this time, I have also however, had my share of setbacks. The most important aspect that has inspired me are the experiences that I have gathered during my travels. Meeting new people, understanding their culture and trying new cuisines have changed my perspective towards life in general. While I am still a child somewhere in my heart, turning 30 is a big deal because it is assumed that I am an adult now.

Here are my 30 most precious travel experiences before turning 30:

1. Exploring my home country.
2. Travelling solo.
3. Supporting small local businesses and entrepreneurs.
4. Learning a foreign language.
5. Saving money for traveling.
6. Making friends while traveling.
7. Cooking traditional dishes.
8. Trying traditional food everywhere I go.
9. Overcoming my fear.
10. Trying something new.
11. Travelling with family.
12. Travelling with friends.
13. Travelling for myself and not social media.
14. Going out my comfort zone -  uncomfortable makes life more comfortable.
15. Living in a foreign country.
16. Packing like a pro.
17. Visiting my (some of) dream destinations.
18. Falling in love in a foreign country.
19. Blending in with different cultures.
20. Taking a piece of every place with me.
21. Learning to say no (in different languages).
22. Learning to take decent pictures.
23. Documenting my trips.
24. Valuing experiences.
25. Making memories.
26. Rediscovering my favourite places.
27. Planning elaborate itineraries
28. Keeping it positive and never regretting to have climbed that mountain.
29. Some people around the world are born disadvantaged, not biologically, but socially.
30. Realising that the most incredible thing I can witness happens twice a day, and it’s free.

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Your positive friendly reminder… Travel is, at Your positive friendly reminder…

Travel is, at its very essence, a tool – nothing more… nothing less. Broken down to its very essence, it becomes an instrument to fulfil our desires, attain new experiences and to discover a difference that is at least a step away from our local surroundings.

One thing that we can often forget is that travel also has the added benefit of helping us build a pretty solid amount of confidence too, something that we all stand to benefit from in the long-term, in our own personal development.

Follow this 5 simple steps and enjoy the best ways to develop your confidence, which can be learned whilst travelling:

✅ Be positive
✅ Embrace strengths
✅ Acknowledge weakness
✅ Listen to your head and heart
✅ Be an assertive traveller

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The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like Ha The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like

Have you ever wondered what it is really like to travel often? Living the life of a traveler is full of paradoxes. Full of strange feelings. Full of grandiosity. Let me tell you what traveling is really like.

Choosing this life is more than a temporary escape. It will completely and entirely transform who you are.

So are you prepared for a journey of beauty, adventure and heartbreak? Read the next few rows.

✔️ Traveling is saying yes to life.
✔️ Uncertainty is a traveler’s homeland.
✔️ Traveling is a life of extremes.
✔️ About the unknown driving force.
✔️ Discomfort as a teacher.
✔️ Traveling is falling in love deeply with the world.
✔️ Always a stranger, but at home in the world.
✔️ Experiencing exhilarating freedom.
✔️ Understanding different perspectives.
✔️ In the life of a traveler, nothing lasts.
✔️ Travel teaches you everything.

This is what the life of a traveler is like: Be courageous. Follow the calling of your heart. It will lead you to a million places you would have never expected. And you will grow big. You will grow beautiful. You will grow so full of life it will make your heart burst with happiness. Some of us simply belong to the road.

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Dive in the magnificent atmosphere of Segovia and Salamanca - two unique, original and beautiful cities 🌆
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Dear Portugal, I would never have pointed to a ma Dear Portugal,

I would never have pointed to a map and picked you. I wasn’t sure we would even like each other. I came with only a few belongings and even fewer expectations. But I had the desire to get to know you and see if I would stay. And like two people making an acquaintance at a dinner party, we searched for commonalities: exploring, an insatiable appetite for rice and seafood, a bond to the earth and the sea.

At first I fell for the little things. The promise of discovering new things every single day. That dazed feeling after a few glasses of fruity vinho verde. The melancholy while listening to Fado music. The rissois, natas and feijoada, the melt-in-your-mouth queijo fresco, delectable sardinha and unforgettable bacalhau. And surprisingly, even lamprey and percebe.

I loved the quiet irony of your lavish, impressive buildings next to your ancient, dilapidated houses. I even adored your temperamental weather, sunny in the morning and sometimes tempestuous in the afternoon.

And I loved your people. The grandmas dressed in black with their soft faces and culinary secrets. The fishermen with their old fashioned hats. The shopkeepers who actually mean it when they say “obrigada.”

And then I began to love you for your words, and the new feelings they gave name to.  For that elusive feeling of saudade –– untranslatable but described so accurately by the Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo: “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.” Or the chamego — the sense of intimacy, infatuation, and cuddling, all in one word.

Of course, there are things about you that I will probably never understand. You’re an old soul and I’m too juvenile. I’m impulsive whereas you are cautious and pensive. I have this incessant desire to be happy, but you have this habit of enjoying being triste.

But I’ve lived many lives in different parts of the world, I’ve been running around, not caring where I rest my head, not knowing where I’d end up. Perhaps I met you, Portugal, because something inside me had really been crying out for stillness, for a safe haven where I could finally become myself.

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#Jordan #album #Asia
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