Looking somewhere new to go to after a trip to Burgundy in June.
I see there is a direct flight from Lyon to Bucharest?
What is it like? Worth the 3 hr flight?
Used to go a lot for work between 2005 and 2015 - it’s changed tremendously in that time. Along the main streets you’ll find the old Soviet block concrete apartment buildings that make you suicidal, but just a few streets in is the old Bucharest still with some amazing patrician Art Nouveau villas. They used to call it “the Paris of the East”.
One of my biggest regrets was in the early 2000’s shooting in one of these dilapidated massive villas for some commercial and it was for sale for some ridiculously low amount. I remember thinking “this would be a killer boutique hotel”. Suffice to say, none of those big villas are cheap anymore.
It’s a cool city, I quite like it. But it’s Eastern Europe still, so mentally and emotionally prepare.
Thanks.
Are you saying the culture is the post Communist carry over gloom I experienced in Prague?
Yes, exactly. It’s hard to pinpoint what it is, but it’s a general unhappiness. Mostly visible in service - they just don’t seem happy to be there in the store, restaurant etc.
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Interesting. Wonder why. Maybe cultural and nothing to do with post Communism.
Thats why I prefer the smaller cities in italy . They love life.
I think it’s a cultural thing as well, and not only in Romania, CEE thing.
I haven’t been there in a long while now but used to travel for work quite frequently (with some travels in the country). It’s a nice quite interesting place but for me personally I can think of many other cities I’d rather spend time in as a tourist.
I would highly recommend Bucharest and the surrounding countryside to visit. The castles are simply spectacular. It is still a very affordable place to visit.
As for unhappiness, it hasn’t been my experience. I find Romanian people warm and jovial, they speak a Romance language. Economically Romania has one of the fastest growing economies in E Europe, especially since joining the EU. Sure they face corruption challenges. There’s a huge difference from 2014 vs now. There are always tourists in the city. There are food delivery scooters all over and Uber also. Many younger Romanians are choosing to stay and older Romanians that fled the regime now say they would’ve stayed if life was like it is now.
I also love the food, it is a real melting pot of cuisines.