Bucharest “the little Paris” of Eastern Europe!? Really?
So many cafes and restaurants with similar names… “little paris”, “Paris bistro”… and i didn’t understand why? It seemed strange to me, because Bucharest is absolutely no Paris! I was trying to observe the french influence in the architecure, but unfortnately i didn’t make it.
The capital of Romania took the nick name “little Paris” between World War 1 and World War 2, because of the city’s elegant architecture. Nowdays the historical city centre was listed as “endangered” by the World Monuments Watch. Bucharest, especially in the southern part of the city has no sufficient green space, because of high density block of flats. Although has also many parks , as Herăstrău Park and Carol Park.
I have been in Bucharest before three weeks with my friends and though we stayed only for 3 days, we had enough time to relax and enjoy our stay. The capital of Romania has lots of neo-baroque and neo-Romanesque buldings throughout the city and many landmark monuments. Stavroupoleos monastery is one of them, the orthodox church with great architectural value. The church was built in 1724 and is dedicated to archangel michael and gabriel. The name of the church is a rendition of the Greek word stauropolis. The wall paintings and the old icons dominate the atmosphere.
The most prominent of these landmark buildings is the ashtonishing palace of Parliament, which is the second largest administrative building in the world after Pentagon. Built in the 1980s during the reign of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. It was constructed almost entirely of materials of Romanian origin. Building costs were estimated at €3 billion and it covers an area of 365,000 m2.
Other places to visit in Bucharest: Revolution square, the Triumph Arch, the village museum, the Romanian Atheneum and of course the Herăstrău Park . The last one is really lovely in spring or summer period because you can walk along the flowering trees and see lots of people take a walk, cycling or have a picknick.
Within Bucharest, walking is the easiest way to get around the old city, but you can also use the metro, which is also reasonably good.
BUCHAREST’S NIGHTLIFE
To tell you the truth Bucharest did not impressed me a lot, but i have to admit that the nightlife is one of its main attractions. Old center bars and clubs give a wide range of choices. Bucharest is not an expensive country. The prices are low and cheap, although you have to make reservations! So book your table in advance in restaurants, bars and clubs!
Where to eat:
Nightlife:
Have fun and dont forget that “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.”
Tim Cahill
