Day 10 on June 12, meant the ending of our PASSAGE TO EASTERN EUROPE cruise with Viking...
So we left our luggage in the hallway early for being picked up and transported separately to our hotel. Great Viking service and they know how to handle all the details!
After our final breakfast, we left our Longboat Viking Lif and we got on the bus by 9:00.
So from our Port of Giurgiu, Romania we now would head some 60 km north to Bucharest by bus.
Giurgiu is on the River Danube and facing the Bulgarian city of Ruse where we were yesterday and only needed to cross the Danube for docking on the other side...
About one hour by bus away from Giurgiu, we came across this Saint Spyridon the New Church, Bucharest.
By passing by on the E70, we only got to see the actual back side! Click here: Saint Spyridon Church in Bucharest
Just click Saint Spyridon Church Bucharest to learn that it is actually the LARGEST CHURCH in the Romanian Capital at Unification Square! The Old Saint Spyridon Church is behind the United Nations Square...
Only about 15 minutes on our way, we crossed a river in the Ilfov County in which Bucharest the capital is also located.
Also after one hour driving time, we could catch a glimpse of the Palace of the Parliament, seen on the left of the 2 lanterns to the right, with fountains in front. Will show later more up close.
University Palace, on University Square, Bucharest
We even did pass by this Arch of Triumph in Bucharest, Romania!
On our way from this Arch of Triumph to Park King Michael I...
By 10:30 in the morning we reach this special Museum where they did bring Modest Rural Dwellings to this beautiful Park area for viewing...
It is a special outdoor Muzeul National Satului, also known as the Village Museum where they literally did bring together different dwellings from all regions into a kind of village.
Quite a task for relocating and reassembling them!
This is an old wooden Church that got relocated here inside Park King Michael I.
Rural home that is partly built inside the ground for insulation reason, also relocated to Park King Michael I.
Very old Chapel in Park King Michael I.
Even though we did have the BEST guide we had on our entire Viking cruise's bus tours, a very knowledgeable young man, that knew everything about history and told it as it was, I walked fast back to the bus...
Just before exiting through the building I came upon this local Romanian Egg Painting Artist as she got interviewed by TV.
What an ART and how much I'd love to buy some, however not a smart idea for traveling across the Atlantic Ocean with delicate eggs...
Instead of covering a wider area, I went back to my dear husband who had been oh so ill during the night. Running a fever, shaking and difficulty breathing with an acute bronchitis.
Pieter was far worse than I, and we both did not want to see a doctor in Bulgaria but instead make it out of the country as good as we could, by resting enough to regain some strength.
Such a trip is quite demanding for any nonagenarian...
Around 11:00 I got back to the bus where husband Pieter was taking a nap for regaining some strength for the next lengthy Old City Walk after lunch...
Yes, he wore his linen blend sweater, due to having had fever at night.
We did a lot of praying!
By noon we approach our destination Restaurant Pescarus for lunch!
All within this beautiful green Park King Michael I.
Pescarus Restaurant in Bucharest Romania, click through for more info.
Good to know that this is from 1939 and that they had quite some famous people visiting: King Juan Carlos from Spain; Shimon Peres the former President of Israel; great chess master Anatoly Karpov...
Our guide took lunch orders from each passenger in the bus, after naming giving us the choices.
He then informed via smart phone the restaurant so they could have it all ready upon arrival!
Really great organizing and good food.
From the ABOUT US we learned that they could seat 400 people inside and 600 in the summer in their garden!
The interior looked incredible and as husband Pieter remarked, glass hanging down from ceiling was very much resembling the blown glass from Murano, near Venice Italy!
No wonder: Pescarus by Twins Studio just click the link and here above you see the long rows of tables and the incredible glass hanging above. There was another long row behind the lamp to the left. This is from the second part of video.
During this lunch at "PESCARUS" Bucarest, we could enjoy local Romanian Musicians and a lively folkloric performance again. Just click on pink link.
Back on the bus by 13:30 and I had to capture this tower of Vodafone as it was our server in Romania! Yes, we had an International Travel Plan with our Verizon Server and it worked perfect in all 7 countries we went to.
By bus we did pass by the University Library with the equestrian statue of King Carol I.
Born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, was the monarch of Romania from 1866 to 1914.
Did sell once this vintage box with blazon of the Royal house of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in Romania before WWII.
Translates to: Nothing Without God
C.E.C. Palace from where we would begin our Old Town Bucharest walk...
This architectural gem: Bucharest Centennial The C.E.C. Palace, a landmark of the changing capital just click for more of its history and info about the now 101 year old building since July 4, 2019.
Our very knowledgeable and courteous guide, a tall slender young man, walked us now through Bucharest Old Town to this Stavropoleos Monastery.
Click to see more: The Church of Stavropoleos Monastery in Bucharest, Romania and its iconostasis.
We should have sat down here too, at this beautiful patio from The Church of Stavropoleos Monastery!
The National Bank of Romania The Old Palace now museum (WHY did I tilt my camera that way...?)
The Old Palace of the National Bank, considered "the most beautiful building in Bucharest" by architect Ion Mincu, impresses through its monumentality, regularity, distinction and size. The contrasting interior, with an "ample and spectacular configuration that is very well contained" (architect Nicolae Lascu), is suited to the esthetic and functional needs of a central bank at the end of the 19th century. It is the first important bank building in Bucharest, the most imposing building of a financial institution, which can be compared with other great constructions of the time in European capitals.
The National Bank of Romania The Old Palace now museum click for more info
Carturesti Carusel bookstore in 19th century building
Click to see more: Carturesti Carusel Bookstore
Dacia Palace what would become the Jewish Holocaust Museum...
Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust surviver who died on July 2, 2016 was also Romanian born.
By the way, Bucharest has its first female mayor: Gabriela Firera.
The C.E.C. Palace comes in view again and that's where we get back onto our bus.
Palace of the Parliament, mind you only part of its right sight!!!
The People's Salvation Cathedral an Eastern Orthodox Church
This is still under construction and will become the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
It is the tallest and largest Orthodox Church in the world by volume and the 3rd in the world by area.
The People's Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania - Tur virtual al Catedralei Mântuirii Neamului click link for a short video of how the end result of this Neo-Byzantine architecture will look like.
On November 24 of 2018, they did already the very solemn lengthy rituals The People's Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania Sanctification - Sfințirea Catedralei Mântuirii Neamului Romania
We walked here and I tried hard for capturing this HUGE Palace of Parliament without having all the cars below that are parked there... I had to crop it.
To the left, you still see the main tower of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Ceausescu's expansive Palace of Parliament is the largest civilian building in the world, with 3,000 rooms and 24-carat gold ceilings.
So that was our day, filled with very impressive and unique architecture.
By 16:15 the bus dropped us off at the luxurious Radisson BLU Hotel, where we took a good rest as this was a long day, especially for Pieter who was not in the best condition.
Our short Relive.cc video: By bus from Giurgiu to Bucharest, Romania + walk
Short Relive.cc video: Walk in Bucharest Romania, Old Center
Thank you for your visit and comment!
So we left our luggage in the hallway early for being picked up and transported separately to our hotel. Great Viking service and they know how to handle all the details!
After our final breakfast, we left our Longboat Viking Lif and we got on the bus by 9:00.
So from our Port of Giurgiu, Romania we now would head some 60 km north to Bucharest by bus.
Giurgiu is on the River Danube and facing the Bulgarian city of Ruse where we were yesterday and only needed to cross the Danube for docking on the other side...
It is a special outdoor Muzeul National Satului, also known as the Village Museum where they literally did bring together different dwellings from all regions into a kind of village.
Quite a task for relocating and reassembling them!
Just before exiting through the building I came upon this local Romanian Egg Painting Artist as she got interviewed by TV.
What an ART and how much I'd love to buy some, however not a smart idea for traveling across the Atlantic Ocean with delicate eggs...
Pieter was far worse than I, and we both did not want to see a doctor in Bulgaria but instead make it out of the country as good as we could, by resting enough to regain some strength.
Such a trip is quite demanding for any nonagenarian...
Yes, he wore his linen blend sweater, due to having had fever at night.
We did a lot of praying!
All within this beautiful green Park King Michael I.
Good to know that this is from 1939 and that they had quite some famous people visiting: King Juan Carlos from Spain; Shimon Peres the former President of Israel; great chess master Anatoly Karpov...
Our guide took lunch orders from each passenger in the bus, after naming giving us the choices.
He then informed via smart phone the restaurant so they could have it all ready upon arrival!
Really great organizing and good food.
The interior looked incredible and as husband Pieter remarked, glass hanging down from ceiling was very much resembling the blown glass from Murano, near Venice Italy!
No wonder: Pescarus by Twins Studio just click the link and here above you see the long rows of tables and the incredible glass hanging above. There was another long row behind the lamp to the left. This is from the second part of video.
Born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, was the monarch of Romania from 1866 to 1914.
In Latin 'NIHIL SINE DEO' and translated into Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEZEU'.
Pronounced in old Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'.Translates to: Nothing Without God
From the bus taken as we passed to park nearby.
Look at the weather on our final day...!
C.E.C. Palace of Bucharest
Feeling very happy for having arrived in the country whose language I understand, as we lived and worked in Italy, near Venice for about one year and I often watched the Romanian TV.
Did mention that in earlier writing... see link below post.
The Old Palace of the National Bank, considered "the most beautiful building in Bucharest" by architect Ion Mincu, impresses through its monumentality, regularity, distinction and size. The contrasting interior, with an "ample and spectacular configuration that is very well contained" (architect Nicolae Lascu), is suited to the esthetic and functional needs of a central bank at the end of the 19th century. It is the first important bank building in Bucharest, the most imposing building of a financial institution, which can be compared with other great constructions of the time in European capitals.
Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust surviver who died on July 2, 2016 was also Romanian born.
By the way, Bucharest has its first female mayor: Gabriela Firera.
The C.E.C. Palace comes in view again and that's where we get back onto our bus.
This is still under construction and will become the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
It is the tallest and largest Orthodox Church in the world by volume and the 3rd in the world by area.
To the left, you still see the main tower of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Ceausescu's expansive Palace of Parliament is the largest civilian building in the world, with 3,000 rooms and 24-carat gold ceilings.
So that was our day, filled with very impressive and unique architecture.
By 16:15 the bus dropped us off at the luxurious Radisson BLU Hotel, where we took a good rest as this was a long day, especially for Pieter who was not in the best condition.
Relive 'By bus from Giurgiu to Bucharest, Romania + walk'
Thank you for your visit and comment!
Related links:
Our Historic Christmas in Italy - END of Romania's Communist Dictator | previous post by me
Our Historic Christmas in Italy - END of Romania's Communist Dictator | previous post by me
{Romanian box with Royal Blazon: Nothing Without God} | previous post by me
Day 9, Russe, Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi, Bulgaria | previous post
Day 8, Bulgarian Danube and Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress | previous post
Day 7, Serbian Danube with Golubac Fortress & Djerdap Gorge to Iron Gates | previous post
Day 6, Panoramic Belgrade, Serbia | previous post
Day 5, from Vukovar to Osijek, Croatia | previous post
Day 4, Kalocsa Baroque Cathedral with Organ Music and Puszta | previous post
Day 3 Departure from Budapest on Viking Lif | previous post
Day 2 Passage to Eastern Europe - Panoramic Budapest | previous post
My 3rd Trip with Husband Pieter to Hungary with stay at Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest | previous post
Day 9, Russe, Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi, Bulgaria | previous post
Day 8, Bulgarian Danube and Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress | previous post
Day 7, Serbian Danube with Golubac Fortress & Djerdap Gorge to Iron Gates | previous post
Day 6, Panoramic Belgrade, Serbia | previous post
Day 5, from Vukovar to Osijek, Croatia | previous post
Day 4, Kalocsa Baroque Cathedral with Organ Music and Puszta | previous post
Day 3 Departure from Budapest on Viking Lif | previous post
Day 2 Passage to Eastern Europe - Panoramic Budapest | previous post
My 3rd Trip with Husband Pieter to Hungary with stay at Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest | previous post
Mariette piękna wycieczka. Mały przewodnik po tym co zwiedzaliscie. Dziękuję miło się czytało i oglądało. Pozdrawiam serdecznie
ReplyDeleteDrodzy Małgorzata,
DeleteDziękuję i to była moja przyjemność pracy to.
Miłej pamięci dla obu z nas, aby wrócić do często przez czytanie i oglądanie.
Uściski
Mariette
Imagens com história. Cumprimentos.
ReplyDeleteQuerida Sandra,
DeleteOh, a história pura e nós amamos, também a cultura rica e sólida religião nessa parte!
Abraços
Mariette
Always ... your photos and commentary are fascinating. I must say when you leave comments for me, they are like poetry ... lyrical and so full of insight.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Helen
Dearest Helen,
DeleteThank you, that is a compliment as I'm doing it not in my mother tongue...
Loved Bucharest, so much history and beautiful architecture and so happy those people are now free from Communism.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - I love the old wooden church. It reminds me of the stave churches that I have seen in Norwaym and that old rural home is certainly environmently friends having been made with all natural products.
ReplyDeleteBut, poor Pieter, I am sure that you must have felt very anxious about him. When we get older travel does appear to take more of a toll,and we pick up infection more easily. I think that this particularly applies whilst travelling on coaches and planes where the air circulates continuously through our fellow travellers.
Hope Pieter didn't suffer too much on the long journey home and soon recovered.
Dearest Rosemary,
DeleteYes, I do recall those stave Churches as seen on photos from Norway as I've never been there myself.
It is always good to know that people figured out as good as they could back then, how to live environmentally well protected by using materials available to them at the time. Now we do things like that to save energy...
Oh, at that moment, it were trying days I can tell you. Pieter made it safe back to The Netherlands and rested a lot and regained enough strength for making it home. Back here with the help of antibiotics he got soon over it completely. Far better than I did, my voice is still not normal and I have still issues with sore throat and having to clear it. But no doubt, with some more time that will go away!
Hugs,
Mariette
What beauties you have presented here Mariette! Wish I had been able to go there when I was in Europe and other areas but they were not on the list of places we could go without a problem.
ReplyDeleteDearest Katie Isabella,
DeleteYes, Bucharest was another highlight of the entire trip. Incredible architecture and so happy to see this area thriving well. Still lots of poverty in the country and young people leaving for looking elsewhere in Europe for better paid jobs. They have a long way to go still but they are FREE.
Wish that you would have had the chance to go there while you were abroad...
Hugs,
Mariette
You are so fortunate being able to travel and see so much of our world. Where the rest of us can only dream of such places. Thanks so much taking a minute from travels to drop by blog. Always such a joy when you do. Be careful.
ReplyDeleteDearest LV.,
DeleteWe are not traveling at the moment but as usual, I always write my blogposts later!
A pleasure for dropping by your blog.
Hugs and happy weekend,
Mariette
Such an interesting post. I adore river cruises. Interesting my friend here just returned from a Viking Cruise and has been sick with pneumonia.....Your pictures are lovely.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteThank you and yes, as much as we enjoyed this cruise it seems to be rather risky for getting an infection with so many people on board and also in the air plane traveling to the destination.
Hugs,
Mariette
So many beautiful sceneries and buildings. I love the wooden church and rural home. They are quite eye-catching! Carturesti Carusel bookstore...is it a bookstore? It's huge! Looks very pleasant space and it must be book lovers' heaven :-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, Bucharest is another treasure in architecture and it is great that they did preserve all its building styles in that museum; worthwhile for future generations to see.
Indeed, Carturesti Carusel IS a giant bookstore; a paradise for any reader!
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh dit is een stad die ik ook nog eens wil zien, wat mooi!!!... En dat Murano glas, de Italianen hebben o.a. hun fabrieken daar in Roemenië staan. Wij hebben eens een Roemeense werknemer gehad, wiens vrouw dus in zo'n glasfabriek werkte voor een Italiaans bedrijf. Daar maakten ze o.a.ook sierraden van Murano glas. Dat vertelde hij me tenminste, of het waar is weet ik niet, maar zou best kunnen, is een lage lonen land natuurlijk. Ook bekende merken spijkerbroeken werden/worden er gemaakt.
ReplyDeleteBeste Marian,
DeleteJa, ook wij beiden waren stomverbaasd over zó'n prachtige architectuur! Bijna net zo mooi als Budapest eigenlijk.
De wereld weet nog echt te weinig van Roemenië; jámmer!
Het lijkt echt identiek aan Murano glas niet waar? Ja, vanwege de enorme verschillen qua lonen, kunnen ze nog wel concurreren met de rest van Europa. Zou best mogelijk zijn dat ook Italiaanse bedrijven er snel ingedoken zijn om het daar tegen een betere concurrerende prijs te produceren.
Qua kleding is Oost Europa al langer in de markt en eind 90er jaren had ik al mooie Escada spullen die daar ergens gemaakt werden. En waarom ook niet? Het gaat over het vakmanschap en de kwaliteit.
Liefs,
Mariette