Anyone ever been to Bucharest (Romania)?

[katherine2473]

It's a Romance language so if you have some French, Italian, Spanish (or even some Latin) you'll probably understand more than you think! Most people will speak English in Bucharest - it's pretty western these days.
But if you want to be polite, then thank you is (phonetically) 'mult-su-mesc'!

[oppita]

Ouch...
jeeee I´ve been so busy last days, that I almost didn´t had any time to read anything here...

Here comes my 2 cents Kristie:
I went to a small city north of Bucharest, my only experience of the capital was the airport:-)
International terminal is under construction, beverages, coffees, food is reaaaallly expensive in the airport...I felt like robbed when they asked 5 Euro for one espresso cofee..., ( in Madrid I pay around 1,50 ).

What didn´t work out so well for me was the hotel part... In the city I went ( called Targoviste- 60 000 inhabitants ), there were only 2 hotels..one 3 star and the second one 2 stars...so we went for the 3star..no airconditioning, 35 degrees in the air...and the worsest of the fears I have..the cockroaches....my sleep for the rest of the trip were just gone!! I freaked out, ( I know...I´m bigger..there is no way that they can do anything to me), called home....cried during long distance call..and than I did some woodoo with lemons...( seems like the small creaps don´t like the smell of it)... I couldn´t change the hotel..because the other one was even worse...so I had no choice..

I don´t think though, that this will happen in hotel where international crew stays..so I´m pretty sure you won´t have this trouble :-)

Well, but I´m getting of the topic..People all around are really nice...many of them speak english, even in restaurants they had menus in english...and this in really small city..you will manage just nice with english.
Try sarmale, cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, meat and herbs usually served with sour cream and with mamaliga, a cornmeal similar to polenta...really tasty!
Wine is not to recomend..but local beer (brand URSUS) is suberb!

Traffic...drivers are crazy...at least the one who picked me up...and I kept telling him all the way that he is not going airborne because the car is not equiped with the wings!! Somehow...they managed to avoid collisions..


Money- important thing..Most of the places you can pay with credit car, but some cash is always nice to have, tipping is around 5 % of the note. If you can avoid it, don´t change the money at the airport ( 1 Euro = 3 Lei, 1 $ =2,27 Lei) You can get a better deal in the bank office..Bottle of Beer costs around 3,5 - 5 Lei...
For the safety reason , I would leave the passport in the safe in hotel.

And finally....have a great time Kristie!

[roz]

Originally Posted by Kristie

Well, it looks like i'm going to be able to make the Bucharest trip this week...only problem, i have to get to NYC a day early, so i'll be taking the redeye flight tomorrow night.. staying in the airport till doug gets back to the states and then hitting up the Sunrise with him for the night/day wednesday.

I know the Sunrise is on Long Island...is there anything we can do around that location and/or is there an easy way to get to downtown NYC? I've never been... so it'd be neat to be able to see some of the city while there.

You don't say where the Sunrise is so I can't help you (Long Island's a long island!).

You can get to Manhattan two inexpensive ways:

1. train

Airtrain JFK - Information on Public Transit from JFK to Manhattan via Subway and Airtrain

About.com: http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

2 or the bus:

About.com: http://www.nyairportservice.com/

Oh, and New Yorkers refer to Manhattan as "The City". The other four boroughs are referred to by their name! It used to be pretty insulting seeing signs pointing to the Long Island Expressway West as "To the City". Both airports are actually in Queens.

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by roz

You don't say where the Sunrise is so I can't help you (Long Island's a long island!).

OH! well, that just goes to show just how MUCH i know about that area.. hahaha

I guess it's near Rockville Center?! I have no clue where *that* is.. haha

cockroaches... yikes!! i can STOMP them with my foot.. yes...or i'll have doug stomp them

Thanks for the tips!!

[roz]

Rockville Centre is, well, on Long Island. RVCNY.US - Village of Rockville Centre, N.Y.

If you're spending the day and want to sightsee, I'd go into Manhattan. Of course, that's assuming there's a place to store your bag. And if you get to the shops at Columbus Circle, you can stop in at Torneau and say hi to my sister, Carol!

[Amanda]

Kristie- One of these days I hope you find yourself in NY on a weekend so I can meet you there! I hope your trip goes well!

[Kristie]

oh, that'll happen.. don't you worry...i'd like to spend a full weekend here grabbing up all the hoopla.

so far, the first flight went great...i wasn't supposed to get first class as coach was wide open with 61 seats (the reason i left a day early)....but i actually got first class! now, went used the crown room for a while (get my money out of it), then went to the commuter hotel doug said he made reservations for (not!)...got a room luckily...after taken a nap in doug's hotel room... i'm ready for a quick tour..just have to wait for his butt to get in here! so far, they're on final approach.

speaking of crown rooms (not to get too off topic), but they should create these things at a location where you can watch takeoff/landings....

[Kristie]

well, things are going really good on this end. looks like a biz elite trip on an s3 priority even!! YAY!! we'll take photos and all and i'll get a trip report up when i get home.

timing, can be everything...even if i did have to take an extra day off of work.

[roz]

Have FUN! And I hope you got to see a bit more of NY than Rockville Centre! As a native New Yorker, I would be insulted if you didn't check out at least one sight since you were there for parts of two days!

[roz]

So, I hope you made it back and hope you had a great time. It's been typical JFK delays due to weather lately. Fortunately DH flies into ACY and got home on while PHL, EWR, LGA and JFK were cancelling/delaying like crazy so we could spend a beautiful weekend in Cape May.