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Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings and
a reputation for the high life, Bucharest - Romania's capital was once known as the "Little Paris."
Romanian legend
has it that the city of Bucharest was founded by a shepherd named "Bucur", whose name means "joy". His flute playing reportedly
dazzled the locals and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.
Remodeled,
in the late 19th century, by French and French-trained architects Bucharest even features a Triumphal Arch on the elegant
Soseaua Kiseleff, a boulevard longer that Paris' famed Champs-Elysees.
Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan
days. Many years after the overthrown of the communist regime, the "House of the People" — the world's second largest
building after the US Pentagon — reminds Romanians of the communist years. Only Romanian materials and products were
used — local marble, cherry and walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, specially commissioned hand-woven tapestries,
carpets and draperies — to build what supposed to be the headquarters of Romania's last communist leader. Now renamed
the Palace of Parliament, this magnificent building of 1,000 rooms reflects the work of the country's best architects and
artisans.
Today, Bucharest — the capital and largest city of Romania — is experiencing
renewed vigor. The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by: the old Romanian aristocracy educated
in France, the German King Carol I, and the communist society.
Museums
The
National Art Museum in Bucharest offers a collection of 70,000 works divided into two major sections. Its "National Gallery"
features the work of major Romanian artists, including Brancusi, Grigorescu, Amman and Andrescu, while its "World Gallery"
presents works by Western masters such as Rembrandt, Rubens, El Greco, Renoir and Cezanne.
Bucharest's Village Museum
of Folk Art, about one square mile in size, is a fascinating outdoor museum that displays more than 300 wooden and stone buildings
that reflect the history and diversity of Romania's rural architecture and design from all regions of the country.
The
History Museum of Romania, housed in what was once Bucharest's main post office, presents a collection of artifacts adn jewelry
that date from prehistoric to modern times.
Among other noteworthy museums in Bucharest are the Romanian Peasant Museum,
with its collection of folkloric agricultural tools, household appliances, fabrics and apparel, The Museum of Art Collections,
which presents major works by Romanian and foreign artists from a number of private collections, The Natural History Museum,
The George Enescu Museum in memory of the famed Romanian composer (1881-1995), and the Astronomic Observatory.
Major museums
in Bucharest include: National Museum of Art, Art Collections Museum, Museum of the City if Bucharest, National History Museum,
Cotroceni Palace Museum, City Museum of Astronomy, National Military Museum, Minovici Museum of Ancient Western Arts, Village
Museum, Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Natural History Museum, Museum of the Romanian Music, History Museum of the Jewish
Comunity, Museum of the Armenian Community.
For more information visit our interactive map at .../bucharest_map.html. Mouse over map to view details, pictures, admission fees and more.
More information
on museums: www.cimec.ro
http://art.museum.ro National Museum of Art/Bucharest
Arts / Shows
National
Philharmonic, Opera House, Opereta House, National Drama Theater, Marionette Theater, Nottara Drama Theater, Odeon Drama,
Jewish Theater, National Circus House.
www.sapteseri.ro - Bucharest Shows and Events Listing
www.operanb.ro - National Opera Bucharest
Nearby Attractions
Herastrau Park
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Taking a break from work
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What a job!
I might describe my job in a little more detail here. I'll write about what I do, what I like best about it, and even some
of the frustrations. (A job with frustrations? Hard to believe, huh?)
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Favorites
Local Cuisine "Ciorba de Burta" (Tripe Soup)
"Mititei" (The "Wee Ones"); small skinless
grilled sausages (made of a mix of minced pork, lamb and beef and spices.)
Unique Restaurants
(great interiors & excellent food)
Taverna Sarbului
Strada Tipografilor 31, Telephone: 231 02 20
Clubul
Contelui Dracula
Splaiul Independentei 8A, Telephone: 490.60.50
Casa Doina
Soseaua Kiseleff 4, Telephone:
222 31 79
Casa Vernescu
Calea Victoriei 133, Telephone: 231 02 20
Local Beer:
Grivita,
Bragadiru
Shopping
Handicrafts
Artizanat, Strada Academiei 25
Artizanat,
Strada Anastasie Simu 6
Covorul, Bd. Unirii 13
Eva, Bd. Magheru 9
Miorita, Strada Ion Campineanu 18
Romarta, Bd.
Unirii 8
Romartizana, Calea Victoriei 18-20
UniversalCoop, Calea Victoriei 16-20
Antiques
A A Antiques,
Strada Quinet 4
Craii de Curtea Veche, Strada Covaci 14
Da Vinci, Calea Victoriei 118
Galateea, Calea Victoriei 134
Galeria
Djaburov, Strada Popa Tatu 28
Galeria de Arta Dorobanti, Strada Tudor Stefan 13
Hanul cu Tei, Strada Lipscani 63
Palas
Antiques, Calea Victoriei 100
Quasar Antiques, Calea Victoriei 63-81
China / Crystal
Sticerom, Strada Selari
9-11
Camina, Piata Romana 9
Leu, Bd. Unirii 11
Annual Events
May: Bucharest
of the Old
June: National Craftsmen's Show
September: George Enescu Music Festival (every two years)
Here's a list of some of my favorite movies:
Jules and Jim, Manhattan, Breaking the Waves
Here's a list of some of my favorite music:
Nirvana, Frank Sinatra, Ibrahim Ferrer
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