Wander-in-Laws

A Mad Stroll Through Bucharest’s Contrasts Our walk to the Palace of the Parliament was an adventure in itself. Bucharest is a city of contrasts, and we saw it all: sleek modern buildings standing next to grand old ones, some beautifully preserved, others weathered by time and traffic pollution. The streets swung between chaos (blaring horns, daring pedestrians, and the odd bit of creative driving) and quieter pockets of the city, where things felt a little more serene.   It was a flat walk of about 25 minutes (or less) from the Old Town, and although the morning started off cold, the sun made a surprise appearance, warming things up to an almost spring-like temperature—not what we’d expected for January! Just before reaching the palace, we took a well-earned break at Haute Pepper on Boulevard Unirii. It was almost  warm enough to sit outside in the unexpected sunshine, and there were plenty of al fresco tables. Instead, we opted for a coffee (or in some cases, a cold beer or...

Exploring Bucharest: A Day of History, Music, and Indulgence  Our first full day in Bucharest started as all good holidays should, at a leisurely pace, with no strict plan beyond seeing where the city took us; but we did have a list of things we might see and places we might (or should) eat, as recommended by friends (and the internet!). Wandering through the Old Town, we soaked up the atmosphere, admiring the mix historic buildings, and the general charm of the place.    A Step Back in Time: The Museum of Romanian History   Our first proper stop of the day was the Museum of Romanian History , an imposing building that holds centuries of the country’s past within its walls. There’s far too much to see in a rush so we confined ourselves to a few key exhibitions, starting with Diplomacy Through the Ages , a fascinating look at Romania’s role on the world stage over the centuries. The Romania in WWII exhibit was particularly thought-provoking, shedding light on ...

The In-Laws’ Grand Adventures: Bucharest Edition - Part One Some trips stick with you not just because of where you go, but who you share them with. This one was a bit of both. Four of us – two couples – setting off on an adventure, not just as mates but as family too, since our kids are married to each other. A chance to explore a new city, share great food, and make new memories.   Getting to Bucharest  We were glad to have chosen to take advantage of the Escape Lounge at Manchester Airport. This made for a relaxed start, sitting on comfy sofas eating from a good selection of hot and cold food as well as soft and alcoholic drinks and a good selection of teas and coffees.   After a somewhat full and noisy Ryanair flight we landed in Bucharest late on a Tuesday evening. We had a private taxi waiting for us as part of our holiday package, so getting to our hotel was straightforward. Although it was dark, our driver pointed out some of the city’s landmarks. As ...