Bucharest - A City of Contrasts

If you are going to visit Romania you probably are not going as a tourist. You probably have a relative who lives there, you may be going to help people, but it is not the first place you think of when you think of tourist attractions. I'll admit I went there to work with orphans, but I was pleased with the amount of things to see in this country. 

It was an extremely hot summer day when we ventured away from the outskirts of Bucharest where we had been working with orphans. We drove past the Romanian's version of the Arc de Triomphe and I could see why some people call Bucharest a little Paris.  It even has its own metro and bus system.  We walked along the streets carefully as to not draw attention to ourselves. We had been warned of the pickpockets all over the city, and had to keep moving when we realized we were being watched. 

Along the city streets not far from the ostentatious palace of Ceaucescu along side very old looking cars were gypsy carts. Some of the carts were stopped on the side of the road selling lace and other handmade items, but many were being used as a means of transportation. We stopped in a shop that one of the orphanage workers knew would have decently priced authentic Romanian items. It was nothing like a tourist shop in America. It was clearly owned by a really nice man who had probably gotten these hand carved items from people. There were dolls, whistles, jewelry boxes, some jewelry, lace, and other things hand made. Our shopping trip continued down a dusty path into a glass shop. We watched a lady blowing the glass right there in the courtyard behind the shop. In the shop we picked up beautiful vases, candy dishes, and plates. All hand blown and selling for the equivalent of three or four dollars a piece. Everything in Romania was amazingly cheap, and everyone we met was excited to meet rich Americans.