Pictures from March 23 and on

I finally arrived in Bucharest after a week of wandering the mother continent. It was a relief to arrive back. The best part was they finally fixed the streets coming back from the airport. I was expecting to be on the airport bus for hours but it only took 20 minutes to get to Piata Victoriei. It was the best surprise ever!

I spent the week out and about, immersed in cultural life and parks. There are a few changes since January, signs of progress. Unfortunately, none of it is happening around Lipscani, which still looks pretty much like the picture I took. There are the same old excuses, the recession blah blah blah. But its been like that for two years, so that's what it is. All I will say is the wooden platforms are getting shakier and shakier.

The cakes are still subpar. The pastries are fine. The authentic cafes are slowly dwindling and being replaced by faux-Starbucks...or real Starbucks. There are some still sweet parts. Like my pastry place in the Piata Unirii Metro station and Carturesti, my favorite bookstore for Romanian and English books. The Swiss rolls are still oooh-so-unhealthy but delicious.

The weather has been very plesant and whispering of Spring and sunshine. And maybe its me, I don't think so, though, but the Romanian populace is getting nicer, bit by bit. I have continued to use my mental trick of smiling sweetly whenever they get cranky, which is working out pretty well. I would recommend it. Like, at a store, if you ask a very ordinary question, like "Excuse me, where is the ham?" and they get all sassy, with the pinched why-are-you-asking-such-a-dumbass-question expression and they tell you finally, you should very cheerfully smile and thank them so graciously they get sheepish and end up smiling, too. Hah, that will teach you to be sour!

Thus, it is an exciting time to be here in Bucha-ohhh, excuse me, Bucuresti.

Until next time, everyone. Pa!

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