http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Romania , Muntenia en-us Fri, 11 Dec 09 22:17:20 +0000 Fri, 11 Dec 09 22:17:20 +0000 A few photos of Budapest and Bucharest...It's only taken me an hour and a half to upload these probably a new record Enjoy xo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-441324.html The end of an amazing experience. It has been absolutely incredible to see young and middleaged people trying their best and making the most of the intensive course I offered at the Central Library here in Pitesti. Everybody was friendly proactive and very studious. They seemed to really enjoy themselves on the course and it was a delight to run this training for a month. Learning and developin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Arges/PITESTI/blog-437983.html As part of a work trip I was able to spend a day running around Bucharest to have a look at a few bits and pieces. I was lucky enough to be staying at one of the nicest hotels so started the day with a swim in the stunning bean shaped pool before heading out on a tour it was a very hot day.First we went to the square where it all kicked off back in 1989 revolutionary square. Old Nicolas and his http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-436572.html A while ago I cooked up a great plan to keep myself busy and active and at the same time do something that feels good and worthwhile. The idea of 'volunteer work' is unfortunately unknown in my country. I was lucky enough to work in a country where 'volunteer work ' is a job in itself where people are dedicated and eager to do volunteer work where the little spare time you get you go down to a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Arges/PITESTI/blog-434267.html Hi guysWell we are still in Romania and getting over a tummy bug. About 5 days ago I started with the squits and tummy cramps and the day after Scott started too. We are still suffering and it is not great when we are wild camping. We are slowly getting better and can only put it down to the green slim in the water container so we have got new bottlesscott....I personally think its the beer http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/Oltenitei/blog-431287.html Everything around me is GREEN I LOVE GREEN It is summer and everything around me is green. It's good to be alive and to enjoy nature and life with the lovedones. To enjoy the blue sky the simple life and the outdoors. That is of course til weekend ends and I hop in my car and head back to Pitesti. Where things are not green where it is boiling hot and there's no shade to offer you shelter http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Dambovita/Gaesti/blog-430504.html My parents live in a small town and I visit them frequently. I grew up here. I remember how badly I wanted to escape this small town and couldn't wait to get out of highschool so I could move to a big city and feel free. I thought freedom meant leaving this little town. Now after so may years I love coming back here. I simply love it. It's true when they say 'There's no other place like home'. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Dambovita/Gaesti/blog-430501.html After our first visit only involving the McDonalds of Gara de Nord before heading to Chisinau we hoped to make more of this visit... which began... in McDonalds. Although in fairness this was to have a coffee after a long night train. The coffee was also much needed due to the fact we were using public transport to get to the hostel always confusing when you have absolutely no idea how. In fact http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-427660.html If you feel in a mood to party just make sure you get into that particular 'Let's have a wild crazy time' mood ONLY at the weekend To be more specific Friday or Saturday night. That is if you find yourself in our lovely city Pitesti. I LOVE Pitesti. Don't get me wrong I love my city Apart from providing us with very few work placements grotesque Customers Service in all public and private s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Arges/PITESTI/blog-425997.html Sinaia day 1011 June 1617Our train was running late but finally it arrived and we headed off on an hour and halfrsquos journey to a mountain resort town of Sinaia. We were warned that hiking here should only be done with a guide due to the prevalence of bears. Romania has the largest population of bear and wolves in Europe. The weather was wet again but undeterred we headed up the hills in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Prahova/Sinaia/blog-424997.html Bucharest day 12 June 18It was a short train journey to Bucharest the capital of Romania. Our hotel was actually 3 star and a nice surprise.I took the metro to the down town area with a friend who had volunteered to help me get an external hard drive. He shook his head at the idea of going to an electrical store and then proceeded to show me how things worked in Romania. Using a web site we foun http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/Bucurestii-Noi/blog-424996.html 8209Happy Birthday Austin Today Austin turns 12. He is celebrating his birthday in Bucharest Romania. Here are some photos of Austin and the rest of us in Bucharest. In lieu of a birthday cake we went to the All You Can Eat Dessert Bar at the hotel. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-424726.html Going two days without a shower is never a good thing. Its even worst if you are in the middle of summer lugging around over 20kg of luggage sweating profusely and then being stuck in confined areas with others. I feel sorry for the people I shared the train cabin with and the people I shared the taxi with. Another thing that I have learnt that is never good is doing back to back overnight buse http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-422243.html I left at 550 on Friday with the only bus straight to Bucharest from Varna. But of course the bus was 30 minutes late to start. And we stopped every 30 minutes for gas. And at the last town before the border our bus broke down. We sat on a busy road for about an hour waiting for our bus to start. When we finally got it started we picked up so many people that the bus was now completely full. I mu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/Bucurestii-Noi/blog-418847.html Ok so we've already left but we wanted it on the little map thing. Currently in Bulgaria where there are yet more thunder storms and mosquitos which are eating us alive. we call them Dracula. Arrived via night train last night and got to the hostel at around 6.30 am our time this morning half 4 for you. Managed to check in and get a few hours sleep for a small extra charge They also gave us b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/Gara-de-Nord/blog-417118.html What chances have I gotUnemployment rates are low worldover. It's recession. Jobs are axed people laid off exceptional employees made redundant. People lose homes and are unsure about tomorrow. It's only the beginning and the worst is yet to come. We haven't hit rock bottom yet and we don't know how long this recession is going to take. But this is not unfortunatelly the only disturbing proble http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Dambovita/TARGOVISTE/blog-413874.html Travelling up from Sofia to Bucharest in Romania was quite an enjoyable journey. There was some beautiful scenery along the way to admire and it also gave me some lsquome timersquo to catch up with reading after a busy time in Sofia pottering about. We travelled first class and before you conjure up images of fabulous dcor with champagne and wine on demand take a nostalgic moment to wander t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-412185.html May 17th to May 19th. Back to Bucharest We hadn't planned on going back to Bucharest but it made the most sense being that our next stop was Brasov almost straight North through Bucharest. We emailed the Funky Chicken and our friends that we were Surprise coming back. Laura and James were waiting for us at the hostel. It was so good to be together again And Anna was working at the Funky Chicke http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-405168.html May 7th Thursday....Oh Bucharest where do I begin Let's start with our celebratory drinks on Sky Europe flight NE3208 to Bucharest. We were celebrating for many reasons. We had not slept in over 36 hours we had stayed all night in Amsterdam at the Centraal Station and then at Schipol Airport. Our flight from Amsterdam to Vienna included an 8 hour layover. We even had to exit the airport and r http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-398894.html 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 everI spent the week out and about immersed in cultural life and parks. There http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Romania/Muntenia/Bucharest/blog-386076.html