Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Category: Bucharest

Bucharest Trip – Day 1 : British Airways Flight to Bucharest

I mentioned in a previous post for my two loyal blog readers that I was on razor thin timing for my flight, having left the hotel just 2 hours 30 minutes before take-off. I considered the reality that it might take over an hour to walk to the bus stop, get on the bus and then arrive into Heathrow Central bus station. In reality, it was 11 minutes. But, that meant one thing, I was safely at Heathrow Terminal 3 ready for my British Airways flight to Bucharest. For all of its faults, I’m still keen to use British Airways and I opted for them to get me to Bucharest. Steve had used BA the previous evening, whilst Bev, Susanna and Thim had decided that Ryanair was for them. Bev would use a cattle truck to get there if she could, but I’m surprised that Susanna and Thim weren’t a little more decadent. But, naturally, I didn’t say anything about the matter.

Back to the flight though. The boarding gate process was handled well, there was no wait and there was a seat whilst they called the groups forwards. All very organised and calm, this felt well managed. It’s always pleasant when the boarding process feels calm, sometimes it all feels a little chaotic and stressful.

Here we are on board. I say we, but I primarily mean me and the other passengers. It was an Airbus A320 aircraft, registration G-EUUF (although I need to check this, as two sites have different aircraft registration codes for this flight which I haven’t seen before). Assuming it was G-EUUF, BA have had this plane since new when they purchased it in 2002 and I don’t think it’s one that I’ve been on before (but my records are quite patchy, I didn’t know I was going to become interested in recording this for some time). Once again, I should really get out more…

One of the vestiges of my status with British Airways is that I can still book these for free, so I got an emergency exit row seat. I’ll be back to silver status early next year (the lowest status I can get which gives me lounge access), required given that I do like visiting the airport lounges as I get excited by free cans of Fanta. Also for my comfort, there was no-one on else this row which was quite handy. Especially given that Thim was reporting he had a somewhat less comfortable experience on the Ryanair flight he was on. The seating area was clean and everything worked as it should,

Satisfactory leg room and the cabin crew were pro-active and friendly. There were also working power points on the service which proved handy. The pilots were the usual middle to upper class sounding British Airways flight crew, sounding reassuring and competent. Not that other pilots aren’t competent, it’s just that the announcements made by British Airways crew seem to be so quintessentially British that it fits their brand well.

There were no delays on departing and the passengers all seemed sensible and efficient which meant no issues with people trying to shove large bags in awkwardly to the overhead lockers.

The free snack and water, which I still think is a positive touch rather than the previous effort they had which involved giving passengers absolutely nothing.

And safely into Bucharest, twenty minutes earlier than expected. There was little to report from the flight, which is a positive thing as too much drama on board is often sub-optimal. I had mentioned to Bev that I didn’t want her, Susanna and Thim waiting for me as they got in 90 minutes earlier, but that was good since they didn’t bother anyway. Once again, I didn’t comment negatively on that situation. On the matter of the weather, it looked just a little bleak, but the temperature was fine for my needs and the rain wasn’t too bad.

I won’t go on about the European Union as my thoughts on this are well known to my two loyal blog readers (and for anyone else, #iameuropean) and EU citizens were able to breeze through passport control. Those from the UK had a much longer wait which was sub-optimal. Anyway, I was again impressed with British Airways, everything worked as it should, everything was clean, the crew were friendly and the service was efficient. The flight cost £42 each way, which I think is very reasonable, especially as I used Avios from previous flights to reduce that to £24 each way. All rather lovely.

November 12, 2023
Bucharest Trip – Day 0 : Ibis Heathrow

As mentioned in my previous post, I had walked to the Heathrow Ibis and this is one of my favourite of the hotels on the Bath Road and I’ve stayed there numerous times before. There was a friendly welcome from the team member at reception and the atmosphere felt suitably warm and inviting. I was told that I had been given a room upgrade, which was very kind, and I guessed that this wouldn’t actually be a better room, but just a better located room. That’s realistically the best that a hotel can do when every room is the same design. Although I suppose that they could have put a little mountain of crisps in the room for me by way of an upgrade, but perhaps that’s not for everyone. The team member also asked if I’d like a free late checkout, but given my morning flight that wasn’t needed although it’s kind to ask.

I went for a pint of Goose Island Midway as my welcome drink. I might have mentioned that I have something of a passion for Goose Island, including visiting their Chicago brewery last year. I accept that Midway isn’t exactly the Bourbon County Stout that they brew, but there we go.

I approve that they local the musical instruments up to prevent unnecessary noise from musically untalented guests.

I’ve never actually eaten at this hotel, other than when the breakfast was included as part of the deal, but I merrily take photos of the food options that are on offer.

As I don’t get out much, I was surprised and delighted to get exactly the same room as when I stayed in the hotel for three days earlier on in the year. I like patterns in life and there seems something reassuring in repetition, especially with the never ending change that travel brings. I should definitely get out more as I suspect that I might have overthought that. Anyway, it was a peaceful night’s stay, not least as I was on the top floor in the corner, something I’d agree is an upgrade.

Also, I forgot to take a photo of the room, so I’ve used the one from earlier in the year. I’ve just found some more missing posts from this blog, something else I’ll have to fix along with the missing images. Bloody thing.

At this moment I heard from Susanna, Bev and Thim. They were all safely at Stansted Airport, and I was reassured that Thim was there with them since last time Susanna and Bev were left along at Stansted Airport they got drunk and missed their flight in some sort of drunken stupor. I’m pleased to report that this incident didn’t happen again. Their flight, two hours before mine, left without any issues other than Thim wasn’t thrilled and delighted with the leg room situation which he was encountering.

I decided to cut it very fine in terms of leaving for the airport, which meant that I departed the hotel just 2 hours 30 minutes before the flight. Razor thin I tell, razor thin timing. I’m not sure I’ve ever risked it quite that much before, although I accept that I am very risk averse with travel arrangements.

November 11, 2023
Bucharest Trip Day 0 : Getting to the Airport

The journey to Bucharest started with a Greggs, a policy that I have with road trips that it feels appropriate to extend to plane trips. This was a thrifty option as well given that it was a free chicken bake from the Greggs loyalty scheme. What a time to be alive and all that.

Then it was time to meander to Norwich bus station and look at how they’ve been getting on with the recent renovations which saw it closed for a couple of weeks. I’m not sure what has happened here at the bus stop, but it’s a bit sub-optimal if you ask me as a non transport expert.

The National Express coach, which started its journey to London from Great Yarmouth, was on time and there was a friendly driver. I was pleased to board first and be able to get the emergency exit row seat. It’s a bit more space for the journey, although it wasn’t a particularly busy service. I pretended not to be annoyed at the person nearby who had their phone on without headphones, just to show how tolerant and laidback I am. As I’m well behaved, I was the only passenger in sight who was wearing a seat-belt but I decided against asking the driver for a little badge or similar for following all the rules.

The journey was smooth and trouble free, although high levels of traffic in London meant that we got in around twenty minutes later than expected. I had got the coach as it cost just over £10, which was cheaper than the railways, even though it’s not really my desired form of travel. But, the power worked, the coach was clean and everything went as expected. No cause for complaint. Well, apart from that passenger with the loud phone, but of course, I didn’t let that annoy me.

After a quick burger, which was conveniently free of charge so another thrifty option. London seemed relatively quiet and everything seemed at peace, I had a brief walk around near St. Paul’s but decided against going to a pub as I had a long journey without access to toilets ahead. I’m very good at this forward planning……

Onto the underground and a quick change at the packed South Kensington underground station.

My bag, still in a nearly new state.

I got off at Hatton Cross underground station, which was a slightly cheaper option. I’ve written about the quirky situation with pricing at Hatton Cross before (although can’t find where, so I’ll link this in later), although I needed to get off here anyway.

I’ve never done this walk before along the Perimeter Road. It’s two miles and quite an intriguing walk given that it is around the boundary of Heathrow Airport and its maintenance facilities. There is actually a bus service who goes along this route, but I’m all for saving money and a bit of fresh air (I accept perhaps polluted just slightly by the airport) is good for the soul.

After 40 minutes of walking, the delights of the Ibis Heathrow came into view (apologies, yet again for the poor quality photo). I had only booked this hotel earlier on in the day as it was cheap, it’s one that I’ve stayed at before on numerous occasions and a reliable option. During my 40 minute walk, Steve updated us that he had arrived in Bucharest as he likes to get there earlier to ready himself for coping with Bev.

November 11, 2023
Bucharest Trip Day 0 : Introduction

And, here we go, I’m safely in a hotel at Heathrow Airport ready for the Bucharest trip that I decided to put on. I have the genuine delight of Bev, Susanna, Steve and Thim for a few days as I make my second visit to the city. The photo above is of the beer that I’ve got whilst at the airport hotel and I’ll do my best to keep up with posting during the week. It’s all very exciting!

November 10, 2023
Bucharest – Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse

This shopping centre is perhaps the earliest surviving in Bucharest, constructed in 1891 and named after Xavier Villacrosse, a former city architect.

There’s a grand entrance portal to the centre, which is in a fork shape as the owner of the central area, the Pesht Hotel, didn’t want to sell. That must have been slightly annoying for the developers at the time, but at least they got to build their street in some form.

It’s a stunning interior, but it needs repair and I wasn’t really that excited by any of the premises inside. This was primarily due to most being closed when I visited in the afternoon, with some others having a rather seedy look, even if perhaps they weren’t.

With some money and the introduction of a few innovative tenants, this could once again be quite a grand shopping street given its central location. During the communist period from 1950 until 1989, the centre was renamed Pasajul Bijuteria, or the jewellery street. Many of the shops along the street during this time were jewellers, although this has now changed to mostly being restaurants and bars.

The main dome isn’t in too bad a condition and it ensures that the shopping is well lit and bright. There are offices above the retail units and for a while this was home to the first Stock Exchange in the country.

April 5, 2020
Bucharest – Church of St. Anthony

The Church of St. Anthony is the oldest standing church in its original form which is left in Bucharest, dating back to the 1550s and constructed on the site of a wooden church. It has though been through the wars a little (including literally when the Turks attacked) and with a restoration in 1847 following a major fire which damaged much of Bucharest’s central area.

The building looks relatively modern, mainly due to some recent cleaning and there were also restorations in 1914 and between 1928 to 1935 which reverted the church back to something more like its original appearance.

The church’s facade.

A fine entrance portal which dates to 1715.

The church was busy with worshippers, so it didn’t feel appropriate to walk around it and disturb other people. It was a grand interior though, but also homely and with a strong sense of community.

April 5, 2020
Bucharest – National Museum of Art (The Jew With the Goose by Nicolae Grigorescu)

This painting is by Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907) and was painted in 1880. Grigorescu is apparently one of the founders of modern Romanian painting and this artwork shows a Jew (the name of the painting) holding a petition and a goose. The original title of this artwork is “a Moldavian Jew going to the Romanian Parliament to petition for his naturalisation” which was something that Jews could do from 1879, although it wasn’t an automatic right. I’m not sure whether the goose was meant as a bribe, although I’m not sure why anyone would traipse a live goose to Parliament without some good cause.

March 26, 2020
Bucharest – National Museum of Art (Catholic Church in Câmpulung)

This artwork of a Catholic Church in Câmpulung was painted by Theodor Aman in 1875. The Romanian artist lived from 1831 until 1891, when he died in Bucharest and the house he lived in is now a museum which commemorates him and his work. I did try and find the same location on Google Streetview and the only Catholic Church looks different and the streetline has changed too much. I like the painting though, although I suspect that the town was more prosperous then than it is now if the characters and their formal wear are anything to go by.

March 26, 2020
Bucharest – National Museum of Art (The Revolutionary Romania by CD Rosenthal)

This artwork, entitled The Revolutionary Romania, is by Constantin Daniel Rosenthal and was painted in 1850. Rosenthal lived from 1820 and 1851 and had an involvement in the 1848 Revolution, which later cost him his life when he was tortured to death by the French for refusing to give information about his contacts. There’s something tragic about looking at an artwork which was painted by someone who was so relatively young, but yet was about to be confronted with his death.

Rosenthal painted numerous artworks on the theme of Romanian nationalism and he seems to have been quite active in the later part of his life. This painting was part of the Pinacoteca București collection which had been established by King Carol II, with many of the artworks being taken over by the National Gallery. It shows Marie Rosetti who was a friend of the artist and the wife of the author Constantin Alexandru Rosetti. She was dressed in traditional Romanian clothing and she has a dagger in one hand and a Romanian flag in the other hand.

March 25, 2020
Bucharest – National Museum of Art (Icon of Saint Nicholas by Mihail)

I thought that this looked modern when I first saw it, given that it has something of a cartoony feel to it. Tempera on wood, it was painted by Mihail in 1754 and is a representation of St. Nicholas. I didn’t know this before looking it up, but St. Nicholas is often painted with a codex in his hand, as it is here, and has representations of Jesus and the Virgin Mary behind him, which is what I assume is also happening with this artwork. He’s also portrayed as an Orthodox bishop, as he is here, and often with three gold balls, which isn’t shown here. He was known for giving gifts to the poor and from that he evolved into being effectively better known as Father Christmas.

March 25, 2020