In order to be the first group off the boat, we ordered early bird room service breakfast and got up and out of the cruise ship by 6AM. Our driver and tour guide were waiting for us inside the cruise terminal with my name on a sign. Easy peasy!
I found this particular tour guide company, Contur Travel, through message board forum on Cruise Critic. We had six friends from the cruise in our group.
Constanta, Romania (Romania’s oldest city) is the fourth-largest port in Europe. Pretty impressive! This gateway to the Black Sea is known to have a lively mix of cultures and customs, plus a most notable history and commerce!
FUN FACT: The nearby Danube Delta—UNESCO World Heritage Site—is Europe’s largest and best preserved river delta and popular haven for birds and bird watchers alike.
After some research and weighing out the options, our group decided to explore the Romanian countryside by driving to the capital city of Bucharest for a city tour. Although there are many interesting places to explore in Constanta, we only had one day to see as much of Romania as possible. A day trip to Bucharest won the vote and I am SO happy we did it! Romania is a beautiful scenic country and I hope to make it back sometime soon. I must experience the western half of Walachia, Olt River Valley, Transylvania, and more. This is one of the disadvantages of a cruise. You are on a tight schedule—and they will leave you behind. It is not fun to miss the boat—believe me!
The A2 motorway, or The Sun Motoway, is a highway linking Constanta to Bucharest which has a total distance of 206 km. It began construction during the communist era of Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime. The first section of the motorway opened in 1987 and after on and off again construction, it was completed in 2012.
We passed an old bridge over the Danube River.
First stop, Palace of Parliament–Ceausescu’s infamous creation and the second-largest building in the world (after the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.).
Wait, why are there runners and crowd control gates?!
Our day in Bucharest landed on a Sunday so many of the buildings were closed. Sadness. On the upside, we arrived into the city center during the Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Marathon. It is a very popular and well-known marathon in Europe attracting a high volume of runners and spectators worldwide. The race has quite a lot of energy–loud music, cheering spectators, busy expo/festival like areas. I enjoyed witnessing all the marathon fun!
OK, back to the tour…
Stavropoleos Church, which dates from 1724, was a highlight because we arrived just in time to observe a Sunday service. It is always interesting observing locals going about their daily routines.
On a gorgeous sunny day, we walked quite a bit around Bucharest looking and taking pictures of the buildings. Our guide explained the classical, communist, and modern architectural designs throughout Bucharest. As mentioned, many buildings were closed accompanied with a tight time schedule, we buzzed through everything rather quickly. “OK folks and we’re walking!”
Time for lunch! We dined at a lovely restaurant in Herastrau Park. I do not rank Romanian food very high on the list, but it’s fun to try something new.
Embassies, mansions, and more.
The Arch of Triumph
“Initially built of wood in 1922 to honor the bravery of Romanian soldiers who fought in World War I, Bucharest’s very own Arc de Triomphe was finished in Deva granite in 1936. Designed by the architect, Petre Antonescu, the Arc stands 85 feet high. An interior staircase allows visitors to climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city. The sculptures decorating the structure were created by leading Romanian artists, including Ion Jalea, Constantin Medrea and Constantin Baraschi.”
Revolution Square: Named after the 1989 Romanian Revolution. Prior to the revolution, this square was home to the Royal Palace. Today, the palace is the National Museum of Art of Romania. Other buildings of mention within Revolution Square include, Athenaeum, Athenee Palace Hotel, University of Bucharest Library and Memorial of Rebirth.
Hop, skip, and a jump–back to the Cruise Port Terminal.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.