bucharesti

  Our first day of Bucharest was all in a rush.  After two nights on a bus, we were probably tired.  Our hosts in Bucharest
live in the city centre, but it turned out they were travelling to Sibiu - a cute medieval villiage - that night.
  We could eithergo with them and tay in a hostel there or stay in Bucharest.  But we couldn't say for sure, for we were on
a mission.  Whether we stayed in Bucharest or not all depended on whether or not we could find the grave of David's
 great grandfather.  We knew the name of the cemetary and had a description of the grave but that was all.  Our hosts
were very helpful.  When Aniela (Our primary host's girlfriend) came out of their room David and I were starstruck.  She emanated with a divine light. She was so soft.  And she made the most amazing berry tea. She helped us all morning to find several possible cemetarys.  We had a list and head off to the most likely option.
  The metro is awesome.  Painted colourfully with fun and bubbly graffiti.  Very old school :P We were suddenly out of the city in a picturesque scene of forested fields by a river.  We found the cemetary along a path of ancient churches - each very active, with many monks roaming around, and activities happening.
  Every grave had a cross on it.  Huge crosses.  Everywhere.
  There was no grave there which wasn't Romanian orthodox and cetrainly no Jewish graves either.
So we hitched back to town with a monk's helper. An inspiring guy dedictaed to both religion and the science. 95% of
Romania is Romanian Orthodox, we discovered.  And more than that - they're very dedicated and religiously active.  We've been to several (beautiful wooden) churches and in every one you will find many people praying.
  We head toward the Jewish cemetary - our last resort.  It's huge and the graves are impossible to read.  We sat back with the grave diggers and local drunk beer whilst we waited for the main man of the place.  He was buying lottery tickets.
The grave diggers said Romania was 'no good', and from then on I noticed most locals simply want to get out of the country and feel imprisoned in it due to the economy /lack of an income. No pride for their country, as they feel that the govenment has betrayed the people and thus they feel alone. Abandonned.
At last the priest arrived and said he was busy and to come back tomorow.

  We decided to stay another night and regrettfully said goodbye to our heavenly hosts.  Luckily we had a back up host, further out from town, but we still had another two hours until we were welcome there.  So we head off to the old city with our luggage.
  Slumped on a little bench with our big bags, we were hungry yet immobile and everywhere was too expensive. Then a guy comes up, asks us what we're doing.  He's travelled to all the countries we're going and shares great tips.  He gives us a ride to his house, we pick up pizza, we share 200 year old coniac and have a great time.   Our first day of Bucharest was all in a rush.  After two nights on a bus, we were probably tired.  Our hosts in Bucharest
live in the city centre, but it turned out they were travelling to Sibiu - a cute medieval villiage - that night.
  We could eithergo with them and tay in a hostel there or stay in Bucharest.  But we couldn't say for sure, for we were on
a mission.  Whether we stayed in Bucharest or not all depended on whether or not we could find the grave of David's
 great grandfather.  We knew the name of the cemetary and had a description of the grave but that was all.  Our hosts
were very helpful.  When Aniela (Our primary host's girlfriend) came out of their room David and I were starstruck.  She
emanated with a divine light. She was so soft.  And she made the most amazing berry tea. She helped us all morning to
find several possible cemetarys.  We had a list and head off to the most likely option.
  The metro is awesome.  Painted colourfully with fun and bubbly graffiti.  Very old school :P We were suddenly out of the
city in a picturesque scene of forested fields by a river.  We found the cemetary along a path of ancient churches -
each very active, with many monks roaming around, and activities happening.
  Every grave had a cross on it.  Huge crosses.  Everywhere.
  There was no grave there which wasn't Romanian orthodox and cetrainly no Jewish graves either.
So we hitched back to town with a monk's helper. An inspiring guy dedictaed to both religion and the science. 95% of
Romania is Romanian Orthodox, we discovered.  And more than that - they're very dedicated and religiously active.  We've
been to several (beautiful wooden) churches and in every one you will find many people praying.
  We head toward the Jewish cemetary - our last resort.  It's huge and the graves are impossible to read.  We sat back
with the grave diggers and local drunk beer whilst we waited for the main man of the place.  He was buying lottery tickets.
At last he arrived and said he was busy and to come back tomorow.

  We decided to stay another night and regrettfully said goodbye to our heavenly hosts.  Luckily we had a back up host,
further out from town, but we still had another two hours until we were welcome there.  So we head off to the old city
with our luggage.
  Slumped on a little bench with our big bags, we were hungry yet immobile and everywhere was too expensive. Then a guy comes
up, asks us what we're doing.  He's travelled to all the countries we're going and shares great tips.  He gives us a ride
to his house, we pick up pizza, we share 200 year old coniac and have a great time.
  Then we head over to our new couch surfing host!  He never stops moving.  We arrive and we leave - off to his friends
place where a bunch of young guys lye around making funny jokes and watch youtube movies.  Romanians our age speak amazing
english thanks to cartoon network, but the new generation is now watching dubbed television and thatll suck for them.
  It's hard to find a job, its hard to get by at all, for Romanians. I feel spoilt buying a meal over the equivalent of four australian dollars.
  Apart from the old city, Bucharest is made up of communist architechture.  Blocks of squished up apartment buildings which all look identical.
  Then we head over to our new couch surfing host!  He never stops moving.  We arrive and we leave - off to his friends place where a bunch of young guys lye around making funny jokes and watch youtube movies.  Romanians our age speak amazing english thanks to cartoon network, but the new generation is now watching dubbed television and that'll suck for them.
  It was almost shocking, being past from the rich, well educated Romanian to the average, working class boys of the same age.  The first guy was self employed and thus payed mostly by foreign countries and thus got a much better income.
  It's hard to find a job, its hard to get by at all, for Romanians. I feel spoilt buying a meal over the equivalent of four australian dollars.
  Apart from the old city, Bucharest is made up of communist architechture.  Blocks of squished up apartment buildings

every day, so many candles are lit
at a Romanian Orthodox Church

sofia in bucharest wearing new jeans ooh

nice old buildings in the city

David asking someone on a bicycle for directions

 which all look identical.