Didn't do too much today. Got laundry done (really important!), walked around town and saw the following:
1. Copou - a park where a bunch of Romanian folks have statues. Among them, Eminescu, who is the best Romanian poet and who apparently wrote all of his stuff next to some tree over there in that park.
2. The university where dad studied (right next to Copou)
3. Downtown
4. Ulius mall (where we got all our food...)
Monday, October 1, 2007
Friday, Sep 21: Piatra Neamt - Iasi
Left in the morning to Iasi (via Roman some 150km east), which is were dad is from. Iasi is the second largest city in Romania after Bucharest. We stayed at a hotel called T23, which is a rather bizarre name, yet with the exception of the bad bed springs (an unfortunate recurring theme in Romania), the hotel was quite good.
Today was Yom Kippur Eve and parents (while completely not religious) wanted to go to "Kol Nidrei" prayer. Since the thing takes about 5 minutes, Talmon and I didn't care. However, they were wrong about the time (not taking into account that we are not in Israel) and to make a long story (that involves a synagogue being renovated, going to another synagogue to early, prayer being late) short we arrived at the synagogue at 17:55 and stayed there for nearly 2 hours... At least the Rabi was amusing...
Before the synagogue saga we got to see where my dad was born and grew up until he was 11.
Today was Yom Kippur Eve and parents (while completely not religious) wanted to go to "Kol Nidrei" prayer. Since the thing takes about 5 minutes, Talmon and I didn't care. However, they were wrong about the time (not taking into account that we are not in Israel) and to make a long story (that involves a synagogue being renovated, going to another synagogue to early, prayer being late) short we arrived at the synagogue at 17:55 and stayed there for nearly 2 hours... At least the Rabi was amusing...
Before the synagogue saga we got to see where my dad was born and grew up until he was 11.
Thursday, 20 Sep: Brasov - Piatra Neamt
In the morning we visited the "Black Church" in Brasov, which is called that way because it was burned some long time ago. The church was far more impressive on the outside than on the inside. It was built back in 1383, a few years before I was born.
We left Brasov and proceeded to lake St. Ana (100km north) , which was quite nice, and then proceeded to Tusnad (5km). We had lunch in Tusnad at a place called Iris, which served the best chicken goulash to date. We continued to Lacul Rosu ("red lake") some 90km north and 15 km east. That was the first place where I saw a hollow "Cozonac" (a type of cake), which was really good except that it had way to sugar and they didn't sell insulin along with it...
We proceeded to Cheile Bicazului (15km north/east), which is a very narrow road with some steep rocks that were very impressive.
Finally, we arrived in the evening at Piatra Neamt (60km north/east). We had dinner at some pub called Tequila, which like all places in Romania was completely smoky. Talmon and I stayed to get some work done... After that we headed to some other joint that had Romanian Karaoke - hurray!
We left Brasov and proceeded to lake St. Ana (100km north) , which was quite nice, and then proceeded to Tusnad (5km). We had lunch in Tusnad at a place called Iris, which served the best chicken goulash to date. We continued to Lacul Rosu ("red lake") some 90km north and 15 km east. That was the first place where I saw a hollow "Cozonac" (a type of cake), which was really good except that it had way to sugar and they didn't sell insulin along with it...
We proceeded to Cheile Bicazului (15km north/east), which is a very narrow road with some steep rocks that were very impressive.
Finally, we arrived in the evening at Piatra Neamt (60km north/east). We had dinner at some pub called Tequila, which like all places in Romania was completely smoky. Talmon and I stayed to get some work done... After that we headed to some other joint that had Romanian Karaoke - hurray!
Wednesday, 19 Sep: Sinaia – Busteni – Brasov
First thing we went to Busteni (8 km north of Sinaia). There we took a cable cart up a mountain (2200m) to see a two interesting rocks called "babele" ("old ladies"), which have been nicely formed over the years. From there we took another cable cart to the other side of the mountain (1600m) to see a cave (Pestera Ialomicioara).
Around 15:30 we were done. We had lunch and continued to Brasov (40km north). The center was quite nice and we had the usual evening walk.
Around 15:30 we were done. We had lunch and continued to Brasov (40km north). The center was quite nice and we had the usual evening walk.
Tuesday, 18 Sep: Sinaia
I got a haircut first thing in the morning, then we went to Peles Castle, which belongs to the King (yeap, these folks actually have a king). We couldn’t go in as it was closed, but the construct seemed rather impressive from the outside. We didn’t do much for the rest of the day.
Monday, 17 Sep: Bucharest – Sinaia
We finally left Bucharest, not without incident though. We were supposed to rent this car and when the guy showed up with it, it turned out the contract had no insurance. So we canceled at the very last moment, which left us car-less and with loads of nerves on behalf of some family members. But, fortunately, the situation was resolved within the hour and we got a bigger and better car!
We left the hotel around 13:30, and by the time we left Bucharest it was about 15:00 or 16:00. I was trying to find a ticket to Israel, which delayed our departure. We arrived in the evening to Sinaia, which is a resort town some 110km north of Bucharest, where my dad spent a few month back in the day (as will become evident later on – my dad traveled quite a bit in the country in his youth). We stayed at a B&B place that actually had no breakfast included. It was very clean with the exception of the host who was seriously stinking. Thank god I can hold my breath for 3 minutes and 22 seconds..
In the evening Talmon and I went out but the place was completely dead.
We left the hotel around 13:30, and by the time we left Bucharest it was about 15:00 or 16:00. I was trying to find a ticket to Israel, which delayed our departure. We arrived in the evening to Sinaia, which is a resort town some 110km north of Bucharest, where my dad spent a few month back in the day (as will become evident later on – my dad traveled quite a bit in the country in his youth). We stayed at a B&B place that actually had no breakfast included. It was very clean with the exception of the host who was seriously stinking. Thank god I can hold my breath for 3 minutes and 22 seconds..
In the evening Talmon and I went out but the place was completely dead.
Tuesday, 11 Sep – Sunday, 16 Sep: Bucharest
As I may or may not have mentioned, the main purpose of the Romanian section of this trip is to have a family reunion and get to see where my parents came from/grew up/etc. We (Mom, Dad, Brother) spent several days in Bucharest with the intent of mostly visiting those places that are mom related (given that she’s from Bucharest). So here goes:
Tuesday, 11 Sep: After my arrival to Bucharest we caught up a bit and in the evening went for dinner (which was ok but not more than that) at a place called "Carul Cu Bere", which is some famous joint that’s been around since the 19th century.
Wednesday, 12 Sep: We did two things today. First, we went to a Filantropia Cemetery, which is the "noble" Jewish cemetery, i.e. a place where the rich and famous are buried. We met many of my relatives there among them all of my mom’s grandparents who passed away years before anyone imagined that the wonder called Daniel would come to be…
Next, we went to Strada Lunei 5 to see the house where my mother was born, grew up, and pretty much spent her entire life until she got married and went to Israel. It was under renovation, which allowed us to go in freely and examine the place. It was quite impressive indeed due its size and central location.
Thursday, 13 Sep: The vast part of the day was consumed with a 4-hour lunch at my Mom’s first grade teacher’s house. They have been in touch since that first grade…
We arrived there separately, parents with one cab and Talmon and I with another as we needed to get laundry done. The reason I’m mentioning this is because our cab ride was rather eventful. Specifically, due to the local bad driving and disregard to the law some guy bumped into the cab, where I was sitted (back left). What was most amusing was the set of swearing the cab driver came up with quite instinctively (involving ancestors, various genitalia, mouths and so on and so forth). Thanks to Tudor, I managed to understand everything. No doubt Romanian is a very delightful language..
After lunch, Talmon and I needed a breather and so we split from parents and went to some Mall to hang out.
Friday, 14 Sep: We visited Ceausescu’s grand parliament building, which is very famous as it is the second largest building in the world (the Pentagon is #1), and the third most voluminous (Cape Canaveral rocket assembly building is #1, and I forget which is #2). 50% was constructed during Ceausescu’s time, and another 40% after his demise, 10% has not been finished. 700 architects were supposedly involved. It is a true testament to what dictatorship can achieve. It is fairly impressive, yet rather poorly maintained.
We also went to see where my dad used to live when he moved to Bucharest (Taben road). The building was still there.
In the evening we went (with my dad’s friends – Miron and Liana) to a restaurant called "cocosatul", which was quite good and had excellent kebabs. Talmon couldn’t come due to some prior engagement…
Saturday, 15 Sep: We yet again did the "lunch at friends" thing. This time at Miron and Liana’s. The former used to be my dad’s boss some 100 years ago. Unlike the previous lunch, the food here was better and the lunch shorter.
Next, we went to a "Cismigiu Park", which is a nice park in the center of Bucharest. In the evening we all split.
Sunday, 16 Sep: Didn't do much today. Bro and I went to the largest mall to hang out (had a really good pasta thing there), and parents went off to some concert (not guns n’ roses…). We all had dinner in the evening.
Tuesday, 11 Sep: After my arrival to Bucharest we caught up a bit and in the evening went for dinner (which was ok but not more than that) at a place called "Carul Cu Bere", which is some famous joint that’s been around since the 19th century.
Wednesday, 12 Sep: We did two things today. First, we went to a Filantropia Cemetery, which is the "noble" Jewish cemetery, i.e. a place where the rich and famous are buried. We met many of my relatives there among them all of my mom’s grandparents who passed away years before anyone imagined that the wonder called Daniel would come to be…
Next, we went to Strada Lunei 5 to see the house where my mother was born, grew up, and pretty much spent her entire life until she got married and went to Israel. It was under renovation, which allowed us to go in freely and examine the place. It was quite impressive indeed due its size and central location.
Thursday, 13 Sep: The vast part of the day was consumed with a 4-hour lunch at my Mom’s first grade teacher’s house. They have been in touch since that first grade…
We arrived there separately, parents with one cab and Talmon and I with another as we needed to get laundry done. The reason I’m mentioning this is because our cab ride was rather eventful. Specifically, due to the local bad driving and disregard to the law some guy bumped into the cab, where I was sitted (back left). What was most amusing was the set of swearing the cab driver came up with quite instinctively (involving ancestors, various genitalia, mouths and so on and so forth). Thanks to Tudor, I managed to understand everything. No doubt Romanian is a very delightful language..
After lunch, Talmon and I needed a breather and so we split from parents and went to some Mall to hang out.
Friday, 14 Sep: We visited Ceausescu’s grand parliament building, which is very famous as it is the second largest building in the world (the Pentagon is #1), and the third most voluminous (Cape Canaveral rocket assembly building is #1, and I forget which is #2). 50% was constructed during Ceausescu’s time, and another 40% after his demise, 10% has not been finished. 700 architects were supposedly involved. It is a true testament to what dictatorship can achieve. It is fairly impressive, yet rather poorly maintained.
We also went to see where my dad used to live when he moved to Bucharest (Taben road). The building was still there.
In the evening we went (with my dad’s friends – Miron and Liana) to a restaurant called "cocosatul", which was quite good and had excellent kebabs. Talmon couldn’t come due to some prior engagement…
Saturday, 15 Sep: We yet again did the "lunch at friends" thing. This time at Miron and Liana’s. The former used to be my dad’s boss some 100 years ago. Unlike the previous lunch, the food here was better and the lunch shorter.
Next, we went to a "Cismigiu Park", which is a nice park in the center of Bucharest. In the evening we all split.
Sunday, 16 Sep: Didn't do much today. Bro and I went to the largest mall to hang out (had a really good pasta thing there), and parents went off to some concert (not guns n’ roses…). We all had dinner in the evening.
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