Thursday, July 5, 2018

Day 19: There's no place like home!

July 4, 2018

Bucharest, Stockholm, Reykjavik, Minneapolis
(Romania, Sweden, Iceland, United States)

Fireworks photo taken by Joshua


Happy birthday America!  We are usually traveling on the fourth of July, but always find a place to sing America the Beautiful, and sometimes the Star-Spangled Banner.  Usually next to a body of water, such as Loch Lomond in Scotland, and the Mediterranean in Italy.  In Salzburg it was on a balcony as we watched fireworks in the distance (unrelated, of course).  This year we are going home on the fourth.  Randy is looking forward to playing the Fourth of July concert with Sousa Band, we are all looking forward to the fireworks following the concert. 

Usually, on the days we come back from a long trip, we get a pizza from Papa Murphy’s and struggle to stay awake until a late enough time to go to bed for the night and try to reset our body clocks.  This time, we will be busy going to the concert and getting home late after the fireworks.  Then to a blissful sleep.  It seems like we aren’t traveling long because of the time zones.  We left at 8:30 am and arrive around 6:00 pm. 

This morning, we had to wake up at 5:00 am to leave by 6:00.  The written instructions that come with every Air B&B said that we didn’t have to empty the garbage and the recyclables should be put in the garbage.  So, nothing to worry about except eating breakfast, washing our dishes, brushing our teeth, then finishing packing.  We did most of our packing last night, so this is just the last minute things and ensuring that our breakables are in the best space.  Joshua has a set of 4 wine glasses that he bought in Murano, I have 2 pairs of earrings and 6 glass candy pieces from Murano (to go in a candy dish that I bought last time we were in Murano) and earrings from a Cluj street market.  I also picked up a cat clock made out of a vinyl record for Shelby as a thank you for house, cat, and garden sitting for us.   It involved watering all of my window boxes every three days and watering the plants in the whole yard if it didn’t rain for 5-7 days.  It’s a lot of watering.  And picking (and eating) the raspberries as they ripen—she likes that part, though!  

Another thing I noticed in Romania (in addition to other things I’ve mentioned in my previous blog posts), is the crazy drivers.  Part of it is the way that streets are designed.  Most of them going through cities are one-way, 2 or 3 lanes.  Drivers drive VERY fast on these streets!  I’m guessing about 50 miles per hour.  One day, a boy started to run across the street and the road curves here.  He looked, then took off.  A car came very fast around that curve and had to slam on the brakes so that they didn’t hit him, then honked at him!  In my opinion, the car shouldn’t have been going that fast in a heavy pedestrian area next to a city square and around a curve!  There are crosswalks controlled by lights—you need to use them!   Most vehicles won’t necessarily stop unless you are in the road.  Some  of the crosswalks are red, we think that those require the cars to stop for pedestrians.   Vehicles seem to think nothing of driving in the pedestrian malls of the old towns.  And they park literally everywhere!  On sidewalks, on traffic islands, on corners, even in striped pedestrian zones.  And the only signs we’ve seen about parking are those  that say “Garage—no parking” where a garage or gate is along the street.   There doesn’t seem to be any enforcement of parking rules (if there are any!), except for making sure you pay for pay parking spaces. Oh well, enough of that.

We left our apartment five minutes before six and were boarding the TAROM, Romanian Air Transport plane at 8:20.  We had some trouble finding where to catch the bus.  It isn’t where we were dropped off, evidently.  I told Randy to check with the woman at the koisk and then a woman setting up wares to sell on a bench tried to tell me in Romanian (and through gestures) where we had to go and which bus to take to get to the airport.  We found it and only had to wait about 5 minutes.  Luckily we got seats for the long ride which filled up quickly.  Everyone gets off at the airport, so it wasn’t a problem to go to the empty wheelchair space where we had put our big bags and get them on.

This is the cover of the inflight magazine--look familiar?
(see Day 10)


Each of us has a big travel backpack, meeting the specifications for overhead bins.  Joshua and I each also have a personal size backpack (the type you use for school) that we wear on our chests.  Randy has a large camera bag that he wears crossbody by his chest.   I also have a travel bag that I bought this spring before I went to Paris for spring break.  Normally, I use a tiny purse with only enough room for money and cards.  I squeeze my phone in there.  But for traveling, you need a day bag to carry your stuff while walking around and doing things.  So I researched, looking for a bag that I could wear crossbody that would hold my water bottle, camera, sunglass case, money, credit cards, and passport.  I found one!  I just love it.  It is a crossbody bucket bag from Travelon.  It has special RFID protected pockets for passport and credit cards, a wire reinforced strap that cannot be cut, an open front pocket (for lip balm, lens cap, etc. a zippered pocket on the front that can be locked (the zipper pull locks on a tiny hidden metal loop; that I use for money, my phone, and my external batttery for my phone (Google Maps sucks up a lot of battery).   There is a large central space that is big enough for my camera, prescription sunglasses case, a book, whatever, with a zippered pocket and the RFID pockets.  This zipper also locks.  In the back is another big zippered pocket big enough for a map or guide book.  I watched a video on you tube about the bag and was sold!  I’ve used it on two trips now and it’s great.  Only two problems—it’s not waterproof and when my big camelbak water bottle is in there and full it’s heavy on my shoulder.  Not too bad!

Our flight had some extra rows open so the guy next to me moved and I didn’t have to sit in th middle (I hate the middle seat).  So it was quite comfortable!  And they fed us!  Omlet, ham, beans, rolls, yogurt, cold drink and warm drink.  Wow!  Joshua slept the entire flight.  Then a four-hour layover in Stockholm until our flight to Reykjavik (Iceland Air always lays over in Reykjavik), then home to Minneapolis!  Not looking forward to the weather forecast of 92 degrees with a dewpoint of 70.  And thunder storms tonight!

Our flight from Stockholm to Reykjavik was delayed by half an hour which was a bit concerning because we only have an hour and a half layover.  It was even more concerning when it didn’t leave on time, then when we arrived at Reykjavik we had to delay landing, then we had to wait for our gate to open up.  They asked people deplaning to give preference and let those with connecting flights off first.  The people in the back of the plane listened to that, but the first half completely cleared out, so it took forever to get off the plane.  We got off, checked the board, saw our gate and headed for our concourse.  To get there, we had to go through immigration with a HUGE line.  I asked one of the employees what we should do since our flight was iisted with final boarding call and was scheduled to take off in 10 minutes.  He pointed to the super long line and told us to get in line.  We cut into the line, went through, then when you have to scan your boarding pass to get into the concourse, mine was tagged to have me and my bags scanned (random).  So Joshua was already on his way to the gate, so I told Randy to meet him at the gate and hold the plane, I’d meet them there when I was done,  I was given a number and pointed to a small room.  I had to wait my turn, then they used squares to swab inside my bags as well as my hands, waist, and feet.  Then they put the swabs in a machine that checked for drugs, I think.   Then I was able to go to my gate.  Arrgh!  I ran to my gate only to be told that I was at the wrong Minneapolis gate and was sent to another one.  Then we boarded a bus that waited a while before driving us to the  plane.  We left a bit late, but landed on time.    What a nightmare!  I was so worried that we would miss our connection! 

We got home a little late beause of customs, so Randy raced home from the train, changed and left and Joshua and I went a little slower and then Joshua, Shelby, and I all went to the concert/fireworks together.  We had to get air in the tires (after the car sat for 2 ½ weeks) and arrived a few minutes before the band started! 

Dinner when we got home from the fireworks, then bed.  Dead tired after traveling for 22 hours! Enjoyed watching the fireworks--hope everyone had a Happy 4th!


Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Day 18: They didn't want him or his palace!


July 3, 2018

Bucharest, Romania

Last night we looked up how to visit the Palace of Parliament building and the Parliament website said that you needed to submit your names by phone at least 24 hours in advance of a tour (probably for security).  Well, we didn't have 24 hours, so we looked further and Randy found a site where someone said that they just went to the parliament building in the morning (with their passport) and were able to be added to a tour later in the day.

So we woke up early, only to find that there was no hot water.  Randy had a hot shower last night, but there was no hot water this morning.  We texted our host and she didn't know what to do and said that she'd call someone to look at it--we're thinking that she might not live in Bucharest.  So we left our breakfast dishes to do later--hopefully with hot water, and left.  We got to the parliament building a bit before 10:00 and were able to join the 10:00 English tour.  We had to submit our passports for scanning and go through airport-type security and were given a visitor badge to wear.  They are very strict about staying with your group and not wandering off (Randy read on a website of a few tourists that stayed behind to take photos and lost their group--the guards were not happy!).



It is huge.  It was planned and begun by Nicholae Ceausescu for he and his wife Elena (who was the deputy prime minister for part of their marriage).  Unfortunately for them, the Romanian Revolution happened and they were arrested and charged with the genocide of 60,000 people in Timisoara.  They were executed in 1989.   Work on the palace stopped and the project was abandoned.  To build the palace, they had taken 7 square kilometers of space and cleared it, leaving 40,000 Romanians without a home.  After the communists were pushed out, the Romanians tried to decide what to do about the partially completed palace.  Some wanted it leveled, others wanted it completed.  Well, they completed it and it is now used for the parliament.  It is the second largest building in the world (after the Pentagon).  It is the heaviest building in the world!  It has eight floors below ground and 9 above, most in marble and oak (Nicholas loved oak).  It is extremely grand and 70% of it is unused.  It has twenty nuclear bunkers underground and 2 parking garages.  It costs 5 million dollars a year to maintain it.  (Sorry there are so many photos!)  We were told that there are currently no communist photos, portraits, or statues in the palace.

The Northern side (the visitors entrance)

hallway

a theater



Artwork by Romanian Artists



A lobby area between the theater and the press area



This would have been Nicholas' study.  He liked oak.  The woodwork
is primarily oak and walnut.





Elena's study



The pattern in the carpet matches the pattern in the radiator covers
and in the curtains.  Elena's preference.



A meeting room


A meeting room.  The table was Nicholas' idea and is oak.  He
had intended to add one more chair.  Very large with arms and on a
for him.


There is a secret door here.  There are many of these connecting to several kilometers of tunnels.

The main entrance 

The main entrance.  The idea was that Nicholas would come down the staircase
on one side and Elena on the other.  The would meet in the center, greet their guests,
then invite them into the reeception room.


The first (and smallest) reception room

This pattern is everywhere and shows the pattern of the building

Here is the pattern again

These curtains were made by nuns to go with the rug

The second (larger) reception room








The third (largest) reception room--the ballroom


This space was designed for a large portrait of Elena
And this space for a large portrait of Nicholas







One of the staircases of the main entrance



Above the staircases

Another reception room.  Now it is used for concerts.





There is room behind this curtain for a 36-piece orchestra

From the balcony of the South side


The main entrance

The North side


As for maintenance, we noticed a huge crack in one of the doorways, going from one side, around the marble arch to the other.  Also, the grounds need more maintenance.  It looks like they've tried to do some planting and landscaping, but then let it go--no maintenance.  In the rest of the city, we've noticed the same thing---nice infrastructure, but no maintenance. Some of the fountains along Victorei Street (modeled after Paris' Champs Elysees, complete with an Arc de Triomphe) don't work, there are sidewalk pavers loose everywhere, weeds, garbage, water-damaged buildings through lack of maintenance.  I suggested that they could move some of their ministry buildings (that are located in buildings surrounding the palace) into the palace and rent out/sell their spaces, then open a child care in the palace for employees and charge a bit more than cost for the convenience (and how great for nursing mothers!), and use all of that rent/sale and child care money to work on maintenance of infrastructure.  But what do I know, I'm an American with a horrible president (sorry, I'll try to keep the politics out of this).
The fountains along Victorei Street

Missing and cracked pavers (more are loose)






So then we stopped for lunch and walked around the city a bit--both modern and old town.
The oldest church preserved in Bucharest.  The Annunciation Church or
Church of Old Court is on the site from the 15th Century.



A super cool store we found.  If you are in Bucharest you have to go here!
I wish this store was in Minneapolis, I would shop there all the time!

The main floor is gifts and cool things

The second and third floors are books.  

The fifth floor has a bistro and work spaces.  Placards have the free wifi code.

The basement is music, games, and fandom


The fourth floor has an art gallery and a children's books/toys area.

I just liked this!

Here's what they have, sorry it's hard to read.

Obviously, a restaurant for mannequins!


Note the juxstaposition of the older building on the left and the newer,
communist-age building on the right

By then we were tired, so we returned to our apartment for a rest--but no naps!  We need to get to sleep early tonight.  We have to catch the bus at 6 am tomorrow for three plane trips to get back home (I'm guessing that it's about 20 hours of travel).  Oh--we had hot water when we returned, so we could wash the breakfast dishes!  Now I have to decide if i want to shower tonight so I don't have to get up so early, or tomorrow so I can be "fresher" for our 20 or so hours of travel!

After a long rest (mostly using our fast wifi), we went downstairs and ate dinner at our Irish Pub again.   Unfortunately, I had the worst ribs I have ever had--tons of fat.  But the Strawberry Lemonade was good!  Then Joshua wanted to go back to the apartment and take his shower while Randy and I wanted to walk around the Parliament Building and see if from the other sides.

We walked around the Parliament, starting on the East side, which is where the actual front entrance is.


A nearby apartment? building.  There are several identical ones, built in curves facing the palace.


Then we walked around the South side and saw a new structure being built behind the wall.  I voted for a church or cathedral, based on the rose windows, domes,  and transept.









Then when we got to the East side, there was a tiny church with people inside.  They weren't having mass, they were sitting in chairs around the outside and in the center, huddled together. Some were standing around.  I didn't feel comfortable taking photos in the church, it seemed invasive.   There were people milling around the outside as well.  Many of the women had scarves on their heads.



 Then we went behind it to see the building being built and opened a gate.  There was a priest and some men there, so we stood just inside the gate.  They said that we could come in so we went over and took more photos of the construction.  We had some debates about what the building would look like.  Then when we continued along the East side we saw a billboard with a drawing of what it would look like.  Definitely a cathedral.





Then we saw what appeared to be a butt-ugly parking garage in the Northeast corner.  And then saw the North side, where the visitors entrance is.

A park across the street