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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> Romania >> Bucharest, Romania (May 2006) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Bucharest, Romania (May 2006)

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in Romania. It is also the country’s cultural, industrial, and financial center. While thought of by some as a sprawling, dreary Communist-era city, in reality, Bucharest has a lot of charm with its wide, tree-lined boulevards and a mix of neo-classical, Bauhaus and Art Deco architecture. Between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication earned Bucharest the nickname of "Little Paris." During Nicolae Ceausescu’s leadership (1965–1989), much of the historic part of the Bucharest was demolished and replaced with Socialist realist developments, including the monstrous Palace of the Parliament, where an entire historic quarter was razed. In 1989, The Romanian Revolution began with mass anti-Ceausescu protests in Timisoara, in December 1989, and continued in Bucharest, leading to the overthrow of Ceausescu and the Communist regime. Since then, the city has modernized and is has undergone much urban renewal.
Bucharest, Romania cover page.
Bucharest, Romania cover page.		 Map of Romania with the star indicating Bucharest.
Map of Romania with the star indicating Bucharest.		 View of the Royal Palace (now used as the Parliament) built by Nicolae Ceausescu.
View of the Royal Palace (now used as the Parliament) built by Nicolae Ceausescu.		 Nicolae Ceausescu's extravagance in building the Royal Palace probably helped bankrupt Romania!
Nicolae Ceausescu's extravagance in building the Royal Palace probably helped bankrupt Romania!
Another view of the Royal Palace.
Another view of the Royal Palace.		 An Orangina bottle in front of the Royal Palace in anticipation of a beer and music festival.
An Orangina bottle in front of the Royal Palace in anticipation of a beer and music festival.		 Interior entryway of the Royal Palace.
Interior entryway of the Royal Palace.		 Chandelier in an auditorium of the Royal Palace.
Chandelier in an auditorium of the Royal Palace.
Close-up of the chandelier.
Close-up of the chandelier.		 An opulent hallway.
An opulent hallway.		 Ballroom of the Parliament with a glass ceiling.
Ballroom of the Parliament with a glass ceiling.		 Close-up of the glass ceiling in the ballroom.
Close-up of the glass ceiling in the ballroom.
Chandelier in the ballroom.
Chandelier in the ballroom.		 Another opulent ceiling in the Royal Palace.
Another opulent ceiling in the Royal Palace.		 View from the balcony of the Royal Palace looking down on the fountains of Unirii Boulevard.
View from the balcony of the Royal Palace looking down on the fountains of Unirii Boulevard.		 Unirii Boulevard fountains (there is a fountain for each province of Romania).
Unirii Boulevard fountains (there is a fountain for each province of Romania).
Another vantage point of the Unirii Boulevard fountains (facing the Royal Palace).
Another vantage point of the Unirii Boulevard fountains (facing the Royal Palace).		 Looking up Unirii Boulevard towards the Royal Palace.
Looking up Unirii Boulevard towards the Royal Palace.		 Nice architecture on Unirii Boulevard.
Nice architecture on Unirii Boulevard.		 Bucharest's preeminent church (on the right), the Patriarchy Church (built 1656-1668).
Bucharest's preeminent church (on the right), the Patriarchy Church (built 1656-1668).
Tower near the Patriarchy Church.
Tower near the Patriarchy Church.		 This former palace that stands next to the Patriarchy Church was constructed in 1907.
This former palace that stands next to the Patriarchy Church was constructed in 1907.		 View of palace standing next to the Patriarchy Church.
View of palace standing next to the Patriarchy Church.		 Another view of the palace standing next to Patriarchy Church.
Another view of the palace standing next to Patriarchy Church.
Sculpture of Alexandru Cuza in front of the church. He was the first modern Romanian leader.
Sculpture of Alexandru Cuza in front of the church. He was the first modern Romanian leader.		 Alexandru Cuza's attempts at land reform led the local landowners to force him to abdicate.
Alexandru Cuza's attempts at land reform led the local landowners to force him to abdicate.		 Plaque in front of the sculpture showing the year that Alexandru Cuza was in power (1859-1866).
Plaque in front of the sculpture showing the year that Alexandru Cuza was in power (1859-1866).		 Entrance to the Village Museum in Bucharest which is the largest open air museum in Europe.
Entrance to the Village Museum in Bucharest which is the largest open air museum in Europe.
One of numerous peasant houses (churches, wind mills and water mills) at the Village Museum.
One of numerous peasant houses (churches, wind mills and water mills) at the Village Museum.		 Representation of the interior of a peasant house at the Village Museum.
Representation of the interior of a peasant house at the Village Museum.		 More depictions of Romanian peasant life.
More depictions of Romanian peasant life.		 Another peasant house at the Village Museum.
Another peasant house at the Village Museum.
Interesting tree at the Village Museum.
Interesting tree at the Village Museum.		 More depictions of Romanian peasant houses.
More depictions of Romanian peasant houses.		 Representation of a simple Romanian church.
Representation of a simple Romanian church.		 Interior shot of the alter of the Romanian church.
Interior shot of the alter of the Romanian church.
Another representation of a Romanian church.
Another representation of a Romanian church.		 Windmill at the Village Museum.
Windmill at the Village Museum.		 A (post WW II) Stalinist-style bldg. in Bucharest. Today, it is used for media (TV & radio).
A (post WW II) Stalinist-style bldg. in Bucharest. Today, it is used for media (TV & radio).		 No, this isn't Paris, Bucharest has an Arch de Triumph, too! It was erected between 1935-1936.
No, this isn't Paris, Bucharest has an Arch de Triumph, too! It was erected between 1935-1936.
The Hotel Intercontinental in Bucharest. It makes a great landmark when lost in Bucharest!
The Hotel Intercontinental in Bucharest. It makes a great landmark when lost in Bucharest!		 Nice architecture in Bucharest.
Nice architecture in Bucharest.		 Modern sculpture in front of a church in Bucharest.
Modern sculpture in front of a church in Bucharest.		 The fountains of Unirii Square (the largest square in Bucharest).
The fountains of Unirii Square (the largest square in Bucharest).
Another view of the Unirii Square fountains with a Pepsi ad (note the can suspended in mid-air)!
Another view of the Unirii Square fountains with a Pepsi ad (note the can suspended in mid-air)!		 The Annunciation Church is the oldest church in Bucharest (erected between 1545-1554).
The Annunciation Church is the oldest church in Bucharest (erected between 1545-1554).		 A wedding was going on in the Annunciation Church when I walked by. I did not crash it!
A wedding was going on in the Annunciation Church when I walked by. I did not crash it!		 The Palace of Justice is near Unirii Square. It was erected between 1890 - 1895.
The Palace of Justice is near Unirii Square. It was erected between 1890 - 1895.
The Palace of Justice faces the Dambovita River.
The Palace of Justice faces the Dambovita River.		 Typical Romanian style architecture in Bucharest.
Typical Romanian style architecture in Bucharest.		 Bucharest University building.
Bucharest University building.		 View of the Bucharest opera house.
View of the Bucharest opera house.
The City Hall in Bucharest that I saw during a walk (when I got lost)!
The City Hall in Bucharest that I saw during a walk (when I got lost)!		 View of the entrance to the botanical gardens.
View of the entrance to the botanical gardens.		 Another great building (on that same walk when I was lost)!
Another great building (on that same walk when I was lost)!		 Close-up of the previous building.
Close-up of the previous building.
National Military building which was near my hotel (the Hotel Central).
National Military building which was near my hotel (the Hotel Central).		 Hotel Central in Bucharest where I stayed. It was a good choice.
Hotel Central in Bucharest where I stayed. It was a good choice.

comment | share
joseantonio05-Aug-2011 17:19
Very nice report with lovely information
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